Hârnic Religion, a Social Perspective

by James Chokey


Introduction

This article is an attempt to explore Hârnic religion from a loosely 'sociological' point of view. As such, its goal is not to delve into theology, ritual practices, mythology, ecclesiastical structure or the like for any of Hârn's faiths. Instead, it seeks to present a basic outline of how Harn's religions correspond-- or in some cases, do not correspond-- to various kinds of social divisions and groupings.

My hope is that, by approaching Hârnic religion in this way, the article will be able to offer up a perspective on the subject that GM's and players alike will find useful when considering a wide variety of matters pertaining to religion: the choice of PC's and NPC's faiths, why certain churches do or don't get along with each other, why certain deities are worshipped only in certain places or among certain peoples, etc.

As author, I suppose I should also state that I am writing this article without any particular training in religious studies or sociology. I do not know, consequently, whether or not the kinds of categories I use, the definitions I provide for them, etc. correspond to those used by sociologists or scholars of comparative religion.




Kinds of Religion

Understood from a social perspective, one can identify three main types of religion in Hârn. For the purposes of this article, these three types will be referred to as:

The boundary line between these types is not always clear and distinct. In Jara/Orbaal, for instance, Ilviranism is primarily an "ethnic religion," as Ilvir is revered by almost all Jarin and only by the Jarin. In other regions, however, Ilvir worship may have more of the characteristics of a "cult religion". With such complexities in mind, let us turn to considering these three types of religions and how they correspond to Hârnic faiths.




Ethnic Religions

Ethnic religions are those which are practiced, almost exclusively, by members of a distinct ethnic/national/racial group and which are, as a general rule, practiced by all members of that group, regardless of their status, wealth, or profession.

There are several faiths in Hârn and West Lythia that can best be described as 'ethnic religions'. In Hârn, ethnic religions are dominant in Orbaal/Jara, Evael, Azadmere, and other areas lying outside of the six 'southern' human states (e.g. Rethem, Kanday, Tharda, Kaldor, Chybisa, Melderyn).




Caste Religions

Caste religions are those which are practiced primarily by members of one particular class, caste, or stratum of a social hierarchy-- and not by those in other classes, castes, or strata. Additionally and/or alternatively, they may be practiced by members of a particular profession within a given social class or stratum.

In Hârn, caste religions tend to be dominant in the six civilized southern human states: Rethem, Tharda, Kanday, Kaldor, Chybisa, and Melderyn. They also tend to be dominant in Shorkyne, Emelrene, Trierzon, Azeryan and many west Lythian states.




Cult Religions

Cult religions are those whose memberships do not generally correspond to sociological groupings like ethnicity or caste, but instead revolve around "cult communities' that exist independent from identities of ethnicity or caste. A noble, that is to say, is no more likely to practice a cult religion because he is a noble, than is a peasant is likely to do so because he is a peasant. The nature of the cult is that it establishes a small (self-selecting, usually) community of faithful who may have nothing in common with each other than their religion.

It should, perhaps, be noted that while some cult religions are secretive or subversive, this is not always the case. What defines a cult faith is not that it is hidden or antagonistic, but rather that its members do not generally come from any particular social caste or ethnic group.

As a general rule, cult religions are not dominant anywhere. By their very nature, they tend to appeal to eccentrics, outsiders, the disaffected, and others who, for whatever reason, do not have a particularly strong sense of ethnic, caste, or professional identity. (They also appeal to those of any ethnicity or caste who happen to be brought up in the cult from childhood).


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Page last updated: May 31, 2002 by James Chokey