| rdfs:comment
| - An Imperial cult is a form of state religion in which an emperor, or a dynasty of emperors (or rulers of another title), are worshiped as messiahs, demigods or deities. "Cult" here is used to mean "worship," not in the modern pejorative sense. The cult may be one of personality in the case of a newly arisen Euhemerus figure or one of national identity (e.g., Ethiopian Empire or Empire of Japan) or supranational identity in the case of a multi-ethnic state (e.g., Imperial Era China, Roman Empire). A divine king is a monarch who is held in a special religious significance by his subjects, and serves as both head of state and a deity or head religious figure.
- The term Imperial Cult is one that holds a double meaning within Fastheld; one of which relating to the concept of the Empire as a living entity, with the other making reference to the decentralized beliefs regarding the Light as a faith as made popular by the former Emperor's Blades and the Nobility of Fastheld during the rise of militant zealotry within the Church of True Light between 500 ATA and 627 ATA.
* Imperial Cult as a Faith
* Imperial Cult as a Concept
- The Imperial Cult is the official and only state religion of the Imperium of Man. It is devoted to the worship of the God-Emperor of Mankind as the ascended divinity and saviour of humanity. Those who believe in the Cult's teachings hold that the Emperor is a living spiritual entity and the only true divinity of humanity. The Imperial Cult is lead by the Adeptus Ministorum, also known as the Ecclesiarchy, who devote their lives to spreading the Word of the Emperor and doing His will. Almost all variants on the Imperial Cult are tolerated by the Ecclesiarchy's priests, but all worship of the Emperor must comply with certain Imperial values including, but not limited to: unquestioning political loyalty to the High Lords of Terra and the various agencies of the Adeptus Terra, diligence in car
- The Imperial Cult was formed in the year 626 ATA as a revision of the "Order of the White Dragon" concept that never saw the light of day. It was devised by the Sovereign Prince Serath Kahar as an attempt to fill the void left by the subsequent breakdown and dissolution of the former Church of True Light, as the Prince understood that - for all the zealous corruption and maleficent nature of the Church - the Scourges still offered a spiritual direction for people to cling on to, and that the spirituality of the people of Fastheld was suffering without that morale compass to guide them, regardless of how cruel that guidance was.
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| abstract
| - The Imperial Cult is the official and only state religion of the Imperium of Man. It is devoted to the worship of the God-Emperor of Mankind as the ascended divinity and saviour of humanity. Those who believe in the Cult's teachings hold that the Emperor is a living spiritual entity and the only true divinity of humanity. The Imperial Cult is lead by the Adeptus Ministorum, also known as the Ecclesiarchy, who devote their lives to spreading the Word of the Emperor and doing His will. Almost all variants on the Imperial Cult are tolerated by the Ecclesiarchy's priests, but all worship of the Emperor must comply with certain Imperial values including, but not limited to: unquestioning political loyalty to the High Lords of Terra and the various agencies of the Adeptus Terra, diligence in carrying out the Emperor's will, belief in the Emperor's ultimate divinity, and conscious contributions to the Imperium's overall well-being, even if this means nothing more than helping to improve one's own homeworld or even just home city or town. In the 41st Millennium the Imperial Cult has almost unrivaled power and influence within the Imperium. Heresy against it is punished severely. The religion is formally administered by the clerics of the Ecclesiarchy. The Imperial Cult is the Imperium's state religion, and in many ways the religion is the state itself since it is the glue that binds humanity together in the service of the Emperor and the Imperium. The precepts of the Imperial Cult, called the Imperial Creed, include the belief that all of humanity must be brought into the Imperium wherever in the galaxy humans live, the absolute abhorrence of aliens as dangers to humanity's rightful domination of the Milky Way Galaxy, and the realisation that the existence of unsanctioned psychic powers and human mutation is a dire threat to the human species which must be controlled. All of these precepts have their origins in what the Emperor himself preached during the Great Crusade of the 31st Millennium, though they ignore the Emperor's most fundamental teaching that he was not divine and that human beings should give up superstition and the trappings of organised religion in favour of scientific rationalism. Yet, because of the existence of Chaos and the true, psychic nature of the Immaterium, the Imperial Cult has ironically proven to be a powerful source of protection for humanity from the dangers presented by the Ruinous Powers.
- The Imperial Cult was formed in the year 626 ATA as a revision of the "Order of the White Dragon" concept that never saw the light of day. It was devised by the Sovereign Prince Serath Kahar as an attempt to fill the void left by the subsequent breakdown and dissolution of the former Church of True Light, as the Prince understood that - for all the zealous corruption and maleficent nature of the Church - the Scourges still offered a spiritual direction for people to cling on to, and that the spirituality of the people of Fastheld was suffering without that morale compass to guide them, regardless of how cruel that guidance was. Enlightened by his experiences within the Wildlands, his previous history with the Church of True Light, and his connection to the dragoness Sara'tharalax that resulted from the mysterious events that took place during the "Gap of One Year" that he refuses to talk about, the Prince came to the conclusion that the people of Fastheld deserved to understand the Light for what it truly was, rather than as the somewhat merciless tool of manipulation that had been preached previously. In this, the "Faith of the White Dragon" can be said to share much - if not all - with the faith that the Syladris believe in; namely, that the Light is an inherant and tangible force of good in the world, while the Shadow is an unquestionable and unapologetic force of evil. However, it also teaches that those who are Shadow Touched may not be (and usually aren't) evil by sheer association with the Shadow, and - conversely - that those who are Sunkissed may not always act with good intentions (as evidenced by the Church of True Light). Unlike the strict religious dogma that was previously (and still, in the north of Fastheld) taught by the Church of True Light, the "Faith of the White Dragon" is a somewhat more pragmatic spiritual faith that teaches of the balance and duality of the Light and the Shadow, while providing a stable foundation upon which to build and enforce 'common sense' moralty, justice, and a "live and let live" attitude that is beneficial to maintaining peace and order, regardless of station or social status. Though the faith of the Imperial Cult is officially just known as the Imperial Cult, the term "Faith of the White Dragon" has begun to garner popularity among those who follow it. This terminology is based on symbolism borrowed from the Syladris; namely, that of the Light being a vast white dragon that protects the people of Fastheld from the evils of the world beyond (and within) the walls of the Aegis. This symbolism allows the common people to hold on visualize the Light in anthropomorphic form, giving them a directed focus to imagine the Light as something more than a mysterious force that they've been told they should believe in. It is important, however, to note that the Imperial Cult does not claim that the "White Dragon" is, in fact, a real Drakar'ri, but has no qualms with people holding on to such an image if it brings them comfort and greater spiritual access to the Light as a whole. Such symbolism - though initially as a subtle suggestion of Dracolyte influence by those who still fervently supported the remnant Church - is no different from the concept of the Light actually being like light, and the Shadow being darkness. However, the symbolism that is encouraged by the Imperial Cult is somewhat less abstract. The Imperial Cult also teaches by example, using tales of historical feats and fictional parables and stories to teach the virtues of the faith, rather than adopt the same kind of threats and dogma that the Church of True Light employed. Metaphors such as "The Candle in the Darkness" and the "Balance of Night and Day" are also popular among both the agents of the Cult and those who follow it as being good examples of what the faith strives to teach. It also embraces the concept of "Ancestor Worship" that has always been loved by the people of Fastheld (though shunned by the Church), allowing people to find comfort in the deeds and actions of those who came before them, and to use those examples as lessons in conduct, ethics, and the greater good. People such as Sirion Starkhorn, Kousra Dawnstar, Savantis Kahar I, Talus Kahar I, Ulfel Lomasa, and even Talus Kahar XIV, are often popular favorites. As an organization, the Imperial Cult is based in Light's Reach, calling the Temple of the White Dragon in Dawnstar Keep home. It consists of roughly one hundred members (at present) who are known as Ordinators. The Ordinators are often seen as a "mirror" branch of the Imperial Tribunal that deal with matters of faith while the Tribunal deals with matters of law. Ordinators are notable for their argentite half-plate uniform and the "Bookbelt of the Imperial Cult" that they wear. Though the organization is primarily Noble in rank, it has no exclusions against Freelanders if they have the dedication and skill required of the position. Though the Imperial Ordinators are at once both Priest, Cleric, and Paladin, the Imperial Cult itself harbors no actual "Priests" at all. Instead, the Imperial Cult operates an "affiliate" system, in which Priests and Clerics may petition for official recognition by the Imperial Cult (and the Empire) and acquire a license to preach the faith. Such affiliates may be given stewardship over a Chapel or Shrine, while others may instead choose to wander the Empire bringing hope and guidance to those who need it. The Ordinators themselves also maintain this role, though are also expected to maintain and oversee the redevelopment of the various religious locations that were abandoned by the Church of True Light when it fractured. Equally, Ordinators may be called upon to handle matters that involve the Shadow - such as tracking down mages who have fallen to corruption, or to handle creatures that have been stricken by it - if the Imperial Watch cannot handle it themselves, for whatever reason. In all, the Imperial Cult has proven to be a organization that is quickly filling the hole left by the Church of True Light with a level of teaching and guidance that replaces the harsh dogma of previous doctrines with something that most people can relate to and find comfort in without having to suffer for their beliefs. The faith of the Imperial Cult has quickly gained popularity across the south of Fastheld (especially in locations close to Light's Reach), but is facing a tougher time in the northern regions where the remnant Church of True Light still have influence. It is, however, now the official faith of the Empire, and fully sanctioned by the Crown (being an Imperial incentive). One can also attribute the Shadow Amnesty to this emerging faith, as the general message that the amnesty serves to relay is directly linked to the teachings of the Cult.
- The term Imperial Cult is one that holds a double meaning within Fastheld; one of which relating to the concept of the Empire as a living entity, with the other making reference to the decentralized beliefs regarding the Light as a faith as made popular by the former Emperor's Blades and the Nobility of Fastheld during the rise of militant zealotry within the Church of True Light between 500 ATA and 627 ATA.
* Imperial Cult as a Faith The first use of the term "Imperial Cult" denotes the separation between the Light as a faith preached by the Church of True Light, and the Light as a faith as viewed by officers of the former Emperor's Blades.As rampant zealotry within the Church of True Light began to gain momentum, and as the Church itself began a shift into a more militant organization, conflict between the Scourges of the Church and the Bladesmen of the Emperor's Blades also began to rise.Central to this conflict was the issue that what the Church of True Light were now preaching ran directly opposite to the beliefs and morals of the Emperor's Blades. This included, but was not limited to, Scourges directly dismissing the efforts of the Emperor's Blades as trivial matters, even though the Emperor's Blades were at the forefront of all operations designed to protect and serve the people of Fastheld, as well as the discontent among Blades who would seek to help people purely for reasons of compassion and justice as they believed the Light to stand for, only to see those efforts undone by Scourges who would later antagonize those very same citizens in the name of the very same divine entity that the Blades believed they were doing proud.Thus did a shift occur between the increasingly less popular rhetoric of the Church and the more pragmatic and encapsulating views upheld by the officers of the Emperor's Blades based on real-life situations and experiences. In the end it was the pragmatic beliefs of the officers of the Emperor's Blades that spread into the consciousness of Nobles and Freelanders alike, creating the term "Imperial Cult" to mark these beliefs as similar, yet less restrictive, of those of the Church.By the time the Church of True Light was dissolved in 626 ATA, the core aspects of belief system of the "Imperial Cult" had been adopted by much of the population.
* Imperial Cult as a Concept The second use of the term "Imperial Cult" is that which is the name given to the phenomenon of the instance of great veneration of the Empire as manifested by every citizen of Fastheld, be they Noble or Freelander.Though not an actual religion or spiritual movement, every citizen of the Empire, as well as the various official establishments of the realm of the whole, seems to view the "Empire" as something more than a mere dominion ruled by a central power and government. Indeed, the level of devotion granted to the "Empire" would seem to suggest that the mere concept of the imperium is one that depicts the worship of a higher power; a power that is far greater than the sum of its parts and worth fighting for to the bitter end.Thus, "The Imperial Cult" is the term used to describe that wide-spread level of devotion and reverence within Fastheld for this entity that does not exist, yet remains a driving force in the life of the majority of the people that live within it.
- An Imperial cult is a form of state religion in which an emperor, or a dynasty of emperors (or rulers of another title), are worshiped as messiahs, demigods or deities. "Cult" here is used to mean "worship," not in the modern pejorative sense. The cult may be one of personality in the case of a newly arisen Euhemerus figure or one of national identity (e.g., Ethiopian Empire or Empire of Japan) or supranational identity in the case of a multi-ethnic state (e.g., Imperial Era China, Roman Empire). A divine king is a monarch who is held in a special religious significance by his subjects, and serves as both head of state and a deity or head religious figure.
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![[RDF Data]](/fct/images/sw-rdf-blue.png)