Difference between revisions of "Christianity"

Revision as of 20:48, 18 May 2005

This article deals with Christianity as it relates to NationStates. For more general information, see the Wikipedia article on this subject.

Christianity is a religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as described in the New Testament. Christianity in Nationstates encompasses numerous religious traditions that widely vary by culture , as well as very diverse beliefs and sects. Christianity has been grouped into three main branches: Catholicism, Protestantism and Eastern Orthodoxy (although the latter is largely underrepresented in NS). Also, there are several non-mainstream variants of Christianity which will be discussed in this article.

Major Christian alliances and regions in NationStates include The Reich and the Greater Prussian Empire. The Dominion of the Holy Vatican See is accepted by a large number of NS Nations as the location of the Vatican, and as such, as the Pope of the NS Roman Catholic Church although there are many others who also claim this title. Nations which are especially noted for their practicing of Christianity (due to the central role it has in their roleplay) are the Teutonic Empire of Lavenrunz, the Holy and Most August Empire of Pantocratoria and the Republic of Syskeyia. However many other nations have significant Christian populations and it would go too far to list them all here.

The role of Christianity in the NS World

Introduction

In Nationstates, Christianity plays a somewhat different role in a number of nations than it does it most nations in the RL world. While there is a relatively large number of nations where Christianity is somewhat comparable to its RL equivalents, the extreme fundamentalist forms tend to get the greater amount of attention (as the exception tends to be more noticed that the rule). As a consequence, most of the article shall focus on such nations.

Principles

The more radical versions of Christianity in NS tend to have quite a few things in common, and although not all of them are equal, a majority of comparable traits can generally be found wherever the more violent forms show up.

• Homophobia, that is, the persecution of homosexuals seems to be quite common in "fundamentalist" countries.
• Inquisitions exist in quite a few Christian nations, especially Catholic ones. (In RL the Dignitatis Humanae compels Catholics to believe religious freedom to be a human right, but such nations don't acknowledge the existence of this document.)
• Organised Persecution of competing religious groups is common (With exceptions. Most Reich nations tend to consider Muslims as being equal). Genocide is a daily phenomenon.

Nations

There are actually quite a few nations where Christianity is religionwanked in order to be 'evil'. These are merely some examples.

Iesus Christi is possibly one of the best- known examples. It is also one of the more conventional ones. Claiming to be a Roman Catholic nation, it more accurately promotes a Naziesque ideology with a Catholic coating, using Christ, Mary, the Gospels and the saints to promote all kinds of genocide, atrocity and horror.

Endless Crimes is a Reich nation like Iesus Christi, with a most peculiar version of Christianity, featuring genemod angels. It also bans sex and procreation, despite 1 Timothy 4:3's warning against false prophets forbidding people to marry (and, it is implied, procreate).

Infinite Loving is one of the oddest examples. Here, Homosexuality is not illegal, but mandatory, while heterosexuality is frowned upon, and used only for procreational purposes. Women are considered nothing more but wombs.

Furthermore, there are nations where Christianity is wanked in order to be 'good'. While most of the NS community OOCly agrees on what is *bad* (genocide, persecution, etc.), there is no agreement on on what is morally good. For example, some Christian nations display a conservative moral agenda as a sign of being a good country. Examples of this include the Republic of Syskeyia's short-lived Senatus Ultimum Consultum against Tanah Burung society writer John Santyana, an action which some have perceived as a "Catholic fatwah" against overly liberal nations and individuals, ([1]), or severe action taken by said nations (as well as other countries) against anti-Christian religions, such as Satanism. The vehemently anti-Catholic brand of Protestantism professed by Reichskamphen might also be an example.

Stuck in the middle

There remain other 'important' Christian nations, which manage to avoid wanking of Christianity to a greater or lesser extent than the ones mentioned above. Then there are nations that, in trying to play out their Christianity, get stuck in between the "Christian fascists" and their non-Christian opponents. The Republic of Syskeyia is again an example of a nation whose quarrels with the Reich concerning human rights, elves and so forth are well known, but whose orthodox Catholicism threw it in trouble with some of its friends in the now-defunct South Atlantic Treaty Organization, especially Knootoss. Finally, there are some virulently anti-fascist Christian nations who show zero tolerance towards the "Christian fascists", and consider them to be heretics or blasphemers. Constantinopolis is a prime example of such a nation.

Of course, many nations are mainly populated by Christians without holding Christianity as an official religion or having any state church; Indeed, this may be so for the majority of the world's nations, or at least a very large minority.

Christian Denominations in the NS World

Roman Catholicism

(Main article: Roman Catholicism)
Many NS nations profess the Christian Roman Catholic religion and loyalty to the Holy See. Unlike the real world, however, there is little unity among declared Catholics, usually due to the matter of the Holy See. Some Roman Catholic nations prefer to recognize a pope from within the NationStates community, such as Pope Leo of the Holy Vatican See. Others acknowledge only the real-life Pope, usually Benedict XVI, but sometimes a past, future, or alternative one, in accordance with their roleplayed history line. There is also a Vacant see, where the Conclave is formed, in order to elect the new pontiff. A number of national and variant-rite churches exist. Twentish Catholicism and the Frenzberrian Catholic Church are fully seperate from the Roman Catholic Church.

Protestantism

Protestantism is a general grouping of denominations within Christianity. In RL it generally refers to churches which separated from the Roman Catholic Church in the Reformation (but not to Eastern Orthodox denominations). In NS it may also refer to groups which seperated later or other groups which are ideologically or dogmatically close to the groups mentioned before The entire basis for the Protestant faith is generally the plain, clear teaching of God's word without any additions or subtractions therefrom. This principle is often refered to as "Sola Scriptura".

Different protestant churches are listed below.

Prussian Protestantism

The Greater Prussian Empire is perhaps the heart of Protestantism in NationStates, with its owners claiming that the Greater Prussia region is the only solidly Protestant region. At the head of this region stands the nation of Reichskamphen, which has held numerous propaganda efforts to unite Protestant nations against the Pope. Other initiatives include several Christian Conferences and the establishment of the Greater Prussian Insitute of Christian Studies. Greater Prussian Protestantism is based on the teachings of John Calvin, and adheres strictly to the principles put down in the Westminster Confession of Faith and tends to be very orthodox in its adherence to doctrine. It also has a tendency of supporting autocratic and militaristic leadership that is not present in, for example Dutch Reformed Protestantism.

Dutch Reformed Church

(Main article: Dutch Reformed Church)
The Dutch Reformed Church (in Dutch: Nederlandse Hervormde Kerk) is also based on the teachings of John Calvin. It used to be the largest church in Knootoss and it formerly enjoyed status as the state church. The main Protestant churches in Knootoss have merged into the Nederlands Hervormde Kerk Knootoss (NHKK) the vast majority the 0.79% of the Knootian population that is still Protestant belongs to the NHKK.

Church of Cyro

(Main article: Church of Cyro)
The Church of Cyro was originally created by Tzar Richard IV as a way for him to control the Catholic Church in Dyelli Beybi in response to the refusal of the pope to allow him to crusade against non-Catholic States.

After Richard's assassination, Pope Indolence attempted to establish Saint Guineford's as an independent papal state. However, he was defeated militarily by Tzar George VIII and assassinated by a cleric loyal to the Church in Rome. His passing led to the majority of the population reverting to Catholicism and the death of the Church of Cyro as the majority religion in Dyelli Beybi.

Church of Excalbia

(Main article: Church of Excalbia)
The Church of Excalbia is the state religion in Excalbia. It was established in 1810 by the Emperor in order to give the state religion need a formal structure. Core beliefs are derived from its Baptist roots, including an emphasis on salvation by grace, the individual responsibility of believers, evangelism and the importance of the Bible.

Church of Christos Progressa

(Main article: Church of Christos Progressa)
The Church of Christos Progressa (originally Helvetic Christianity) is the largest Christian sect in the Helvetic Confederation.It emerged when Helvetians who were disgruntled with the management of Twentish Catholicism and felt distanced from Twente (The Vatican of Europe) began to develop a more provincial order. The modern Church of Christos Progressa has no masses or services as are found in other churches. Rather, weekly gatherings more closely resemble large discussion groups.

Jasonian Baptist Church

The Jasonian Baptist Church is the major denomonation in The Empire of Jason, and it is much like the RL Southern Baptists.

Falasturian Methodist Church

(Main article: Falasturian Methodism)
The Falasturian Methodist Church is an offshoot of the Methodist Church established by John Wesley in the mid-18th Century. The Church is largely the same as Wesley's Methodism - a liberal and decentralised form of Protestantism, noted for its members' resolution to abstein from drinking alcohol - however, with King George I's conversion in 1761, it was distanced and eventually seperated from its mother denomination by King George's free hand, essentially working Methodism into Falastur according to his wishes, and not necessarily those of Wesley. Today, 23% of Falasturians claim to be Falasturian Methodists, and a surprisingly high number of those are active, given common apathy for strong religious practise in modern times. However, absteinance from alcohol is largely disappearing as a common practise.

Galvanised Wesleyan Church

(Main article: Galvanised Wesleyan Church)
The Galvanised Wesleyan Church is the official Church of Nova Britannicus, thought to be an off-shoot of the Methodist Church that was brought to Nova Britannicus by the Britannic Empire in the 18th Century and onwards. It is thought that 'Galvanised' could refer to the promtion of unity within Nova Britannicus, or could simply be down to the many Iron Works in its traditional home-city of Widdrington.

Eastern Orthodoxy

See: Eastern Orthodoxy

Taraskovyan Orthodox Church

The Taraskovyan Orthodox Church (Vigvar Patriarchate) was formed in the Grand Duchy of Tarasovka by Russian immigrants on the base of the Russian Orthodox Church. Starting out as a mere eparchy and then blossoming into an autonomous church, it was granted Autocephalous status in 781 A.S. (After Strife). Today, with an estimated 68% of the population, Eastern Orthodoxy is the majoritary faith in the Taraskovyan Federation. As of today, the Vigvar Patriarchate is going through a deep crisis caused by the White Legion that is claiming to be defending the Orthodox faith from corruption. The Legion and the Taraskovyan Orthodox Church are at a row ever since the Patriarch of Vigvar and of all Tarasovka condemned the campaign of ethnic cleansing led by the nationalist faction, sparking fears of a possible religious schism.

Constantian Orthodox Church

The Constantian Orthodox Church is the oldest and by far the largest Christian denomination in the Holy Socialist Republic of Constantinopolis. It traces its origins to the Greek missionnaries who brought Christianity to the lands that form present-day Constantinopolis in the 11th century A.D. Over the next few centuries, those lands were divided between various small (and often short-lived) political entities, some of which were Christian and some of which were pagan. In 1436, however, the Christian voivod Vladimir Ivanov the Great united Constantinopolis and Orthodox Christianity became the official state religion. From that point on, the power and influence of the Constantian Orthodox Church grew considerabely, and it was granted autocephaly in 1694. Unfortunately, with power came corruption, and by the late 19th century the Church was rife with hypocrisy. While its numbers of adherents remained high on paper, in practice many people lost their faith. To make matters worse, the Constantian Orthodox Church continued to support the deposed imperial dynasty after the Great September Revolution, which put it on the losing side of the Civil War. But, ironically, the separation of Church and State instituted by the new communist authorities invigorated the Constantian Orthodox Church, by ending the corruption that had plagued it for centuries. The Constantian Orthodox Church has remained a significant force in public life throughout the 20th century and, sometimes working closely with the Christian Socialist Party, it has helped to preserve the Christian character of Constantian society. Today, 43% of the population of Constantinopolis belongs to the Constantian Orthodox Church.

Eru-Christianity

Eru-Christianity is perhaps the largest religious grouping in the Federation of Sentient Peoples. It modifies primarily Protestant principles from RL Christianity and combines them with the religious ideas derived in the 'Tolkienesque' religions. The major changes occur in the Old Testament of the Christian Bible, including a different Creation Story (The one included in the Ainulindalë) and an expansion of the role of angels in early religious history, including the roles of the Ainur as described in the Valaquenta, who are portrayed as high level angels. Further, the religion promotes tolerance and understanding of other religions, and encourages scientific discovery and the acquiring of knowledge. While it does not approve of certain lifestyles, it argues for assistance and understanding, not persecution. Unlike some other major Christian sects, it does not rule out the possibility of evolution.

Makaarian National Church

The Makaarian National Church was once the largest religious group in Makaar, with almost the entire population worshipping in it. However, the government became atheist, and the people followed, reducing the church's power. Originally a protestant sect, the church began to integrate several different gods into its teachings. While Yaweh remained the main god, people began to believe in six other gods. While some Makaarian people still believe and worship in the church, most are atheist, and the government has declared itself completely atheist.