Temple of Eternity
A Temple of Eternity (also Eternity Temple, Forever Temple, Temple of Twenties or Temple of Twenty) is a temple of Badi, dedicated to its theological element of Time, which are recognised as being the most senior in veneration of that element. They typically maintain complex claims as to their age and historical lineage, and each Temple of Eternity has the duty and ability to maintain an Oracle.
Practices
Most sects, varieties, tendencies and cults of Badi are not as hierarchical as the situation is with Temples of Eternity, where a relatively small number of temples are widely recognised as the foremost institutions of their type. It has been speculated that this is because of the material difficulty of veneration and manipulation of Time, insofar as natural time appears to resist human influence.
Relics
Temples of Eternity collect items which are relevant to Time. Badi thought does not ascribe particular significance to specific items, generally, and these collections tend to be for prestigious or demonstrative purposes; they are markers of the temple's prestige, power and science. Typical items include palaeontological and archaeological finds, timepieces of various types, things which seem relevant to time (such as past fashions, bones and branches and other things which grow gradually, objects that resemble timepieces) and more generally, sometimes, prestigious and unusual items which have fallen into the possession of the temple.
This tradition of the collection of significant items is similar to that of the museum, and indeed, many secular museums work alongside Temples of Eternity to preserve and display their collections, though many temple collections are still not open to the public, or more restricted than public museums.
Temporisation
Temples of Eternity are mostly so large and prestigious that they become relatively detached from the local community, rather having pilgrimages, works and donations from much further afield. To this end, their gatherings tend to be arbitrarily timed, and little focused on more mundane studies and community works; commonly, Temples of Eternity (as well as lesser temples to Time) practice temporisation, which is an act meant to transcend the material world's time, and to commune with past, present and future.
This ritual takes varied forms; sometimes it is as simple as the recital of ancient texts, but often and more famously, it involves costuming, performance, sleep, drugs and the often fantastical and convoluted architecture characteristic of Temples of Eternity. Many of those who undergo more intense temporisations believe that they were in fact transported to one or more periods of time in the past or future.
Temporisation is, in a sense, a performance by priests, insofar as they are often coordinating, without the knowledge of those undergoing temporisation, what goes on; they use drugs, costumes, music, lights, staging, voices, illusions and so forth to convincingly create visions which can be taken as parts of the past or future. However, at the same time, those undergoing it sometimes do understand the full extent of priests' coordination, and see the experience of the performance itself as a kind of communion with the timeline. The priests themselves, while generally unwilling to divulge, also usually believe in what they are doing as the manufacture of a "genuine" experience with time. In any case, the period or periods of time experienced tend to be metaphorical and unspecific.
Some Euclean scholars have studied temporisation in some depth as a case study for non-Eastern conceptions of reality and genuineness.
Historiology
In some sense related to reliquary practices, Temples of Eternity also practice recordkeeping and the study of history. These pursuits are seen as relevant to understanding the past, and thus one aspect of Time; while more sober and academic than their other pursuits, history often informs the manner in which other practices are carried out with a more concrete method.
Because of this practice, Temples of Eternity had some of the most significant premodern libraries in the world, and texts they preserved continue to be valuable sources for historians.
Oracle
Temples of Eternity maintain an Oracle. Oracles are composed of one or a few specially trained and sanctified people who are qualified to give predictions about the future, and answer questions about the past. Oracles use many of the same techniques as temporisation, such as drugs, visual effects and sleep to prepare their responses; most Oracles take several days to prepare an answer, though it is not at all uncommon for a response to be given immediately. In these cases, it may be that the Oracle has refused to make the inquiry. Those inquiring of Oracles do not tend to undergo much ritual, but stay as guests at the temple.
Oracles tend to charge steep prices, often non-monetary; Oracles have been known historically to ask as payment political actions, words to be spoken, objects, or nothing at all. However, their speech is highly valued by Badists, and it was known for great conquerors to consult Oracles before launching campaigns, and political leaders to consult before launching policies. Pilgrimages often focus on visiting the Oracle within the temple even if no inquiry is posed. Oracles are arguably the most prestigious part of Temples of Eternity.
Zagubi
A practice shared with others in veneration of Time, followers and priests create zagubi. A form of handicraft, they are long objects created by the weaving of interlocking fibres. They are largely without practical usage, but rather their length, and minuteness and plainness of construction signify the time, care and dedication which went into their creation. Children are often taught about the tenets of the theological element of Time by being taught to make zagubi; for many, it is their first Badist sacrament. They are often used to decorate not only temples, but other spaces such as homes and businesses.
Distribution
The universally recognised Temples of Eternity are in Butari, Kaliwe, and Gobobudi. Pretenders to the status are rare.
There are relatively few who identify themselves as primarily attendees at Temples of Eternity; their influence tends to be more dispersed. However, the number of people who attend Temples of Eternities regularly and locally is growing, with recent outreach efforts from some.
History
Temples of Eternity often have complex and sometimes paradoxical claims about their history, insofar as they claim to be in connection with and have power over Time. However, it is generally understood that the first temple to adopt such an epithet was the x at x. Initially intended as a superlative, over time, smaller temples dedicated to Time tended to fail, and a few main temples gained the majority of influence and traction as priests of the theological element of Time. By the time of Euclean colonialism, essentially the modern configuration of the Temples of Eternity existed.
Colonial policies as well as socialism heavily damaged the institutional power of the Temples of Eternity. Some were at risk of insolvency for some time. However, by the 21st century, most had recovered as anti-religious socialist policies weakened, the Association of Badist Churches helped organise their survival, and their local outreach strategies paid off.