Jeropodism

= Jeropodism =

Introduction
Jeropodism is a religion around the idea of the creation of the universe being behind the Jod Jeropod, An eternal being taking the form of man. It is centered around the idea of redemption through prayer and deed, and working to become close to Jeropod as a vessel of his power.

Creation
The Jeropodists believe the universe was created by Jeropod. It began with an empty white void of nothingness, a vast plain of blankness. Among this was the essence of everything that will be made. The everything was Jeropod, and Jeropod was everything. He willed himself into the shape of man, the form that he would base his future creatures off of. He pulled apart the nothingness, creating the color of black. He called time into being, setting it as a rule for all of what existed to follow. Jeropod shattered the empty void into millions of tiny fragments, blessing them with light, so that they may shine among the darkness, these were the stars that carried vestiges of Jeropods power. For nine days and nine nights, he pulled apart light from light, and found nothing he desired, until he mixed the two forces of dark and light, from this came the world, his greatest creation which he placed at the center of the universe.

The First days of the World
When he descended upon the world, he felt displeased with its barren terrain. So over the days he molded the land and molded the valleys and rose the mountains. He filled the deepest points of his creation with water to separate the land masses, and he filled the valleys and plains with seeds of grass to grow, and in all the darkness was greater than the light. Yet even with his improvements, he felt his creation was incomplete. He mixed the Light and the Dark, and whence the Light was greater than the dark, it took the form of man. And so he put his first man into the world, he was born into the wetlands, a swamp touched by the light of Jeropod, where from then on any and all swamps to come after are divine.

Afterlife
A followers fate in the afterlife is based off their deeds and their devotion. There are 3 Realms in the Jeropodist afterlife, Vievede, Cyria, and The River of Jod. Vievede is the interpretation of Heaven in Jeropodism, its a swamp village in The Holy Realm, where the deceased souls of the honorable and good go to reap their eternal reward. Cyria is the interpretation of Hell in Jeropodism. Its the same swamp of Vievede, but a place of torment and dread where the sinful are damned to their eternal punishment. It is said that the closer you are to Jeropod, the lighter your soul is, and the farther you are, the heavier your soul is. The weight of your soul is your total morality and devotion, and if your soul is too heavy, you will break through the ice at The River of Jod, sinking into Cyria. The lighter your soul, the easier it will be to reach Vievede at the other side.

Cyria Description
Cyria is a dark and dismal place, a bottomless swamp where the souls of the sinful and the blasphemous are condemned to spend eternity. It is a place of punishment, where the wicked are punished for their misdeeds in life. The swamp is filled with murky water, and the souls are doomed to drown in it forever. The waters are bottomless, and there is no escape from this eternal punishment. The air is thick with the stench of decay, and the only sounds are the cries of the damned. The place is surrounded by darkness and there is no light to guide the souls, it is said that it is filled with creatures that are waiting for the souls to arrive, creatures that torment and cause pain, it is a place of eternal suffering where the souls are trapped, unable to move on to any other place. The souls are aware of their surroundings and their punishment, and that the suffering is both physical and mental.

The creatures that lurk in Cyria are just as terrifying as the swamp itself. One of the most terrifying creatures are the massive leeches that dwell in the water. These leeches are said to be as big as a man, and they have an insatiable hunger for souls. They are attracted to the cries of the damned, and they will seek out and latch onto anyone who enters their domain. Once they attach themselves to a soul, they will begin to drain away their peace, making the torment of the damned even worse. The leeches are said to be nearly impossible to remove, and their victims will be forced to endure their increasing torment for all eternity.

The souls who are trapped in Cyria are said to be in a constant state of agony, and the only thing they can look forward to is an eternity of torment. They are tormented not only by the creatures that lurk in the swamp but also by their own guilt and the memories of the sins they committed in life.

Vievede Description
Vievede is the opposite of Cyria, it is the afterlife realm for the faithful, where they reap their eternal reward. It is a peaceful and serene place, a reflection of the goodness and righteousness of the souls that reside there. It is said to be located in a parallel dimension to Cyria, and it is also a swamp. The swamp is lush and green, filled with life and vitality. The waters are clear and pure, and the souls are able to move freely through them. The air is filled with the sweet scent of blooming flowers, and the only sounds are the gentle songs of the birds and the peaceful whispers of the wind. The place is surrounded by a bright light that guides the souls and make them feel at ease. It is said to be a place of eternal peace and happiness, where the souls are in a state of pure joy and contentment.

It is a representation of heaven in Jeropodism. The souls are reunited with their loved ones and are able to continue to worship Jeropod and give thanks for His grace and mercy. It is a place where there is no pain or suffering, only love and beauty within Jeropod. It is a place where the souls can rest and dwell in the presence of Jeropod, experiencing eternal bliss and joy.

River of Jod Description
The Ice River is one of the afterlife destinations in Jeropodism. It is said to flow between Cyria and Vievede, and serves as the path that the souls must take to reach either fate. The river is covered in ice, and the souls must pass through it to reach the afterlife. The river is described as being cold and treacherous, with icicles hanging from its banks, and the icy water is freezing to the touch. The souls must navigate through the river to reach their destination, and the ice serves as a barrier separating the souls who are worthy of salvation and those who are not. The souls who are able to pass through the river without being trapped in the ice will reach Vievede, while those who are trapped will fall to Cyria. The river is also said to be a representation of the final judgement, where the souls are judged by Jeropod based on their actions in life and are sent to the corresponding afterlife realm.

Tawqifah
Tawqifah is a Creed in Jeropodism that solidifies a mans belief in Jeropodism. It goes as follows: Upon the consecrated soil on which I stand, I ask of the heavens and primordial forces to bear witness to my oath. I hereby pledge to accept Jeropod as my eternal saviour, almighty father, and lord of all creation. I pledge to perpetually commit my mind, soul and being dutifully to the scared customs and faith. I pledge to acknowledge no other as equal or greater than Jeropod, and hollow my heart of all doubt. I pledge to steel my faith, and recognise all false worship as heresy. I pledge to commit divine guidance to my mind, and let all those lost hear the words of truth. I pledge to seek the purification of my soul and to pursue good deeds. I pledge to accept the clergy and priests as the sacred messengers of Jeropod, and to respect them as if He were present Himself. I pledge in every way, shape or form, to the utmost extent of my abilities, to be based According to the Jeropodist bible, the tradition of Tawqifah emerged in the early days, where Jeropod approached his first prophet and commanded him to spread this tradition and the word of Jod.