Hallowism

Summary

The 3rd oldest religion in Zagdas, Hallowism is an independent monotheistic religion, hosting a dualistic cosmology between the Sun god and the Moon demon, possibly under the influence of outside religions involving the Sun. The religion is dubbed “Hallowism” after the Hallowed Peak where it was formed. The religion was founded by Laughinglemons1 on the 15th of August 2020 at Hallowed Peak Monastery.

Cosmology and Beliefs

In this cosmology, the Sun is the centre of Hallowism, a divine figure with bright, golden hair that looks down upon the earth at day and brings happiness, light, crop growth and human activity; yet at night, when all things sleep - for even the Sun must sleep in Hallowism - the Moon demon, viewed as a face with terrible warts and scars, creeps up from the underworld below the earth at night, looking down upon the world and bringing with it it’s own cold light, which encourages mobs, monsters and other terrible things to leave the underworld via caves that connect to the earth, and wreak havoc upon the world. Then, it is said, the Sun rises from his sleep in the middle of the night, marching on the underworld and burning down the evil designs of the Moon in the underworld, before travelling back up to the world to destroy his remaining creatures, leaving the early morning sky red with the blood of the Moon’s monsters. This is also believed in Hallowism to be why mobs burn to death when the sun comes up, as their own living proof of the Sun god. This process however, which is said to happen ever 24 hrs, is also thought to cause great damage to the underworld, leaving it burning, scarred and barren, full of lava and destroyed structures. By modern standards, this is thought to be the Hallowist’s interpretation of the Nether.

Lore and other Beliefs

There is not much written on the creation of the world in the Hallowist Mythos, however it undoubtedly has something to do with the eternal struggle between the Sun and Moon. When a player dies, it is believed that the Moon demon attempts to drag their soul to the underworld for years of torment and experimentation before they too turn into one of his creatures - however the Sun god spares the good of the world from this fate, and brings them back to life to live in the world again. Hallowists believe that the world will end when the eternal cycle of the Sun and the Moon’s wars spins into a final battle between the Sun and Moon, in which the Moon and his designs will be defeated once and for all, and all will become one with the Sun god. The Sun had one child, the demi-god named SaturnusXIV, who would later go on to slay St. Benedict and banish him to the Nether.

Practises

Hallowist Monks practise neutrality and value helping others as a good quality. Nonetheless, warriors are also values in Hallowism, especially in fighting off mobs as they are viewed as servants of the Moon demon. Prayer is only allowed in the day when the Sun god is said to be awake to listen, and must face due east, as that is where the aun rises from. Any person found praying outside at night is viewed as praying to the Moon demon, and thus a heretical mob just like the monsters of the Moon demon. They are either shunned for their heresy and ordered to repent the next day, or in severe cases are sentenced to death, often on site. In other cases burning at the stake is used. Burning at the stake is a common form of execution for proven servants of the Moon god, however none are ever killed in the Monasteries, for they are sacred places in which blood must not be spilt. Execution is also fairly uncommon, and is only a punishment for proven Moon-worshippers. Praying is also on some few occasions allowed at night, but only permitted inside and/or for extreme cases e.g. praying for victory against mobs.

The morning is a sacred time for Hallowists, a time of rejoice and happiness, as it is when the sun arises victorious from his battle with the Moon. The diet of Hallowists is preferably plant-based, as crops and plants are grown out of the sun’s will and not corruptible as animals are; however they have no proper strict diet, and most forms of food save for obvious exceptions like human flesh are permitted to be eaten.

The Hallowed Scrolls

The Hallowed Scrolls are the holy texts of Hallowism. The texts are as old as the religion itself and may have in-fact preceded it. They detail several aspects of the Hallowist and lore, including Creation, Cosmology, Mythology, Tales, Saints etc.

Religious Roles

The Head of the Hallowist Church is called the “High Disciple”, and that role is currently occupied by Laughinglemons1, the religion’s founder. All Hallowist Monks are also not called Monks, but rather “Disciples”, and the term “Disciple” also works as a term of showing hierarchy and/or greeting, similar to ‘brother’ or ‘sister’ in the irl Catholic Church.

By: DrSpaghetti123 (aka Laughinglemons1).