Editing EternalEmpire:Theology (section)

== Tylofostonism ==

=== Overview === 

	Within the broad religious category of Chingolun, there are numerous denominations that express distinct views on some theological points, both major and minor. Although their positions can be controversial, these are not the heterodox ascetic communities on the fringes of civilization, nor the secretive mystery cults, but more-or-less mainstream sects with beliefs and traditions that deviate slightly, yet significantly, from the Olimacan creed. In the Eternal Empire, the largest and most powerful of these sects is Tylofostonism.   

	Jento Tylofost was a Chingolun priest, born ca. 57 AGA in Anota on the shores of the Sea of Holinos. His mother was a Dandrit native and his father an Arqi military officer of some station in the local garrison. Little is known of his youth, but probably sometime before his 16th year, he was initiated into the Cult of Arcanudo, a Chingolic sect his father belonged to, popular amongst soldiers and aristocracy of Arqualan. From here, he plunged deeply into the Chingolun, zealously searching for answers to mysteries and resolutions of apparent contradictions. A contemporary described him as “profoundly inquisitive… he sought to subject even the Gods to the scrutiny of analysis.” He zealously searched for whatever scraps of ancient records and texts he could find, traveled to the jungles of Renoga to inspect abandoned early Chingol Cult temples, and learned Ganno so that he could make superior translations of the original scriptures in Arqi. Tylofost’s contributions went far beyond a rediscovery of the faith’s origins, however; his reinterpretation of the scripture and his critical, Arqi-centered approach to theology signaled an important shift in the beliefs and practice of the Chingolun.

	At 23, he was selected to be a priest at the Temple of Arqiva Undaunted in nearby Noa Bycula. This was a civic shrine dedicated to the personification of the Arqi civilization as well as a school for surgeons and physicians. Consequently, it was a position of significant stature, and his ten years of distinguished service caught the eyes of several Monitari and other religious figures. He already had a large following among the rank and file, who affectionately named him Dodex, or instructor, a sign that his activities went far beyond simply organizing ritual celebrations. At the age of 30, Massalino unabashedly declared him “the most learned and holy cleric in the Empire”. By this time, he had been presenting his unusual interpretation of the religious mysteries to anyone who would listen. While this was not as invidious as one might imagine considering the inherent diversity of religious thought within the Chingolun, his more radical claims and activities began to draw fire from priests both within and without of the Eternal Empire. Regardless, Tylofost’s erudite and sophisticated conception of the universe, his undeniable piety towards the Gods, and his skilled oratory combined with the sensibilities of his distinctly Arqi worldview gained him the support of some very powerful partisans within Arqualan. By his death in 146 AGA, the “Tylofoston School” was the most dynamic and influential sect in the empire.

	Tylofostonism became not only the de facto Arqi belief, but by the middle of the 4th century AGA, it was the de jure state religion. Its political influence grew so that by the 600s, other religious practices were restricted, marginalized, and ultimately suppressed, and the Tylofoston church became a virtual organ of the state. In fact, in 829, Emperor Vanlin VI made himself the Vicar of Tylofost, the high cleric of the Tylofoston community, and the title resided with the emperors until Ionomîs returned the office to the priesthood in 1159. It remains the dominant Chingolun sect in the empire and, despite its universal message, maintains a strong historical and spiritual connection to Arqualan and its empire. In fact, the appearance and reign of the Illuminarch Ionomîs is considered to be the confirmation of the sect’s truth and the first realization of its promise.

=== Cosmogony === 

	Tylofost’s scrutiny of the Chingol scriptures led him to a very nuanced view of the Hyper-Divinity and the nature of the universe. He argued that the common view of the universe as a distinct thing, yet an imperfect reflection of the Zactoborion was logically inconsistent. He rejected also the belief of many that the Hyper-Divinity was both omnipotent and willful, both because the scriptures and oral traditions dispute it, and he argued that we would witness frequent breakdowns and reversals in the law of nature. The position of Tylofostonism is that the Hyper-Divinity is highly impersonal, bound to obey the constraints of his universe and his own character. Theirs is a Zactoborion who either has little inclination to personally intervene in the mundane events of the world, except through the principles that He used to organize the universe and create life within it. To the Tylofosti, the timeless Zactoborion has already seen the course of the universe and is content that His plan is perfectly fulfilled. Nevertheless, His compassion for creation led Him to bid the lesser Gods and Goddesses to incarnate, so that they could guide and protect mortals and assuage them in their times of woe.

Furthermore, he argued that the perfect essence of the Hyper-Divinity, even though impregnated in an imperfect, impure universe could not be corrupted in and of itself, and therefore could not be the cause of evil and misery in the world. The Tylofoston view held that evil, just as well as virtuous behavior, was controlled through free will and that free will is the factor that motivates and directs the perfect and immutable soul. It was through the application of reason and conscience, both quantities that derived from the Hyper-Divinity, that one led a virtuous life and attained higher levels of spiritual perfection.

Tylofoston views on the various Spheres of Perception are also highly developed when compared to most other Chingolun persuasions. Gone are the wild, unimaginable domains beyond the laws of the universe, replaced with ordered and constrained worlds amenable to Tylofost’s teachings. Also developed was the belief in Spheres of Perception inferior to the material world, where those who live unvirtuous or evil lives are translated to. These are still orderly and “natural” worlds, but with more hardship and privation, while the higher Spheres are progressively more blissful, fecund, and fulfilling. These inferior spheres amount to hells of sorts, while the superior ones are analogous to heavenly paradises. If a person is wicked enough, his hell is so terrible and restrictive that it is no longer possible for him to atone for his wrongdoings and choose righteousness of his own accord, and only the divine grace of the Hyper-Divinity or one of His lieutenants is sufficient to save him. Similarly, the more righteous one is, the easier it is to become yet moreso and ultimately achieve reunion with God-Most-High.
 
=== Ritual and Worship === 

	As one might expect, the Tylofosti focus on the traditional Arqi deities, but they are no less inclusive than the bulk of the Chingolun, and they readily adapt foreign deities and heroes to pay homage to. Chief among the Tylofosti deities are '''Arqiva''', the personification of Arqi culture, values, language, and accomplishments; '''Senteniel''', a deity associated with the sea and commerce, god of storms and patron of mariners, '''Zylen''', goddess of the home and protector of families; and of course the God-Emperor '''Ionomîs''', the divine wisdom and advocate of mankind. Other important deities include '''Ecospor''', a goddess of fertility, crops, and healing; '''Arcanudo''', the divine archivist and helper of the dead; '''Herpion''', the warrior god; and '''Tulset''', god of gates, transitions, diplomacy, and deception. (It should be noted that while Tulset is important and respected among the Arqi, his personality is much darker than his foreign incarnations. Although he never directly lies, he is often misleading and stingy with the truth. This was one of the reasons that Tylofost took issue with many of the original Chingol doctrines.)

	Arqi rituals tend to reflect their conservative values, and are usually modest and restrained, but highly thorough. “It behooves man,” writes Tylofost, “to be respectful and gracious toward the gods, but be neither servile nor infantile.” Tylofosti are expected to honor the gods and goddesses for their contributions to their well-being and to commemorate divine intervention whenever it is experienced, but to avoid both excessive pleading for their assistance or attributing every event either to their favor or displeasure. As always, the form of worship depends upon the particular deity, but mostly takes the form of brief prayers and some symbolic offering, usually something innocuous like lighting a candle or sprinkling perfumed water. Animal sacrifices and large, public feats are sometimes performed, but are generally rare as they are considered wasteful. It is believed that what is most pleasing to the gods is to utilize one’s good fortune to assist others, dedicate generous or merciful acts to their name, and generally honor them by giving others a good turn. 

=== Scripture === 

	In addition to the core books of the Chingolun faith (in the Tylofoston translations, of course), the Tylofosti recognize these additional scriptures as canonical:

·	'''Ponix Scupero''', the Great Compendium, is a huge, multi-volume study of the finer points of Chingol theology, including subjects such as the afterlife, virtue, and the relationship between gods and men.

·	'''Contrapido''', or Meditations, is Tylofost’s famous treatise on the nature of the Hyper-Divinity, reason, and conscience.

·	'''Analeton''', this great heroic epic by Sentimo Dolominio tells the story of the traditional Arqi gods and the legendary history of their civilization between the time of the Great Ruin and the Dandrit ages.