Collegium (Macakkanism)

A Collegium (Alawese: ᨕᨄᨄᨄᨚᨒᨙᨕᨊᨁ Appa'poleang, Huranian 學院 Xuéyuàn) is a school or order of Macakkanism which forms the basic unit of sectarian and doctrinal divergence within the religion. Collegia distinguish themselves from each other based on personal interpretations of the respective Canons of the broader schools they fall within, out of the Lankung school and Barukung school, therefore Collegia within either broader sect will not differ strongly on matters of epistemology. A Collegium is typically headed by a Poléna, but their internal organisation can be variable.

Before the Great Tribulation, collegial differences were not regulated and therefore became highly divergent from each other. This divergence permitted heterodox movements to flourish, resulting in increasing division between Collegia and the rise in polemic debates. The Compromise at Anshan, which recognised the validity of both the Lankung and Barukung methodologies, laid the framework for the establishment of the two Grand Collegia which regulate the Collegia of their respective schools. These Grand Collegia are now empowered to audit the Collegia which ascribe themselves to their methodology. In Neo-Macakkanism, the idea of the Collegium is less relevant as movements are less formally organised and focus more on individual teachers.

Organisation

Grand Collegia

The seat of the Lankung Grand Collegium, Kampeteng, Selajung.

The highest body within a Methodology is the Grand Collegium, which functions as a regulatory body that oversees individual Collegia to ensure that their practices are compatible with the broader epistemological method of the school. The Grand Collegium is composed of 50 senior Poléna, each of which will be the head of their own respective Collegium. Each member's position is lifelong, and can only be revoked with consensus of the other 49 members of the assembly. Members nominate a successor, who takes their place at their death. In the case of an expulsion, a suitable successor will be selected by the assembly. The Grand Collegium has the power of censure, which allows it to audit religious publications by Sages and ban publications which are deemed too heterodox. This censure extends to the practices of individual Collegia, such as in their dress code or dietary regulations and if the correct methodology cannot justidy such decisions the Collegium can be warned and eventually expelled. The Grand Collegia meet three times a year, though emergency meetings are possible.

Free Collegia

Main article: Huranian Salvationism

Free Collegia, also known as Unaffiliated Collegia, is the term which describes Collegia which operate outside of the framewok of a Grand Collegium. This can be the result of a Collegium's expulsion by the consensus of a Grand Collegium, or due to the Collegium springing up independent of such institutions. The vast majority of Neo-Macakkanist groups which maintain traditional structures can be considered to be Free Collegia. Free Collegia, as they are not overseen by a regulatory body, tend to hold heterodox and divergent beliefs, often being viewed as cults by the mainstream Macakkanist population. Despite this, many Free Collegia have had a significant historical impact, especially those which proliferated within the Huranian peasantry centred upon the millenarian figure Paccakkaki.