Minds of the Great Intelligence
Every living creature's mind contributes to the Great Intelligence (GI), a near-omniscient gestalt entity that oversees the world. So say the Minds of the Great Intelligence, at any rate.
Minds believe in the search for enlightenment. This enlightenment can take different forms depending on the individual, but it is always a form of personal contentment brought on by the GI. In many ways, the philosophy resembles that of the Brotherhood of Thought, and it is possible one group was originally an offshoot of the other. However, Minds tend to believe that enlightenment is something brought to people through belief and faith in the GI (though indirectly through all living beings supplying the GI with knowledge).
Structure
Followers and worshippers of the Great Intelligence are called Minds. Anyone can be a Mind just by declaring themself to be one. There is little actual structure to the Minds. Small groups of Minds might band together in various locations, but otherwise, there is no central hierarchy, and every individual group has its own internal structure.
However, there are rumours of a place known as the Sanctum of the Great Intelligence hidden somewhere in the wilderness. These rumours say the the core of the GI itself resides at the sanctum, attended by the Masterminds, Minds of elevated rank who are also custodians of all the accumulated knowledge of the world, including lost knowledge.
It is said that visitors to the Sanctum will find whatever they need to achieve true happiness. However, what they need may not be what they think they need. It is also said that no one has ever left the Sanctum unsatisfied.
Mythology & Lore
The Great Intelligence came into being about the same time as the first living thing emerged in the world. There is some disagreement amongst Minds whether the first living thing spawned the GI or if the GI spawned the first living thing. Either way, all Minds agree that the thoughts of every living creature in the world feed the GI with everything they experience and know. Thus, the GI remembers everything that has ever happened in the world and knows every fact and detail there is to know.
The GI will sometimes reward people (both followers and non-followers) with bursts of insight. Any time someone has a "Eureka!" moment, suddenly solving a problem or making a discovery, Minds believe that the GI is the guiding influence behind the moment.
Worship
The GI asks little of their followers other than acknowledgement of their existence, and to spread knowledge of their existence to other people. In return, followers will receive contentment and greater understanding.
Individual Minds interpret these vague requirements in different ways. Some feel the need to proselytize in the streets, informing literally everyone of the enlightenment that can come from acknowledging the GI. Others prefer a less intrusive way of practising their faith, only speaking of it when questioned about it by others. Many others are somewhere between these extremes.
The belief that the GI supplies their followers with bursts of insight can also lead many Minds to believe they know more about topics than they actually do. Of course, many Minds also believe they need to spread this new-found "knowledge" to everyone they meet.
The Great Intelligence is knowledge and experience. They are everywhere.
Founding Date
The beginning of time (so say the Minds), otherwise unknown.
Alternative Names
The GI
Demonym
Mind
Controlled Territories
Allegiance
Due to the lack of a central structure to the religion and the wide variety of ways people follow the GI, few people have an allegiance to the organization as a whole. However, allegiances to smaller groups of Minds are certainly possible. These could take the form of either organizational allegiances (when it is a slightly larger group such as a small community of Minds) or personal allegiances (such as when it is a group of just a few Minds travelling together). A theological allegiance is also possible.Indifferent to friendly
For the most part, each group accepts the other, but has no strong feelings, apart from occasional disagreements about which group is an offshoot of the other.
