Scurnism

Scurnism is a Protestant faith that was founded in the 16th century by the religious reformer Airaig Scurn. Scurnism emphasizes four main tenets: salvation through faith, biblical authority, emphasis on community, and the sovereignty of God. It is the primary religion of Earent.

History

During the last years of the 15th century, several leading theologians and nobles began pushing for reductions of Church power over non-spiritual matters in Earent. As a result of this, Earent became viewed as something of a safe haven for religious thinkers under the reign of Tornvay II, who lifted punishments for crimes such as heresy and blasphemy - crimes which previously prevented a free exchange of religious ideas. Eanbyre subsequently became a hub of free thought, with religious radicals from across Astyria making their way to the city to exchange ideas and flee from persecution.

The Eanbyre Circle

Among the most prominent radical thinkers to come to Eanbyre were Matthjis Aäron Schermer, Benjamin Van Aarle, Peter Sigvard Ljunggren, and Alexander Yngve, who joined with Airaig Scurn, Klonby Torshak, and Blork Jhar to create a citcle of thinkers in Eanbyre, where vigorous debate over theological thought took place regularly. Through this circle, Scurn further developed his thoughts and core tenets, eventually cataloguing his beliefs in Tenets of True Belief - considered one of the most influential Earentian works of the era.

Doctrine

Sovereignty of God

Scurnism believes in the sovereignty of God, emphasizing that God is in control of all things and that believers should trust in him completely. Scurnism also affirms the Trinity, the divinity of Jesus Christ, and the importance of the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer. Scurnism teaches that God's sovereignty extends to every aspect of human life, and that nothing happens outside of his control. This belief gives comfort to Scurnists, who trust that God will work all things for their good.

Scurnists also emphasizes the importance of prayer and encourages its followers to pray regularly. Scurnists believe that prayer is a way to communicate with God and to express their trust in him. Scurnists also believe that prayer can be a way to discern God's will and to receive guidance from him.

Salvation through Faith

Scurnist doctrine places great emphasis on salvation through faith, believing that it is by faith alone that people are saved. Scurnism teaches that people cannot earn their salvation through good works or by following religious rituals, but instead must place their trust in God and his grace. Scurnists believe that faith is a gift from God, and that it is only through his grace that people can come to faith.

The religion teaches that salvation is a personal experience, and that each person must make the decision to put their faith in Jesus Christ. Scurnists also believe that salvation is a lifelong process of growing closer to God and becoming more like Christ. Scurnists emphasize the importance of repentance and turning away from sin as part of the salvation process.

Authority of the Bible

Scurnism holds a high view of the authority of the Bible, believing it to be the inspired word of God and the ultimate authority for Christian faith and practice. Scurnism encourages its followers to study the Bible and to apply its teachings to their daily lives. Scurnists believe that the Bible is a complete and coherent revelation of God's will for humanity, and that it provides guidance on all matters of faith and practice.

Scurnists also believe that the Bible is the primary means by which God communicates with humanity. They believe that through the Bible, God reveals his character, his plans for humanity, and his will for individual believers. Scurnism emphasizes the importance of interpreting the Bible in its historical and cultural context, and of applying its teachings with wisdom and discernment.

Emphasis on Community

A significant tenet of the faith is a great emphasis on community, believing that believers are called to live in fellowship with one another. Scurnists believe that the church is the body of Christ, and that each member has a role to play in building up the body. To that end, Scurnism encourages its followers to participate in small groups, Bible studies, and other forms of community life.

Practices

Liturgy

Scurnist worship is characterized by a simple and austere liturgy, with a focus on prayer, Bible reading, and congregational singing. Scurnism may reject ornate or elaborate rituals in favor of more minimalistic forms of worship.

The Scurnist liturgy typically includes a sermon, in which the ordained minister explains and applies the teachings of the Bible, and may also include the administration of the sacraments, such as baptism and Communion. Scurnist worship often takes place in a church building, but can also take place in homes or other settings.

Eucharistic Theology

Scurnist Eucharistic theology is centered on the concept of pneumatic presence, which holds that not only the spirit of Jesus, but also the true body and blood of Jesus, are received by the sovereign, mysterious, and miraculous power of the Holy Spirit, but only by those partakers who have faith. This is distinctly different from the transubstantiation and consubstantiation beliefs held by other churches.

Hierarchy

The Scurnist hierachy is divided into three basic ranks: the ordained ministers, who are responsible for preaching and administering the sacraments, the congregational leaders, who serve as lay leaders within their communities, and then the members of the congregation themselves, who are expected to take an active part in the faith,.

The congregational leaders are elected by the members of the congregation to serve as their faith leaders in the absence and often in supplement of the ordained ministers. These leaders may assist the ordained ministers in the administration of the church, and they may also serve as representatives of the congregation in the larger church body.