Fiction:Spodism

"The questions of a million years oppress us. Who am I? Why was I made? What is my purpose? What is the purpose of the universe? Shall I survive after death? Can I be happy? Scientists can only tell us about forces and matter. Philosophers chase each other in circles. None of them can really answer the questions that we really care about. Only Spode has the answers. Follow the Law of Spode, and all shall be clear."

- Scrolls of Faith

Amongst the many religious traditions that permeate the Gigaquadrant, few are as important as Spodism (from Radessic espotha, heaven). A religion that first originated (though some claim it has earlier origins) among the species about a hundred millenia ago, it has since then spread all over the Gigaquadrant, its doctrines and teaching affecting thousands of alien cultures one way or another. Though in the recent years its influence has receded somewhat, it still remains the official religion of multiple states such as or the, and a significant minority religion in such empires as the  and the.

Theology-wise, Spodism is centered around the pantheistic idea that all things are connected through the universe itself, which is deified as the god Spode: everything was created by it, is part of it, and will reunite with it upon death. As such, Spodism prioritises the collective over the individual, and strives to unite all races of the universe into one community. Ironically, Spodism itself is not a united faith: countless sects exist within it, from the radical Ferrics, to the scientifically minded Theorationalists, to the pacifistic Harmonites. However, most Spodists recognise a spiritual authority that stands as arbiter above all sects: before the, that was the Clericarch of Vendespode, while today this authority lies in the Grand Synod of the.

Whether through the uplifting programs of the, the bloody crusades waged by Spodist fanatics such as , or through the heroism of Spode's holy warriors during the many conflicts where the faithful were engaged, Spodism is a faith that has left a lasting effect on the Gigaquadrant. Its teachings are known far and wide, and even cultures that do not follow Spodist doctrine per se have often been influenced by its philosophy.

Terminology
Although Spodism is the most commonly used term for the religion worshipping Spode, it was not actually coined by Spodists themselves, but rather by ancient scholars, and is based on a misinterpretation of Spodist doctrine. This term, as well as the name "Spode" itself, is derived from the Radessic word espotha, meaning heaven: strictly speaking, it refers only to one of the four aspects of Spode, Espotha'Nar the Encompassing. However, as it was this aspect that was early Spodists revered and invoked the most, outsiders would come to interpret it as a name for the whole deity.

The worshippers of Spode themselves see terms like "Spodism" or "Spodists" as inaccurate, but not offensive per se, for they still have the positive meaning of heavenly. As such, most use these terms when conversing to outsiders, for the sake of clarity, even in official documents. Still, amongst themselves, Spodists usually refer to their religion simply as the Faith and to themselves as the faithful. The more mystical Spodist sects use more ancient terms, such as the Fourfold Path and the Supreme Path, referring to the Four Supreme Aspects of Spode.

Spodists in particular also frequently use the term Masaari, from Radessic mas'ar-i, sworn to truth, to describe their faith. However, this word is relatively recent, and unlike the other Radeon terms, is not widely accepted amongst all Spodists. Usually, non-Radeons use the word Masaari to refer to Radeon Spodism in particular.

Origins
Religious historians theorise without end on the origins of the Spodean faith. These debates are almost as ancient as Spodism itself, having started with the theologians of the old Church, and despite all the work of scholars both secular and religious, even after 100,000 years consensus is yet to be reached. One of the reasons behind this is the convoluted early history of the s, known to be the first species in the modern era to revere Spode, if not the founders of Spodism in general. Indeed, the origins of the Radeon race are deeply connected with both the Rades precursors and the Isio'Nar, and it is thus impossible to speak of the origins of Spodism without taking into account the belief systems of these two ancient civilisations, which are themselves quite enigmatic. One cannot also disregard the biases that all researchers, Spodist or otherwise, have towards this issue. With the great impact Spodism had on the modern Gigaquadrant's early history, such as the Jaharani Crusades, few civilisations are ambivalent towards it, and this lack of ambivalence inevitably skews the perception of scholars.

For centuries, the only accepted "theory" that explained the origins of Spodism was the gospel found in the Scrolls of Faith themselves: today this view is referred to as Literalism. For literalists, the Faith had always existed, unchanged, and was simply revealed to chosen mortals through its Messengers, as described in scripture, The Radeon prophet Al'khear is universally seen as the first of these chosen, and the line of prophets then continues through various other enlightened beings, depending on the branch of Spodism in question. Literalists may argue amongst themselves about the validity of different prophets and their revelations - the first Clericarch Seranai, Jaharan, Tadjamad and many others - but none would dare even suggest that the Scrolls of Faith may be, in some way, incorrect. While still espoused by some hard-line Spodists, Literalism with its fundamentalist ideas is widely rejected nowadays as outdated and dogmatic.

However, one reformist branch of Literalism, once deemed heretical during the early days of the Church, survived and became widely accepted today. Known as Viatorism, it originated back on Vendespode with the Anointed Society, but only truly gained traction when the s first encountered other sapient species and realised, for the first time, that they were not a unique phenomenon in the universe. Viatorism rejects the notion that the Radeons were the first to receive Spode's revelation: they were preceded by countless other enligthened species, and their prophet was but one of many. The Messengers that appeared to Al'khear were merely members of these enlightened species who sought to spread the word of Spode to the Radeons, just as the Radeons themselves spread it to other civilisations.

Viatorism enjoys great popularity in many Spodist communities, from to the  and the s, and is even accepted by some non-Spodist scholars, particularily in  where it is conflated with the local belief in the. It is perhaps because of this popularity that Viatorism is one of the most diverse theories on the origins of Spodism. Traditional Viatorism postulates that the line of prophets is "like a chain with no beginning and no end", and rejects the idea that the first enlightened beings can be found at all. This belief is promulgated, for example, among the Corgel in the, who believe that Spodism is simply one form of the "natural drive of sapient beings towards greater order". Nunciary Viatorism, closely related to the Spodist sect of Eolanai, believes that the first Spodists were ascended beings in Andromeda, who were enlightened in their spiritual ascension and then proceeded to spread their truth to other species. Radessic Viatorism gives the mantle of first Spodists to the instead, with their belief in the Universal Truth: it is popular among the more chuavinistic Andromedan Radeons who see themselves as natural leaders of the Spodist world as heirs to their creators.

Alongside these spiritual explanations of Spodism's origins there exist more secular theories, which seek to understand it through the lens of religious comparativism and historiography. The ideas of Shai-Pragmatism, for example, are particularily popular in among s and in the. Pragmatists commonly believe Spodism to be descended, one way or another, from the so-called Death Cults of Shai. A monotheistic mystery religion that coexisted with worshippers during the early days of the Radeon species, members of the Death Cults were said to reject the voices of the plant-gods, and instead communed with the collective spirit of the Vendespode's dead, which they referred to as Shai, Classical Radessic for grave. According to pragmatists, the Shai cultists were not exterminated by the Ley'harites as it is described in Radeon chronicles, but instead survived by syncretising the Ley'har faith with their own beliefs, eventually creating Spodism. While popular, this theory is extremely offensive to Spodists and is thus sometimes avoided by scholars, especially in Andromeda.

In Mirus, the practice of Spodism has been blended, more or less, with some other believe systems native to the galaxy, such as, though these local religions have not changed radically as whole because of it. The main race that practices Spodism are the member races of the, though their practices differ greatly from those of other Spodists, to their distances from other members, and stubbornness in regard to local believes, often blending their old religious beliefs, and changing deities to become Angels and Messengers of Spode, or Spode himself in disguise. Their old wars with the other powers, before reformation, has caused certain races to take a rather negative view of Spodism. The Meta-Saur race also practices their version of Spodism, taking to believing Spode is not an individual or God, but a Concept and goal to reach, and to continue to meditate and learn in order to reach such an enlightened state.

Finally, the Syncretist view combines both pragmatist and Viatorist tenets, and views them all as valid, and Spodism as having been created by all these factors. The Rades belief in the Universal Truth may have influenced the Spodist pantheism, while the may have formed the Spodist idea of celestial order. The Ley'harites and the cults of Shai may have influenced the visual aspects of Spodism, especially for Radeons. For instance, the traditional anthropomorphisation of Spode as an old woman in a cloak holding a scale could be based on the similar personifications of Shai, while the concept of Spode's prophets could be taken from the avatars the Ley'har created to direct their worshippers. This theory is less controversial than Shai-Pragmatism, and is even accepted by some faithful Spodists who are conscious of how much their religion was influenced by outside sources, yet see some truth in it nonetheless. It is also widespread in the, where it is seen as both reasonable scientifically and respectful towards the nation's closest ally.

Era of One Faith (100,000 BCE - ~40,000 BCE)
"There is only one god, yet all existence it part of it. There is only one heaven, yet all living things walk under it. There is only one Clericarch, yet all Radeon-kind bows to her. There is only one Church, yet all shall heed its teachings."

- Seranai the First Whatever its origins, the beginnings of Spodism as it is known today lie with the action of Seranai the First, unifier of the race and founder of the. The convention of priests she convened, known as the Council of Surphaelm, brough the many conflicting Spodist denominations on Vendespode under a single state church, with Seranai herself as its Clericarch. Her form of Spodism was influenced both by the more traditional sects on the southern continent of Enara, and by the radical reformists from the northern region of Salveron. It rejected hereditary aristocracy, and strict matriarchal traditions gender roles that characterised the former, yet unlike the latter, it still postulated the importance of a strict religious hierarchy, which in Seranai's church was synonymous with state hierarchy. Understanding that religious divisions were in part responsible for the devastating wars that plagued the planet before her, Seranai was ruthless with those who rejected her vision, and the early years of her reign were marked with great purges against perceived heretics and enemies of the state.

Seranai's Spodism was, in part, an instrument of her power: it praised the state as an incarnation of the Spodist idea of unity in the mortal realm, and hailed her as a holy prophet. Yet many of the more spiritual aspects of Spodism were also brought to order under her rule, such as panentheism, the fourfold nature of Spode, and the reincarnation of all sapient beings. These doctrines, which were previously contested by heretical scholars, were now enshrined in the Seranaic Creed, a list of beliefs deemed mandatory for all Spodists. The Scrolls of Faith were compiled into one single tome for the first time, known as the Canonic Sutras. It was in this unified and purified form - now known as the One School - that the Spodist faith took as it spread to the distant stars with Radeon missionaries.

However, it is obvious that Spodism could not exist for long in such a united state for long. Clericarchs could, with great difficulty, maintain orthodoxy on one planet, yet now that the holy faith was professed on countless worlds by countless species, none could ensure that all would adhere to the One School to the letter. Thus came different interpretations of the scripture, different styles of religious art that defied the canons set by Seranai, and different views on the nature of Spode. Species which were converted to Spodism infused it with their own old beliefs, and as communication between worlds was much less stable back then, their religious systems would then develop independently. Even on Vendespode itself, wealthy clerics introduced loopholes and revisions to sacred commandments, to justify their own sinful acts.

Era of Caesaropapism (40,000 BCE - 2000 CE)
"Let it be known that no faithful shall raise her arms against a Theorationalist for her faith or her rites or her prayer to Spode, unless she damns the name of the Clericarch and the Holy Church. For all faithful are brothers, though their many ways may differ, as proclaimed by Divine Shemaphis in Twilight 20:24:103."

- Article 12 of the Holy Charter

Despite its own vices, however, Vendespode maintained the veneer of conservatism, and opposed the growing heresies fiercely. Inhabitants of outer worlds were put out of positions of high station, deemed untrustworthy for their deviance, replaced by Radeon scholars from the capital, who were sent all over the Church to bring the heretics back into the fold. At times, the Church even used force to punish particularily notorious apostates - the infamous Burning of Qabolh is a well-known example of brutality that occured during that period. Nevertheless, tried as they could, none of the Clericarchs could replicate the kind of religious unity that existed during Seranai. Orthodox clerics who spread true Spodism were often dismissed by locals as corrupt and hypocritical, while military interventions only served as further proof for the heretics that their cause was just.

Ultimately, there came a time when the Orthodox clergy on Vendespode could no longer maintain a religious monopoly any more. The insurgency on, during which which the armies of the Church actually lost to the apostates, ended with the signing of the Holy Charter, which allowed Sanctuarians to retain their Theorationalist rites and beliefs so long as they accepted the Clericarch as their spiritual liege. Soon after that, countless other sects all over the Church - Imperion personalists, the Tigris Cults of Dei'Ar, and the countless pre-spacefaring syncretic churches of Spode - pleaded that they be given similar rights and over the course of several generations, received them. Ultimately, the old Seranaic Creed was displaced by the new Creed of Imalith, which reinterpreted certain points of doctrine to allow for greater diversity of views. Some sects refused even this agreement, and declared their own Clericarchies: most were swiftly suppressed, but some managed to gain their independence.

Thus began what is known as the Caesaropapist era of Spodism, characterised by the increasing diversity of theological thought and the transformation of its high clerics from spiritual leaders into more political figures. Vendespode remained an important religious center, but was no longer the place from where religious doctrine was declared: it was merely a primus inter pares, and many sects openly showed disgust with its opulence and corruption hidden behind dogmatism. On the other hand, the Clericarch and their Exarchs retained their wealth and worldly power; as their spiritual influence waned, they could now focus more on their personal domains around their homeworlds. The upper hierarchy of the Church of Spode, as well as of other minor Spodist churches, began to fall to vice and corruption. On the other hand, however, freedom of expression and speech, previously stifled by Vendespodean inquisitors, could now flourish, resulting in many Spodist worlds at the time experiencing a cultural renaissance.

Modern Era (2000 CE - Present)
"To all those faithful who hear me, let it be known that this crown is no longer mine alone. The burden that it carries, of ten thousand Clericarchs before me who wore it, cannot fall upon an empress of but one realm. Let the Diadem of Twilight thus fall from my head and become the symbol of this august body, for it now wields the power of the Divine Throne of old."

- upon the formation of the Grand Communion

The end of the Caesaropapist Era was slow and gradual, and historians cannot pinpoint the year when its decline first came into motion. It was a process of parallel regress of the Church's inner regions, which retreated more and more from the outside universe, and the growth of its outer vassals, who sought to assert their own religious as well as political authority. As time went on, many autonomous Spodist churches that previously swore fealty to the Clericarch abandoned even the pretense of loyalty to Vendespode. Some did it under the pressure of foreign powers, such as the Corgel Kingdom, which created its own independent church to appease the. Others seceded thanks to their own ambitions, such as the warlike Missionistus Ministry. Either way, the Church of Spode was slowly, but steadily losing its unity.

The final nails in the Church's coffin were the Jaharani Crusades, a series of bloody wars waged by the Mad Clericarch Jaharan in a desperate attempt to unify all Spodists under one flag once more. While Jaharan had some success in bringing the "wayward churches" under his heel for a decade or two, the atrocities committed by his crusaders did more to divide Spodism rather than unite it. Many races who were previously still in communion with Vendespode, such as the, were appalled by Jaharan's brutality and decided to disassociate themselves from his church, while Spodist minorities in foreign nations began to be persecuted as untrustworthy and dangerous. The Clericarch who succeeded Jaharan after his defeat, Telfar au'Jahali, struggled to keep what remained of the Church after the war together, but then came the, and Vendespode itself was reduced to a burning ruin. The united Church of Spode was no more.

After the dust had settled, numerous pretenders for the title of Clericarch of all Spodists appeared, such as Tadjamad Althess of the and the leaders of the, though most Spodists ignored their claims and remained loyal to their local churches. Meanwhile,, despite being composed mostly of former Church races and claiming to be the Church's successor, rejected the same claim, and its leader, though she was crowned Clericarch, refused extend to extend her authority outside her empire's borders. However, recently, a number of large Spodist states including the Divinarium as well as the of the  and, came together under the so-called Grand Communion, agreeing on a number of religious doctrines and forming the  for political and economic cooperation. The League can be considered to be an heir of some sort to the old Church of Spode, although it lacks a Clericarch, governed instead by the Holy Synod formed by representatives from all its member states.

Theology
For the most part, Spodism is a pantheistic, or, strictly speaking, a panentheistic religion. , the deity revered by the Spodists, is considered to be not just the chief god of all reality, or its creator, but rather reality itself. It is the most perfect, omnipotent and omniscient being in existence, for it encompasses all, and permeates every living and nonliving thing. All matter and energy, all laws of science, and life itself are all extensions of its being and exist by its will. Different religious scholars invented different metaphors to explain such a relationship between the deity and the physical universe: some compared reality to a dream created in Spode's everlasting sleep, while others described reality as the body and Spode as the mind. Either way, this panentheistic doctrine lies at the heart of the Spodist religion, for it posits that all living beings, as parts of Spode, are capable of reuniting with its omnipresent consciousness, whether through meditation and prayer, or upon death. This state of oneness, when one's mind is at harmony with all reality, is considered to be sacred in Spodism, and to achieve it is a path to salvation.

Although Spodism is generally a monotheistic religion, it does allow for the existence of other supernatural beings (to do otherwise in the First Gigaquadrant would be either ignorance or stupidity). However, Spodist theology makes it clear that no beings other than Spode itself are worthy of being called deities, let alone of worship. The Radessic dichotomy of Nar, an epithet for true divinity literally meaning "great", and har, a term which literally means "thing" but is used in a derogatory manner for heathen gods, has been adopted by Spodists all over the Gigaquadrant. Beings such as the or the  are respected as part of the natural order of things, but are exactly that: mere parts of the all-encompassing universal order that is Spode.

However, exceptions exist to this rule: in certain Spodist denominations, especially those which experienced strong foreign influences, there exists another category of deities between Spode itself and har. These are supernatural beings which, for one reason or another, have crawled their way into Spodist mythology and took an inferior, but significant place in it - conflated with the nameless angelic and demonic beings described in the Scrolls of Faith. They are commonly referred to as demigods, although Spodists themselves reject that terminology as blasphemous, describing them instead as important beings. The "demgods" are not actually different from the many other (false) deities per se, but, having a larger role in Spode's design and in the life of the faithful, they warrant a certain degree of reverence. The "important beings" are subdivided into the malevolent Mali and the benevolent Isio.

Mali
"Never before had Spode felt so close, so... real. When the force of absolute evil appeared, one was bound to believe that its opposite existed too. At least, we all hoped it did."

- Clericarch Tadjamad on the, often described as Mali.

The term Mali, translated as false gods, demons or anti-gods, refers to those gods that actively seek to oppose the faithful and against whom protection is sought in Spode's shadow. To whom this term applies varies from faith to faith. For example, Spodism applies to its three Dark Gods, powerful  avatars which have been terrorising the Ankoran since times immemorial; while the Eolanai sect of Theorationalism uses the term for dark ascended beings. Although not worshipped per se, they are feared and even, to a degree, respected: they are seen as an equally important part of Spode's design as everything else, created to test the resolve of the faithful, for them to resist and overcome.

A particularily common Mali god present in numerous Spodist denominations is the so-called False God that Will Come. A belief which seemed to have originated during the Church of Spode's early interstellar expeditions, perhaps borrowed from another religious system, few can actually agree on what this False God actually is, only that he (or she) is destined to one day rise against Spode in vain and usher in a great war in which the faithful would only prevail through great sacrifice. In the past, foreign deities have often been declared as the False God that Will Come to justify wars of conquest, or this belief was interpreted more broadly to refer to the unbelievers in general.

After the, many Spodists, especially Radeons, came to consider the False God that Will Come to be the , whose worshippers were defeated by the but destroyed the  in the process. Many, however, believe that the False God's time has not yet come, and link him (or her) with a prophecy in the Scrolls of Faith referring to "the firstborn raven that devours the stars".

Isio
"And so the Isio came forth to Alkhear, from their kingdom of dreams and souls, and spoke: rise. Their violet words became light, and the light became law, for Spode spoke through them, and Spode is law. And so rose the earth, and so rose the sea, and so rose Alkhear, enlightened and free. Twelve violet lights, twelve violet kings, and the Eagle, the king of kings."

- Testament of Alkhear the First

The term Isio was first used in the Scrolls of Faith for the angelic beings who brought enlightenment to Prophet Alkhear, agents of Spode in the physical universe. Since then, it has come to refer to supernatural beings who work to serve Spode's design. As bridges between the incomprehensible greatness of Spode and the ordinary mortals, they intercede on its behalf to aid the faithful, and while not truly gods, they are seen as worthy of veneration and may be offered prayers. Outside their formal name, the Isio are also commonly referred to as Spodelings (Radessic Espotha'ali, heavenly children) and Messengers: the latter has become the most common appelation for them in most branches of Spodism.

Much like the Mali, different beings may be given the title of Messengers, and often these beings may not have anything in common at all. Consequently, they may be depicted in different ways. In Masaari Radeon tradition, Messengers are described, alternatively, as "angels of purple light", surrounded by hosts of bizzare creatures, or as "blue-skinned dwarfs who forged life". In cases when Spodism subsumed foreign religions, their former deities were sometimes reimagined as Messengers, and their depictions changed accordingly. For instance, apocrypha describe the Messengers as the "five ocean kings", "dark of skin and with eyes like radiant sapphires"; while the  depicted them as golden-skinned titans riding on the sands of time.

The Messengers, especially the original Isio from the oldest scriptures of Spodism, have been a subject of much speculation by Spodist theologians and mystics. Ancient sources describe them both as "forgers of reality by the will of Spode", pointing to them being some unknown kind of or, and as "beings of earthly birth", "both of this world and of another" - hinting at their mortal origins. A common theory, now accepted in and some other Spodist states, is that the original Messengers are in fact ascended mortals, the "first Spodists" who achieved enlightenment long before Alkhear's revelation and subtly guided him, and then the faithful in general, towards greatness. The appearances of such ascended beings in the recent years, such as during the  and  during the, have given even more ground to that idea.

Divines
Divine is the term used for the Spodist equivalent of saints - virtuous mortals who were exemplars of faith themselves in their life and spread or defended it through their actions. Pious leaders who protected the domains of the faithful, bold missionaries who brought the light of Spode to the distant stars, and brave warriors who sacrificed their lives to safeguard holy places are all those to whom divinehood is commonly conferred. The lives of the Divines, documented in epic poems known as testaments, inspire the faithful, and provide an example for them to strive towards.

In many branches of Spodism, Divines are venerated not merely as paragons, but almost as minor deities themselves. It is believed by many Spodists that, although Divines have achieved enlightenment and are therefore now one with Spode, they neverthless maintain a degree of individuality and remain in the material world to guide the faithful. As such, they can be asked for aid, invoked in prayer and receive worship - sometimes, even icons bearing their image are revered as holy relics. Some Spodist sects take that idea one step further, conflating (some) Divines with the Messengers as "ascended mortals".

Distinct from the Divines is the so-called Dynasty of Prophets. According to the Scrolls of Faith, when Alkhear the First, the original founder of Spodism, saw the bloodshed that would engulf the faithful after his death, he petitioned for Spode not to accept him, but rather to let him return to the mortal world once again to save his people. Since then, it is said, Alkhear has reincarnated many times in different places, appearing in times of need to protect the faithful from their foes and purify Spodism from heresy. Seranai the United, Tadjamad the Defender, Shadilath the Great and Shatlak the Proud were all believed to be these reincarnations: the soul of Alkhear, it is believed, will only be allowed peace when Spodism prevails all over the universe.

Beliefs
"Faith in Spode quiets all doubt. Spode tells you why you exist, assures you that you have a purpose, tells you how to behave, and assures you of eternal happiness. Those opposed to Spode say that there is no evidence for any of these assertions. But what evidence is needed, beyond the joy in the hearts of those who follow Spode?"

- Scrolls of Faith

As Spodism is a widespread and diverse place, few beliefs and practices are truly universal in it. Many doctrines and tenets are rejected by one branch of the faith or the other, and even those which are accepted by all may be interpreted in completely different ways. The same rite that is performed on Crepusculum in the complete silence of ritual meditation may be accompanied by music, dancing and chanting on, meant to put the faithful into ecstatic trance. However, there exist certain doctrines which have remained, relatively unchanged, in almost all Spodist sects. Spodist mystics call them the Four Truths, associating them with the four aspects of Spode, and revere them by reciting the Four Holy Mantras.

Connection: Fate and free will
"All is one, one is all."

- The First Holy Mantra

Perhaps the most important tenet of Spodism is the doctrine of connection (Radessic araqshema, lit. interwovenity). In Spodist context, it means the idea that all living and non-living things in existence, from the tiniest quark to the largest galaxy, are intrinsically connected through one common denominator: Spode itself. Everything is not just interconnected; it is part of a single mechanism, and just like cells and organs constitute an organism, so too do stars, planets, life and constitute Spode.

From this main doctrine, a number of other important tenets of Spodism are derived. The most important of these is the idea of collective determinism. For a Spodist, the independent self simply does not exist. Since all things are connected, noone exists in a vacuum: from birth and to the very grave, one is influenced by those around them, those who came before them, and many other external factors that one cannot influence. All the actions that one may undertake will, one way or another, be a reaction to these external factors. One may hide from a desert storm in a yurt, stride through it defiantly, or avoid it by looking for another route: but one way or another, the storm will affect their decisions. Everything that transpires does so in accordance to Spode's grand design.

Yet despite this seeminly fatalist philosophy, Spodist connection does not deny the existence of free will; in fact, it presupposes it. Since all things are part of Spode, including sapient life, all its thoughts are thoughts of Spode itself, their faint but still recognisable echoes. As such, though one's personal will is limited by the will of Spode, one is capable of shaping that will, if only to a miniscule amount, into one direction or another. What actions are free and what are predetermined, where is Spode's will and where is their own, one cannot know; one can only strive to make the two indistinguishable, to do only what Spode intends them to do. From this idea, the two other important doctrines of Spodism are derived: harmony and commnuity.

Harmony: Morality and inner peace
"I am at peace, for my heart desires the right."

- The Second Holy Mantra

The Spodist idea of harmony (Radessic nethasha, soul-peace) is the state of perfect alignment with the cosmos, when one's will perfectly coincides with the will of Spode. Psychologically, it manifests as the feeling of inner peace and sureness: the calm that fills the meditating monk, the righteous wrath of a crusader on a holy war, or the ecstatic fire of a proselytising missionary. Full harmony with Spode cannot be achieved ordinarily, at least when one is alive, for personal desires will always steer one away from it. Yet the faithful must always strive to be closer to that unreachable acme of purity, through constant meditation and prayer, as well as through acts of virtue.

The notion of harmony lies at the heart of Spodist moral system: a harmonious person, who is at peace with themselves and with the universe, is a moral person. Thus, in order to do no evil, one must always keep the will of Spode in mind and act accordingly. Through the wisdom of the Scrolls of Faith and the life stories of prophets and Divines, one can learn to do so, and the reward is the kind of peace and joy that no worldly pursuits can give. Wealth, pleasure and power are fleeting, and pursuing them will never give one true satisfaction: yet a harmonious person, who views them only as means to an end, will want for nothing, and will thus be more fulfilled than the wealthiest man in the universe.

Harmony also plays a large role in the Spodist concept of the afterlife, the Eternal Cycle. According to the Scrolls of Faith, those who have maintained inner harmony throughout their lives and kept their souls in tune with Spode's will may eventually reach such an elevated state that their selves would simply dissolve in Spode upon their deaths. They would ascend to the highest of spiritual planes and become everything, their souls dispersed in the thoughts of all living things. However, this fate is only preserved for the most virtuous of the faithful, while all others, as well as the unbelievers, would remain in this world instead, their souls simply reincarnating in new bodies.

Community: Individual and social needs
"We comes from the heavenly, I comes from the demonic."

- The Third Holy Mantra

If achieving harmony is required for bringing the individual close to Spode, then community (Radessic orthesh'nath, great order) is meant to extend that closeness to the entire society. This word, in Spodist context, refers to the particular idea of social order (usually applied to states, but also to other forms of organisation such as families or companies) that conforms with Spode's will and facilitates virtue. In such a society, the works and aspirations of every individual are directed towards the common good, while its leaders direct it so that this common good serves Spode's design. It would be like the cosmos itself: organised, all-encompassing, its laws as final and unbending as the laws of reality.

One of the main principles of a society in community is collectivism. It is the duty of every individual to sacrifice their own goals for the service of society as a whole, and although society is meant to serve the individual in return, it should never give too much, so that the faithful would not fall to sin and sloth from the luxury of easy life. Unlike the similar schools of thought on Earth, however, Spodist collectivism does not necessitate equality. A common saying amongst Spodists is "all have a role to play": though all faithful are equal in the eyes of Spode and under the law, different people have different duties, like cells and organs in a living organism, and while some are destined to lead, others must serve. In that regard, a society in community can be called integralist.

Although the principle of community is omnipresent in Spodism, its application can vary from denomination to denomination. Some believe in a more encompassing, even totalitarian interpretation of it, calling for the state to control every action of its citizens - for their own sake, so that they would never stray from the will of Spode. Such radical ideas were realised, for example, by the Theorationalist technocratic government of. Other Spodists believe that such enforced community would inevitably become corrupt, for such power cannot be given even to the most virtuous. They feel that the duty to create a society in community lies more with individual citizens, who must organise themselves rather then be organised by an outside force. This school of thought is popular in the more democratic Spodist nations, such as the ironically unreligious.

Action: Prayers and holy wars
"Faith is empty without action, action empty without faith."

- The Fourth Holy Mantra

The Spodist concept of action (Radessic mehri) is multifaceted. In the oldest sacred texts, it refers to the mental techniques that helped strengthen the souls of ancient s and shield them from the. Later, the meaning of that term has broadened to refer to every action that is seen as propagating the will of Spode, from prayer to missionary work. It can also be understood in a more abstract sense as the overall belief of Spodists that faith, while important, is powerless in itself, and must be accompanied with deeds for the faithful to be considered virtuous.

Spodist theology makes a distinction between inner action, which facilitates personal harmony and focuses on the self, and outer action, which extends outwards towards others. Balance between the two is key: one who is too immersed in worship of Spode that they forget to help their neighbour in need is no Spodist, and neither is the hypocrite who spreads the will of Spode far and wide but forgets to purify their own soul in the process. Inner action, in most Spodist sects, includes meditation, prayer, mantra chanting, and the ritual recitation of the Scrolls of Faith. The more heterodox branches of the faith may practice more exotic forms of worship, from yoga-like gymnastics (long practiced by the Dei'Ar Order), to self-flaggelation or even sensual tantric techniques, but such practises are looked down by most religious authorities, and are very uncommon.

What constitutes outer action is much more vague, and is in fact a hotly debated topic amongst Spodist theologians. Most favour a consequentialist approach: essentially, everything that would result in preserving and strengthening Spodism is outer action and thus virtuous. However, this idea inevitably opens up the Pandora's box of extremism: which actions that strengthen Spodism are morally acceptable, and which aren't? Many Spodists, such as Jaharan's Ferrics or the assassins of the Nel'phanar, have believed that the end justifies the means in all cases: it does not matter how many innocents die, so long as the faithful prevail in the end. This doctrine has led to the justification of many bloody holy wars and atrocities throughout history. It is for this reason that the more moderate Spodists believe that certain acts, such as aggressive war, cannot be justified by the idea of greater good. Such acts are so sinful, it is said, that they take the souls of believers out of balance, and can only be undertaken after great consideration and with the approval of the higher clergy.

Ceremonies
Two chief rites are present in all Spodist sects throughout the Gigaquadrant. The first is the Rite of Birth, which, despite its name, is not limited solely for the newborn, but for any new converts into the religion, which are said to be "born again". During the rite, the convert is placed before the temple's altar and doused in aromatic herbal oils, while scented candles are lit around them and the priest chants mantras from the Scrolls of Faith: the exact composition of the oils may differ from sect to sect depending on the materials at hand, but strong aroma is key. This practice is believed to have originated back on ancient Vendespode, where it served the purely practical purpose of clearing the body from spores.

The funerary Rite of Death, on the other hand, is simpler, but more symbolic in nature, and reflects the Spodist ideas of balance and harmony that retain their importance even in death. The body of the dead is first bathed and then cremated (traditionally on a pyre, but now usually in a crematorium): in other words, water, representing life and inner growth, is used alongside fire, the symbol of destruction and purification. Thus, the rite symbolises the conflicting parts of the soul coming together in death, and the hope that the dead will either reunite with Spode or reincarnate in a better world. The ashes of the dead are then placed in urns, which are buried in crypts alongside those with whom they were close in life. If cremation is impossible or impractical, the dead can be simply buried instead, or even be given a sky burial, but such practices are not widespread.

Outside these two chief rites, there exist many other ceremonies and rituals which are present in one branch of Spodism or another. Particularily common are rites dedicated to repentance, but since no common tradition for it was estabilished in the Scrolls of Faith, repentance may take different forms. In some sects, they are strictly private, while in others sins are confessed collectively during public sermons, with the priest often being the first to confess while their flock follows in their example. Often, the Rite of Birth would be repeated upon adulthood as a kind of coming of age ceremony, except that it would be the Spodists themselves, rather than the priest, who would recite the holy mantras - such a tradition is present amongst the Monoculians. In other cultures, coming of age would be celebrated by pilgrimage to holy places, or even to other worlds -, for example, would travel to other Spodist planets to learn about the traditions of their fellow believers.

Prayers
Spodist tradition distinguishes between "prayer of service", which show obedience to Spode, and "prayer of aid", invoked when in need of divine help. The former is considered to be an obligatory show of piety and is performed daily at dusk (or at dawn - theologians argue whether the timing of Spodist rituals, devised by the nocturnal Radeons, should be reversed for diurnal species or not). Although described as a prayer, it has more in common with meditation: it consists of clearing the mind through chanting mantras from the Scrolls of Faith, so that the Spodist could realise their insignificance before the universe as a whole and their humility before Spode. Prayers of aid, on the other hand, are not meant to be asked frequently. Spode's design is seen as unchangeable and perfect: to ask for a different role in it is seen as selfish or even arrogant. For this reason, divine assistance is asked not directly from Spode, but from Divines and Messengers, seen as more open to the pleads of the ordinary faithful.

Festivals
Ancient Spodists generally shunned religious festivals; what few important holidays they had they celebrated in a very reserved manner, without pomp and festivity. In part that was an extension of Spodist collectivist ideas: no single person was remembered, only the works of many, and no day in particular was important compared to the eternal flow of time. In part that was done to squash the remains of the faith, where hedonistic festivities in honour of the gods were commonplace, often accompanied by cannibalistic feasts, sacrifices or mass orgies. The only festivals accepted during that time were the Day of the Prophet, which celebrated the enlightenment of Alkhear the Great, the Day of the Dead, a remnant of the old cult of the death goddess Shai, and the festivities associated with the New Year and the start of spring.

However, as Spodism developed and spread, often subsuming foreign religions and their traditions, the policy of the clergy on religious festivals became more lax: new festivals emerged, dedicated to Divines and Messengers, while festivals which already existed began to celebrated in a less solemn manner. Often these developments were criticised by the more conservative clerics, who believed that such festivities distracted the faithful from Spode, and to this day some Spodist sects such as the Radical Theorationalists treat religious festivals with disdain. Others were more open, seeing the festivals as a way to strengthen the communal spirit of the faithful. The most popular Spodist festivals include:


 * Four Glorious Days: more of an extension of the Day of the Prophet than its own independent festival, the Four Glorious Days mark the four days Prophet Alkhear spent in a near-death state in the jungle as he received his revelation from the Messengers. Fires are often lit during the four days, symbolising Prophet Alkhear burning the Ley'har to prove they were not gods: burning dragon-like effigies is also sometimes practiced.
 * Founder's Day: also called the Daevlothia, this Theorationalist holiday is dedicated to Divine Daevloth Aertha'in, a Theorationalist leader who led the first pilgrims to settle on . Though it was not originally celebrated widely, as Theorationalists shunned both public festivities and saint worship, this holiday was essentially reinvigorated by Sanctuarium's human population, who syncretised it with their own traditions and turned it into a festival of gift-giving. In this form, the Daevlothia spread throughout and even found minor acceptance in other Spodist nations.
 * Festival of the Interwoven All: originally conceived by Bunsen mystics, this holiday is dedicated to the Spodist idea of connection and involves making physical contact with a variety of things from distant places to symbolize the interconnectedness of everything in the universe through Spode. The more zealous believers ingest things or touch incredibly dangerous things to show their devotion.

Sects
Masaari has many heresies and sects, something that is allowed and even encouraged. The absolute truth cannot be comprehended by mortal minds, after all, thus, there are various disagreements over the religion. Inter-sect conflicts, however, are strictly forbidden, as that would destroy any concept of order that all followers agree to be the cornerstone of the Masaari. So far, there are five of major sects, omnipresent in the Divinarium: Ecunai (Radessic: Universal choice) sect is fairly common in the Divinarium, especially in its Milky Way colonies. According to this sect's teachings, the path of Masaari is known by many, just by different names. Followers of Ecunai are highly interested in studying other species' religions to find similarities, and are generally more cosmopolitan. Telfar Au'jahali was notably the follower of this sect, and his beliefs have helped him to open relationships with many civilisations of Gigaquadrant. Ecunai sect is also farily common among Cyrannian Radeons. Maelnai (Radessic: Choice of Punishment) sect is a polar opposite to the ecunai sect, and while relatively rare in the Divinarium (though not unknown), is common among other, minor Spodist empires. It preaches that the order that is the cornerstone of faith should be set not only among themselves, but among others - by force. Maelnai followers glorify holy war, believing it to be "the purest way of showing your faith". Like no others Maelnai honour determination, believing it to be the most important to the Masaari faith. Other sects consider Maelnai to be dangerous and extremist, but their militarist ways are gneerally tolerated, especially during the way where they are honoured greatfly for encouraging people. Laurinn Ma'fest, Tadjamad and Geltastra (before her corruption) are all famous Maelnai followers. Eolanai (Radessic: Choice of the Supreme [Ones]) is a rather peculiar sect that has appeared fairly recently but quickly grows in power and influence. Eolanai sect's main teaching is the high importance of the Messengers to it. It teaches that ascension to become the Messenger is the greatest glory for the believer, and that Messengers are the physical representation of Spode's will. It generally allows its followers to be a bit more individual, although order is still highly important to the Eolanai. They hold a neutral stance towards unbelievers, generally not caring about them. is the most famous Eolanai follower so far. Many other sects exist in the Masaari, but they are not important enough to be mentioned here.
 * Ecunai sect
 * Maelnai sect
 * Eolanai sect
 * Other sects

Spode
Spode, also known as Eola'Nar or Dei'Nar, is the deity believed by Radeons to be the architect of the universe and the creator of its fate. It can be paralleled to the of the Cyrannus religions (in fact, many Radeon citizen of the URC turned to the belief in One God), and is believed to be origin of. However, Spode is also described as a pantheistic force, a sentient universe of some sort. It is also considered to be the representation of absolute unity, something that its followers strive to.
 * Role: The main and only Masaari deity
 * Recognition: The being that is the universe. The being that is unity. The being that is the creator. The being that is the destroyer.
 * Reality: ? ? ?
 * Weapons: Control over the reality's laws
 * Defense: Irrelevant; Spode is a force that cannot be stopped.
 * Tools: Irrelevant
 * Major events: None

Spode is described as omnipotent being without any physical form, incomprehensible but benevolent. For Masaari followers, any living, sentient being carries on a small shard of Spode; as such, the unity and order is the key to reunite with Spode and ascend upon death. However, what exactly is Spode is debated among Masaari clergy greatly. Some believe it to be a personified deity, others consider it a sentience of reality, third percieve Spode as an universal law of some sort, fourth as a force that unites the universe. Despite this, every Masaari folower agrees that Spode is a great power beyond imagination.

Quotes
"We follow the path of truth."

"Can someone tell me why they're praying to one of us?!"

- A common Tahar in an argument

"An interesting religion...I feel that with the current position the Zazane are in, we may just take this up..."

"This faith promotes community, spiritual enlightenment and willpower and discourages ego and selfishness. It has my blessing."

- Archcleric Torlonus of the Cult of Drakon

"WAT DA HELL MAN HOW DA HELL CAN ANY DUMBO BELEEV DAT"

"A way one can interpret the extradimensional spirits whom are involved in this universe. A very good practice, but one that been known to cause bad things in past"

"Where will you Spode be as your world lies desolate from the most holy powers of our lord Khuaviiraahz?"

- Overlord Kranov