Badist sects
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A sect in Badi is a religious grouping or tradition, typically centred on activities and beliefs specific to a particular aspect of social life, and associated with a theological element or theological elements. Sects are generally not exclusive in Badi, but rather coinhere to form the fabric of spiritual life; while they function more or less independently, usually being organised as groups of temples, their operations cooperate as much as they compete, they share basic religious tenets. It is primarily in emphasis and specific devotion that sects differ, and indeed, while most Badists are associated more or less with particular sects at different times in their lives, few maintain an exclusive relationship with a sect. Sects can be likened to autonomous religious ministries, or the cults each devoted to particular members of a polytheist pantheon.
There are dozens of major sects, in that they have multiple affiliated temples and are recognised by the Association of Badist Churches, and many more minor ones; insofar as they are sets of practices, often quite ancient, rather than necessarily organisations, however, it is difficult to define them with precision. Some are organised more formally, and many can claim millions of substantially devoted followers. In some tendencies (a broad or geographical variety) of Badi, sects are not present, or only very few are, but such systems are rare.
Terminology
Use of the term "sect" for the compartmentalised, elemental groups of beliefs and practices prevalent in Badi is fairly well-established. Often, Badists do not identify with sects, but with theological elements, temples, or specific personal beliefs, but many are aware of the terminology of sects and may identify. In academia, "sect" is the most common term, with more historical writing sometimes using the term "cult"; both terms have been criticised for seeming derogatory, and the term "intraelemental variety" also exists. The use of the term "tendency" is also reasonably established in academia, with "interelemental variety" also used (often in contrast with "intraelemental variety"), but identification with or knowledge of tendency is much less widespread among Badists themselves.
Sects in tendencies
Sects play different roles in different tendencies of Badi; some sects are present in multiple tendencies, and there can in fact be broad variation within sects, but the broad differences in religious practice mean that most sects are limited to a particular tendency, with its geographical and broad doctrinal delimitations.
Indigenism
Most of what is written and understood about Badi is in reference to the Indigenist tendency; this is the form practiced across most of Southeast Coius, and also substantially outside of it, including in the regions of Dezevau where the religion originated. Sects are important in Indigenism, and the practice of Indigenist Badi tends to involve the presence of a wide variety of sects, of varying size and importance, and with dedication to a wide variety of elements, often dependent on local conditions. The pluralism of Indigenism is, however, usually only supported in societies where Badi is the dominant or one of the dominant religions, with sects forming the fabric of civil society rather than being politicised.
Animatism
Animatism is a term for a tendency or tendencies that tend towards Satria, where beliefs in reincarnation, the existence of souls, and object animacy are more prominent. Sects often tend to be weaker in Animatism, though this is arguably merely a result of the fact that Badi is not widely practiced by a majority in any substantial area of Satria, but rather widely distributed as a minority religion.
Tulyata
Tulyata is a Satrian belief system, which is variously considered a Badist sect, tendency, or entirely independent religion with elements syncretised from Badi. The system of sects is not strong in it.
Asterias
Carucerean
Neo-Badi
Mainly in the developed world, there is a trend of conversion to Badi amongst those who have no link to it by heritage, with particular emphasis placed on its secular philosophy and morality, and the essence rather than the form of its spirituality. This trend is broadly grouped as Neo-Badi; being a relatively widely-dispersed, recent, and small-numbered phenomenon, it is difficult to generalise. However, in general, low concentration and a more general approach to Badi as a belief system mean that sects are not really present in Neo-Badi in the conventional sense, though sometimes there is relevance where Indigenism (the main "source" for the emerging tendency) interacts with Neo-Badi.
Major sects by devotional element
Sects may be categorised by the element or elements they are primarily dedicated to.
Air
Thin Air
The Thin Air sect is devoted to the theological element of Air, with a focus on the element's almost imperceptible, shapeless, yielding nature. Thin Air spirituality holds that the greatest intimacy with and knowledge of higher planes comes from the elements which in the material world are the least substantial.
Practices associated with Thin Air include monasticism, asceticism, certain forms of martial art or dance, and intermittent fasting. It was a common colonialist misconception that practitioners of the Thin Air sect starved themselves, because of their fasting practices, though self-starvation as a form of extreme asceticism was not entirely unknown in the sect. Some modern medical research has ascribed some correlation, and perhaps even causation, between Thin Air diets and positive health outcomes, while fasting practices are one of the most prominent cultural impacts of Thin Air in populations influenced by it. Thin Air priests and temples are sometimes involved in death rites, especially where the sect is more prominent.
The sect of Thin Air is generally taken to have originated in present day Dezevau, with a base likely in the piedmont of the Great Steppe, but it was most historically important in the spread of Badi on the Great Steppe, from the mid first millennium CE onwards, achieving its apogee of expression there. Many remote and mountainous regions were settled by Thin Air monasteries, often with links to commercial networks, right up to Satria and Xiaodong. With increasing population density and decreasing nomadism on the Great Steppe, however, as well increasing Irfanic and Xiaodongese Zohist influence, Thin Air went into decline there, though retaining a presence right up until the present day, especially in regions closer to the Badist populated cores of Southeast Coius. It still persists in other regions of the world with substantial Badist populations, though it is generally one of the smaller sects.
Salt
Cult of the Sea
The Cult of the Sea is dedicated to the theological element of Salt, in its manifestation as a dissolved substance in the ocean (and other saltwater bodies). It is associated with those whose work or residence puts them in proximity to the sea, as well as migrants and outsiders to society.
Time
Orthodox Time
Unlike most theological elements, there are few divergent sects of importance dedicated to Time; most recognise and participate in a main, hierarchically-organised sect, which is often called Orthodox Time, though it presently regards itself as the only legitimate body primarily dedicated to Time. The temples which are at the top of the hierarchy are called Temples of Eternity; these are highly prestigious, generally ancient institutions, of which there are only a handful in the world.
Water
Pure Water Badi
Pure Water Badi reveres Water among theological elements, and Lake Zindarud, in central Coius, as the most holy body of water in the world. Characteristics practices include bathing and drinking of water, though the sect is also known for its monasticism, handiwork, and propagation of commerce historically.
Multiple elements
Cult of the Sun
The Cult of the Sun is dedicated to the sun, which it regards as a dual manifestation of the theological elements of Light and Heat. The Cult of the Sun was very significant historically, and associated with often politically-charged mass psychogenic events known as Solar Madnesses, as well as other unusual practices such as staring at the sun. In general, the sect attracted the zealous and heterodox, and often provoked unrest, leading to it being suppressed at times by various authorities, such as the Aguda Empire, Saint-Bermude's Company and the Bureau for Southeast Coius. It is not as significant in the modern day, but continues to exist.
Other sects
Some sects are only minor, or existed historically and no longer do. Even minor sects have had significance in Badi, however, insofar as Badists generally accept the validity of sects to which they do not belong.