Luceism



The Luceian Square, a holy symbol of Luceism representing the extinguished but all-seeing Star of Assunzione's system that is simply waiting for the right moment to awaken

"So that the Star may someday return."

An unusual syncretic religion originating upon the planet of Assunzione, Luceism is a quasi-Abrahamic religion descended from a variety of faiths held by the original colonists that first emerged following the unexpected extinguishing of Assunzione’s star in 2274. While arguably a branch of modern Abrahamic religions, Luceism is a hard-to-define religion dedicated to the worship of an abstract representation of light referred to as the Ennoia. Though it is, unsurprisingly, strongest on Assunzione, followers of the faith can be found throughout the Orion Spur alongside their houses of worship, located almost exclusively in Assunzionii ethnic enclaves.

History
Luceism remains closely tied to the planet’s history in a general sense.

The founding year of Luceism is generally agreed to be 2274 in the immediate months following the Star’s extinguishing. The religion itself has no true founder as it originated from a meeting in Malaga referred to as the Council of Clergy intended to address the spiritual and societal crisis that had resulted from the star of the system going out. The faith exploded across Assunzione in the following years and by the early 2280s had become the dominant faith of the planet. In the 2460s Luceism remains the dominant religion on Assunzione, with upwards of 90% of the planet identifying with it. It also remains closely wedded to politics in the Republic of Assunzione, with many prospective politicians requesting blessings from clergy for their campaigns.

Houses of Worship
The chapels, cathedrals, and other assorted temples of Luceism range in size from simple rooms placed in the sides of buildings found throughout the planet’s habitation domes to formal churches to grand cathedrals dedicated to the worship of the Custodian of Light - they all have one trait in common. In the center of every properly consecrated Luceian house of worship dwells a constantly lit flame maintained around the clock by the clergy of the faith. This flame is, to true believers, a representation of Assunzione’s mostly-extinguished star, and the hope that they will be able to rekindle it somehow, someday. Their places of worship are - due to their distaste for the dark - generally extremely well-lit, often with no truly dark areas in them.

The design of Luceian churches and temples is an unusual one that indicates the faith’s roots in old Earthbound religions before the arrival of settlers to Assunzione. Formal churches will generally follow an X pattern in their construction, with a circular tower rising from the middle of the X and above the church. This tower generally houses the eternal flame of the church, and has been termed the “lighthouse” by outside observers. The inside walls of these churches are often lined with ornate stained glass windows depicting both the history of faith and of Assunzione itself. Areas of worship feature a raised central pulpit that is typically lavishly decorated, with followers seated in circular pews around the pulpit. Beneath this is what followers of Luceism refer to as a greater warding sphere - a large, circular object filled with luce vines that constantly fills its surroundings with a ghostly white light. Followers state that if one is experienced with reading the shadows cast by a lesser warding sphere, it will always point you back to Assunzione.

Though much attention is rightfully given to the grand houses of worship of Luceism, the most common area of worship in the faith - by quite a large margin - are small shrines commonly found in the homes of the faithful. These shrines are typically quite small, the size of a dresser or typical closet in order to conserve space within the limited living areas found under Assunzione’s biodomes, but are able to contain everything a small group of followers would need for their prayers, ranging from incense to prayer mats, to warding spheres. It is not uncommon to find these shrines in the homes of Luceians travelling far afield from their planet.

Doctrine
Due to the nature of Assunzione - primarily, the division of it into the seven great domed cities - Luceism itself is divided into two major doctrines: Pyramidical and Astructuralist. Despite this split, both follow the same core principles and follow the same god, but manner in which they go about honoring those principals and Ennoia, their god, varies between the two schools. Both doctrines coexist peacefully on Assunzione, despite major doctrinal differences in their worship of Ennoia.

The god of Luceism is known as Ennoia, and the faithful of Luceism regard it to be the entity that is responsible for ensuring that Assunzione’s Star will someday be restored to its former glory. Ennoia is a genderless entity that is often depicted as a series of interlocking wheels representative of the orbits of planets in the system surrounding a flaming eye representative of its long-extinguished Star. Ennoia is said to be a silent deity that is always watching Assunzione, waiting for the moment when the time is right for it to reignite the long-dormant Star. The matter of the Star’s name is an interesting quandary for Luceians as they do not believe in referring to it by its original name until it reignites. Followers will typically refer to it simply as “the Star” or “Assunzione’s Star” instead of its true name.

The central basis of Luceism shared between both denominations is that one must achieve mastery over their internal dichotomy between lightness and darkness in order to become one’s best self. Though this struggle for mastery has many dimensions, the largest “parallel revelations,” are referred to as the Four Flames of Luceism, and those with true mastery over the Pillars are said to be able to enter a state of extreme concentration where they are said to commune with Ennoia itself in a process referred to as Ennoic Vision. The Four Flames of Luceism are Self, Community, Faith, and Light; and they both have an aspect of lightness in addition to an aspect of darkness -- as such, the Flames are often represented in Luceian art as a set of four scales rather than literal flames. It is important that a faithful Luceian focuses upon all flames rather than simply one as neglect of one can lead to the crumbling of others. For example if one focuses upon themselves and neglects their community in the process, they unintentionally feed into aspects of darkness in their quest for lightness.

The Flame of Self is divided between understanding -- the aspect of lightness, where one accepts oneself for their flaws and learns to live with and overcome them -- and bliss -- the aspect of darkness, where one remains unaware of their flaws and unable (or unwilling) to improve. The Flame of Community is divided between charity -- the aspect of lightness, where one works with others to improve the community as a whole -- and patronage -- the aspect of darkness, where one works to improve the community while expecting direct benefits in return regardless of the cost to the community. The Pillar of Faith is divided between truth -- the aspect of lightness, where one supports their faith-- and surrender -- the aspect of darkness, where one abandons their faith. The Pillar of Light is the last of the four and is divided between light -- the aspect of light, and all associated with it -- and darkness -- the aspect of darkness, and all associated with it.

Pyramidicalism is the largest of Luceism’s two doctrines, and is strongest in the great domed cities of Triesto, Guelma, Makarska, and (most importantly) Malaga. Pyramidicalism derives its name from its faith structure -- with Ennoia forming the peak, the clergy between, and the followers forming the all-important base -- and a belief it shares with Astructuralism: that followers must master their base instincts before developing a further understanding of the principals intrinsic in Luceian faith. Pyramidicalism is based around an established series of consecrated temples of worship staffed by a dedicated clergy. Members of this doctrine meet for worship at times of dawn and dusk on every Sunday. Pyramidicalists do not have a formal leader, but rely upon a system of autocephalous seven metropolitans to determine who is fit to lead the faithful of a great domed city.

Key to Pyramidicalists is the pursuit of Alêtheia, or the destruction of falsehood to reveal the truth. Alêtheia is the Luceian term for mastery of one’s base instincts in order to gain an understanding of how to master one’s internal dichotomy between lightness and darkness. Mastery of Alêtheia is heavily emphasized in Pyramidicalist sermons and litanies, but can take years -- if not decades -- to achieve. Many of the truly faithful will often retreat into solitude to achieve a state of extreme concentration; focusing on the given values and concepts to redeem themselves and improve their own Alêtheia free of the influences and distractions of the wider world. Despite the difficulty inherent in the pursuit of true Alêtheia it remains a key tenant of Pyramidicalism to this very day. Many outside scholars believe this long-standing dedication to self-improvement in Pyramidicalism dates back to the uncertain months following the Star’s destruction, where the fate of the very planet itself tenuously hung in the balance.

Astructuralism is the smaller of Luceism’s two denominations, and is strongest in the great domed cities of Iraklio, Dalyan, and Said. Astructuralism derives its name from its lack of a formal hierarchy in its faith beyond informal spiritual leaders that command respect -- and followers -- through their own ability to master their internal dichotomy and their piety. Astructuralism is sometimes referred to as “Mystical Luceism” due to its greater emphasis on ritualism and the individual pursuit of the mastery and perfection of one’s internal dichotomy between lightness and darkness. Despite its emphasis on personal faith and smaller-scale worship over Pyramidicalism’s focus on structure and order, Astructuralism technically has a formal leader, though one with loose control, in the form of the First Sacristan -- an elected individual responsible for ensuring Astructuralism’s traditions are maintained for future generations.

Astructuralist rituals tend to be centered around sites that have not seen much use since the Star of Assunzione extinguished itself centuries ago: the large solar panel arrays that could be once found throughout the great domed cities, but have been mostly destroyed in the years following the Star’s extinguishment. Astructuralists fervently maintain these sites in preparation for the inevitable return (in their eyes) of Assunzione’s Star, and the glut of power that it will produce for the solar panels to lap up. Unfortunately for Astructuralists, the larger size of the Pyramidical doctrine and the constant need for more space means that there are very few solar panel farms suitable for use ritual sites outside of Iraklio, Dalyan, and Said. Solar sites within these cities are fiercely protected by Astructuralists, due to their holy status.

Synthetics
Luceism has a neutral stance on positronic life. It lacks the vitriolic hatred of the Moroz Holy Tribunal or the fervent acceptance of the Trinary Perfection, instead walking a somewhat unsteady middle path that is often left up to the individual member of the faith. While some Luceians will dislike a positronic’s inorganic nature, and “diet” of consuming power used to produce light, they might admire their capacity and drive for work. While small the Assunzionii robotics industry operates with the blessing of Luceism, and Pyramidical clergy often bless fully-completed IPCs before they are activated. Most IPCs produced on Assunzione go off-world, those that remain are typically programmed with an adherence to Luceism in order to make them more attractive to other Assunzionii. IPCs can be seen in many industries on the planet, and free positronics are not unheard of.

Clergy
The clergy of Luceism hail from every one of the great domed cities and while not everyone affiliated with the Luceian faith itself is a direct member of the clergy, many find themselves working under the umbrella of religious organizations affiliated with the faith. The clergy of Luceism are allowed to be of either gender, but they must be celibate and cannot marry while remaining an active member of the clergy. The clergy of Luceism primarily originate in the Pyramidical school of thought, as Astructuralists reject the need for a priesthood.

The Pyramidical clergy are divided into a series of ranks, ranging from simple initiates and trainees to spiritual leaders of entire areas. However, Astructuralist will often have guides and spiritual leaders in their communities that play a role similar to typical clergy albeit often without the splendor that often accompanies Pyrimidalist priests. Astructuralist, lacking a formal hierarchy, utilize one’s piety as a measure for how esteemed a spiritual leader should be.

Before one becomes a fully ordained Luceian priest in the Pyramidical tradition one must first be educated in a seminary which can take upwards of four years. Following the completion of a hopeful priest’s seminary schooling they are ordained in a Luceian temple and complete their ascension to the priesthood of Luceism. Priest, in Luceism, is considered a gender-neutral term used by both male and female clergy. Astructuralists vary in their requirements to become a religious leader due to their decentralized nature, but many follow a structure of apprenticeships in which a leader will train a follower to assume his or her position in the future; in essence, handing down their piety and traditions to their successors.

Above the typical priests of Pyrimidal Luceism are the seven Head Keepers of Luceism, the men and women responsible for maintaining the seven metropolitans of Luceism. With each metropolitan corresponding to one of the seven great domed cities, the Head Keepers wield an incredible amount of influence in Luceism - even, arguably, amongst Astructuralists. While the Head Keepers are considered to be equals, the Head Keeper of Malaga is considered to be something of a, “first among equals," due to the city’s status as the birthplace of the faith. The Head Keepers are elected by the priests of their metropolitans for five year terms.

Between the Head Keepers and simple priests rest the Keepers of Luceism, those individuals entrusted with the running of an officially consecrated Luceian religious site. Keepers are typically experienced priests or charismatic newcomers, as they must be elected by the clergy under them after the “period of grace,” following the first five years after a new site has been officially consecrated by the faith. Before a Keeper is elected, the founding priest will serve as an interim Keeper of the site. Due to this system of elections the list of Keepers is constantly changing and shifting as new ones come into favor and old ones fall out of it.

Warding Spheres
Warding spheres are religious artefacts almost universally carried by Assunzionii traveling afield from the planet itself. These small, crystal ball-esque, objects produce a ghostly whitish-blue light due to their internal lux vine bulb that, to followers of Luceism, symbolizes the eternal and undying flame that still dwells within their Star awaiting its reignition. It is considered extremely bad luck to not carry a warding sphere while abroad, to have one’s warding sphere break while abroad (or to have its flame otherwise dim and extinguish), or to relinquish one’s warding sphere to an unbeliever. For the truly faithful, it is said that the lights within one’s warding sphere will always point towards Assunzione.

Warding spheres are constructed out of crystal mined from the surface of Assunzione and luce vine bulbs harvested from outside of its domes and are assembled beneath the dome of Guelma. The typical warding sphere has one bulb inside its crystal sphere, and is carried in a light metal ball for safe-keeping. The crystal and bulb held within the metal is very, very fragile and care must be given to ensure that it does not shatter through carelessness. Treatments given to the lux bulb held within ensure that a singular sphere can burn for decades at a time if properly cared for. Greater warding spheres, which can be found in Luceian houses of worship, follow the same principal of construction but on a far larger scale.