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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Afrodyte" data-source="post: 559816" data-attributes="member: 8713">re: religionI'm deviating a great deal from the normal setup of d20 religions and having the question of all things spiritual be open for debate.  I will say that there are phenomena people observe, but how they choose to interpret it varies.Religion, as with government, is largely a local and personal matter.  However, although organized transregional religion no longer exists as such, the traditions of the past remain, although they too have survived.  Rather than give specific religions, I'll give a brief overview of the traditions and systems.  More on that later.As a whole, religion has taken a more visceral turn.  Strength and cunning are valued in most systems above things like beauty and truth.  Superstitions are no longer ridiculed, but practiced, even if not believed.  Astrology, tarot cards, crystal-gazing, and numerology are seen as practical tools for living.  In many cases, animal (and human) sacrifices are practiced to ensure the return of a bountiful season (or to get rid of the less desirable elements in society, elements that make the gods or spirits angry).  A few radicals are pacifist, but they don't live long in rough areas without protection.As far as religious traditions go, it would probably go without saying that paganism, pantheism, polytheism, and animism are the most common systems.  However, contemporary Wiccans would probably not recognize the often bloodthirsty worship traditions of the pagans in this era.  Whereas once the open veneration of astral beings, fae, and other spirits would be laughable today, in this era, these things are no longer scoffed at.  But long gone are their mostly benign implications.  Spirits are seen as more extreme, being malevolent or benevolent according to their nature and mood.  Ancestor veneration is once again the norm, and a few places believe that the spirits of earlier rulers watch over and protect the settlements.The monotheistic traditions have also had a facelift.  As with the other religious traditions, the particular practices and beliefs differ from settlement to settlement, but general trends can be noted.  Judaism, Christianity, and Islam have been changed as well.  Judaism, instead of being focused on Israel, incorporates all of humanity within its fold as children of God.  Christianity has refined its interpretation of messiah.  Instead of esteeming a single individual, they now believe that the title of Christ has applied to various religious leaders throughout history who have shown a way to divine living.  Martyrdom is not seen as a divine sacrifice, but the unfortunate result of living in a world of evil.  Islam has changed most of all, incorporating ideas that include the veneration of women and the female aspect of God.  The patriarchal elements of the religion are long gone, favoring a balance between the masculine and feminine aspects of God.  Worship of the Great Mother has returned as well, and in many respects resembles the omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent deity is much like Yahweh/Jehovah/Allah of today, but without the perspective that the masculine as the norm.  It is a simple change, but a profound one.  Strangely enough, many men are found as worshippers in the Great Mother belief systems.  Gnostic elements have made their way into the practice of these and other faiths as well, believing that only perfect knowledge can lead to a perfect understanding of God and what humankind should do.  The exact nature of this knowledge and what this implies vary according to each individual.The nontheistic traditions have changed as well.  The transcendant elements have all but disappeared from Hinduism and Buddhism.  Instead, life is seen as a gift, and the goal is not liberation from the cycle of reincarnation, but from the things which make life a burden and not a blessing.  Karma is still believed, but it is a teaching tool rather than an explanation for unhappiness or oppression.  A person who is born as one of the downtrodden does not believe that she did something bad in her past life, but that her condition in this life has particular lessons to teach her.  Each rebirth wipes the slate clean, but some communities believe that there is a hell for especially corrupt souls.</blockquote>

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