Nrljogad is a Current-Affairs newspaper circulated in the major cities of Jelbania. Its focus is primarily upon economic and political affairs.Wrntusrljikai Meets With Religious Leaders to Discuss Reformed Hosian Movement
- Klune T. Pshamazrk states sensible steps should be taken to maintain stability and prevent reactionary movements
- Chief Imam Hesn Cavrek, Kardinal Knstin Nrktahyeon, and Grand Shaman Jezklune K. Jeztri in rare solidarity in meeting
- Government announces flash census in order to gauge the potential ability for Reformed Hosianism to spreadWrntusrljikai Klune T. Pshamazrk has today announced that "sensible steps" should be taken in order to manage any potential spread of the religious movement Reformed Hosianism which has spread out of Likatonia in the previous two years. Gathering together the highest ranking officials from each of the major religions in Jelbania to discuss what action to follow next, Pshamazrk sought to emphasis the need to maintain religious stability within Jelbania.
The meeting follows reports that Benton, and a group of Reformed Hosian priests spent a week converting many Jelbanians, with their message reportedly reaching about 3000 people in the capital city of Baofluz. With the added influence of Likatonian-Football player Lazyr Salzyr continuing to use Tweeter as platform to discuss his new beliefs, officials tentatively estimate that Jelbania may have roughly 10,000 converts currently.
Despite the meeting being described by a source as "rather heated," the religious leaders showed a rare and rather extraordinary moment of solidarity in the aftermath, standing and answering press questions together. With the relationship between the religious leaders usually rather fractious, in no small part due to Jelbanians' habit of syncretising each of their faiths, the threat of a more evangelist strain of Hosianism on the established order has forced them to work together. Kardinal Knstin Nrktahyeon, the highest ranking member of the Terran Patriarchal Church, especially appears to have more need than the other two for establishment solidarity as his Church includes the worship of many saints, which the new Reformed Hosianism utterly condemns.
As part of the response the government has decided to follow, the President of the Kurultai, Hrne T. Nubaékndz stated that a nation-wide census would occur in order to establish which areas were most "susceptible" to the message of the Reformed Hosian movment. It is believed that this response was due to pressure by Grand Shaman Jezklune K. Jeztri, whose Tanhrism is not currently counted at census, and despite the protestations of the Hosian and Ahmadic leaders, Pshamazrk believed the measure necessary. Nubaékndz said that a balance had to be made between religious freedom and religious stability, and it was the government's role to "manage the situation". She also criticised some of the measures taken up by other nations.
We have to place the situation in the context of the religious makeup of our nation. Upon discussion with top theologians, they have informed me that most Jelbanian religion is henotheistic in nature. That means that although we may worship one god or deity, many Jelbanians do not deny the existence of other gods; they just do not worship those other gods. This means that whilst our religious disposition is one which does not initially seem to favour the new beliefs of the Reformed Hosian movement, especially in the context of their rejection of all saints, it also means that such a religion may be able to have a greater cultural impact in Jelbania than in most other countries around Terra where more similar forms of Hosianism can be found.
It is for this reason that the government has decided that it must take action to manage the spread of the movement. This does not mean prevent the spread, and I want to make very clear this government's continuing commitment to religious freedom within Jelbania, but rather to make sure that change, if it does appear, does not lead to religious tensions, and does not lead to reactionary movements which may be more extreme in nature. To this degree, the government will be monitoring speeches and actions made by members of this new movement to firstly guarantee that there is no extremist element to this movement, and secondly guarantee that if it does spread, it spreads manageably and slowly.
If the Kurultai will let me, I wish to also reflect upon the positions taken up by other nations, who have taken measures to prevent the movement to enter their respective nations. This, I must categorically state, is the wrong approach. The Wrntusrljikai has made very clear to me that religious freedom must be protected at all costs as we manage the situation, and thus I must inform the Kurultai that there are currently no plans to place travel restrictions on Likatonian citizens or members of this church given the current nature of the movement.
Overall, the government position appears to be one of let's see how it goes, and respond later. Many in the Steppe Party are inclined towards religious freedom due to their detestation of large government. However, if the Reformed Church continues to spread, the government may be forced to implement similar restrictions in order to keep civil rest amongst the more established religious orders in Jelbania.