Religion in Agland

Religion, today

In the Kingdom of Agland, the shadow of a long dominion under the Theocracy, ruled by the Priest-Kings, still lingers. This era, now overturned, has left an indelible mark on the kingdom's religious practices and hierarchies. Today, religion in Agland is firmly under the royal authority, with the King acting as the divine spokesperson. This consolidation of power has led to the establishment of a singular faith in the One God, under which only eight devotional cults dedicated to His Archangels are tolerated. These Archangels are revered as the eight rays of the divine wheel or as direct emanations from God Himself, each representing different spheres of divine influence.
The societal structure of Agland places the clergy in a peculiar position—valued less than the notable members of the Guilds yet holding more esteem than the common populace. This delineation underscores the nuanced role of religion in the kingdom's social and political fabric, highlighting the clergy's intermediary status between the divine and the earthly realms.
The official worship sanctioned in Agland is strictly monotheistic, focusing on the veneration of the One God and His eight Archangels. These celestial beings are:
The Redemeer - Embodying salvation and forgiveness, health and healing, souls towards redemption.
The Inevitable - Representing death and the unalterable fate that awaits all.
The Sage - Symbolizing wisdom and knowledge.
The Eternal - Exemplifying the infinite and unending nature power.
The Master - Patron of skill, craftsmanship, and mastery in all forms of creation.
The Maker - The divine architect, shaping the universe and all within it.
The Relentless - Emblematic of justice and unwavering pursuit of truth.
The Illuminated The source of light and purity, banishing darkness and ignorance.
These Archangels, considered as rays or emanations of God, highlight the multifaceted nature of the divine, encompassing aspects of life, death, wisdom, eternity, creativity, justice, and purity. Their worship is structured around the concept of the divine wheel, symbolizing the cyclical nature of life and the interconnectedness of all divine aspects.
Any deviation from the official form of worship is branded heretical and faces severe persecution. This strict religious orthodoxy underlines the kingdom's tumultuous past with the Theocracy and the efforts to maintain religious unity and order under the current regime. The legacy of the Priest-Kings has thus shaped a society where religious expression is both a reflection of divine order and a subject to the mandates of earthly power.