Hosianism: Discussion and information

[jamescfm]

The purpose of this page is to provide a centralised location for clear out-of-character information about Hosianism, the in-game equivalent to Christianity. Undoubtedly the most developed religion within the game, understanding Hosianism is almost as confusing at times as understanding its real world equivalent. The primary objective of this thread is to provide simple explanations for players and redirect them to the relevant wiki pages for further information.

Aurorian Patriarchal Church

Probably the largest Church in the game (although this is dependent on the religious distribution of the forum-based countries), the Aurorian Patriarchal Church (APC) is the approximate equivalent to the Roman Catholic Church in the real world. Like the Catholic Church, the APC is led by a single religious leader on the basis of apostolic succession, the Arch-Patriarch.

The current organisation of the Church was agreed in 3876 with the Second Council of Auroria, bringing two previously existing Churches into full communion: the Selucian Patriarchal Church and the Theognosian Church. Both of these previous Churches were based primarily on the Catholic Church but had different organisational structures.

Terran Patriarchal Church

The Terran Patriarchal Church (TPC) is the approximate equivalent to the Eastern Orthodox Church with significant influences from Slavic mythology and paganism. The APC and the TPC are referred to collectively as "western Patriarchalism" because they both adopt a binitarian theology and recognise the First Council of Auroria. The leader of the TPC is the Pápež.

Apostolic Church of the East

The Apostolic Church of the East (ACE) is the approximate equivalent to the Oriental Orthodox Churches. The comparison is not perfect because some of the constituent churches of the ACE are not technically Oriental Orthodox and each of these constituent churches has a specific history that distinguishes it from the real-life equivalent.

The most significant difference between the ACE and the other Patriarchal churches is that they reject the binitarian theology established at the First Council of Auroria in favour of unitarianism.

The five major churches of the ACE are the following (with approximate real-life equivalents in brackets): the Apostolic Church of the Isles (Maronite Church), the Hobrazian Orthodox Church (Armenian Apostolic Church), the Barmenian Apostolic Church (Syriac Orthodox Church), the Aldegarian Apostolic Church (Assyrian Church of the East) and the Coburan Apostolic Tewahedo Church (a combination of the Coptic Orthodox Church as well as the Ethiopian and Eriterian Orthodox Tewahedo Churches).

Bishopalism

Bishopalism (primarily though the Bishopal Communion) is a Hosian tradition whose adherents self-identify as both "Luthoran and Patriarchal" (in the same sense that the Anglican Communion is described as "Catholic and Reformed"). The approximate real-life equivalent to Bishopalism is Anglicanism (also called Episcopalianism) though it includes Independent Catholicism and the Old Catholic Church.

The broader Bishopal Communion includes two specific groupings or traditions. The Luthori Communion (or Luthorianism, not to be confused with Luthoranism) is the approximate equivalent of the Anglican Communion while the Union of Nordland is approximately equivalent to the Union of Utrecht. Having emerged from the theological and liturgical tradition of the Aurorian Patriarchal Church, the Bishopal churches recognise the first First Council of Auroria and retain some organisational and other features of that Church.

Luthoranism

Luthoranism is the broad term used to refer to the Hosian movements that emerged from the "Luthoran Adjuration", the in-game equivalent of the Protestant Reformation. Though it is similar, the term should not be confused with Luthorianism, which refers to the in-game equivalent of Anglicanism.

Luthoranism takes its name from the Luthorian preacher Martyn Luthor, the in-game equivalent of Martin Luther (unsurprisingly). Despite this and the apparent similarity it should be noted that Luthoranism does not specifically approximate to the real-life denomination known as "Lutheranism" because various non-Lutheran denominations fall under the term Luthoranism.

Amelioratism

Amelioratism is one of the major denominations within Luthoranism and is approximately equivalent to the Reformed tradition (also known as Calvinism). In the world of the game, Ameliorate churches are particularly important in Saridan and Dundorf.

(Independent) Confessionalism

Confessionalism or Independent Confessionalism is a major denomination within Luthoranism and an approximate equivalent to Lutheranism. As mentioned in the section in Luthoranism, it is important to understand that "Luthoranism" (i.e. the denomination associated with Martyn Luthor) is not an equivalent to Lutheranism but has a broader meaning as the equivalent to Protestantism.

Society of Brethren

The Society of Brethren (or Brethrenism) is the approximate equivalent to the Religious Society of Friends (commonly referred to as the Quakers). Like in the real world there is diversity within this tradition in terms of whether or not adherents consider themselves Hosians (Christians), however in the game those that proclaim the divinity of Eliyahu (the in-game equivalent of Jesus) are a minority. Brethrenism is closely associated with Kalistan.

Charismism

Charismism or the Charismic movement is a broad term that is approximately equivalent to Pentecostalism and the Charismatic movement. In this way it can refer to specific churches that broadly fall within the Pentecostal movement as well as the practices associated with these movements when they're employed in other denominations.

Reference material

"Apostolic Union of Nordland of the Ancient Bishopal Churches" forum thread
"Aurorian Patriarchal Church" forum thread
"Discussion on the consequences of the Hosian Council" forum thread
"Ecumenical Synod of Qart Qildar" forum thread
"Hosianism Development Project" forum thread
"The Great Religion Retcon Project" forum thread
"Holy Hosian Patriarchal Churches Council" forum thread
"Luthori Communion" forum thread
"The Selucian Patriarchal Church" forum thread
"Synod of Kathura convenes; work so far announced." forum thread

[jamescfm]

In the reading and poking around on the forum and wiki that I have done so far, I have yet to come across in-game terms for quite a couple of notable Protestant denominations. For example there don't appear to be equivalents to the Methodist or Baptist churches in Particracy that I have been able to find. For that matter I have not found a term equivalent to "evangelicalism" either. I don't necessarily think that we need to create equivalents if they don't exist but I did just wonder if anyone knew anything about these groups within Particracy, in terms of whether they have been role-played at all.