Verse:Hmøøh/Ngedhraism

The Second Mover (Eevo: Sehd Arn; Clofabosin: ribilzavudan) is a central Talman spiritual concept representing creativity, agency and moral good within humans. The belief states that we humans are responsible for "creation" and formulating rules, where "God has left off", even when no one is telling us what to do. This set of beliefs associated with this, often called Ngronaism (/ɪŋˈroʊneɪsm/ ing-ROH-nay-zum, Eevo: Ŋronaivih /ˈŋrɔnaivih/), serves as the civic religion of Talman and Talman-derived societies. There is a caveat, though: Ngronaism is, often, less a set of beliefs than a set of common symbols, language, and rituals.

Ideas

A rough timeline:

• After the Calamities, classical philosophy realized need for technology including social technology
• A period much like the Warring States period, with competing philosophies sponsored by warlords and citystates
• One of these philosophies win out and dominate Talma for a long time
  • it happens to be a Lăcoaf philosophy; responsible for Lăcoaf as a classical language
• Then Embisoom Grwid the revolutionary comes along

Some riffing on ideas:

• (It's OK for religions with anthropomorphic gods to have contradictions. In that case it's preferable to reduce the gods' role, though.)
• Tianming (Mandate of Heaven) by nature allows rebellion against an unjust ruler - thus rulers must earn their right to rule
  • Then the "Mandate of Ngrone" a fortiori should also allow this, given the role attributed to her.
  • Tianming operates on a dynasty-by-dynasty basis. If "Mandate of Ngrone" applies on a society-wise basis, I basically get Sjowaazhen religion - possibly one thread connecting sjowaazhen and talman religions, which is fitting since these sjowaazhic and talmic are both quihum
  • Maybe Mărotłianism is all about such "mandates" applying to all levels of society. A mandate might be quite precarious.

History

The concept of the Second Mover admits multiple different interpretations. Generally, however, the Second Mover is seen as the force of progress - be it scientific or social/moral progress.

In one sense, historical beliefs about the Second Mover are analogous to henotheism - there were many gods but only one god, namely the Second Mover, was worthy of worship.

Origin

Placeholder for early reference to Ȝronaeā as the 2nd Mover.

The Sondmorið Texts (in Thensarian), fT 341

The "Second Mover" concept began as a goddess of mathematics and the arts, called Ȝronaeā (Old Eevo Ŋronae; modern Eevo Ŋrone) in Old Eevo texts. Ancient Thensarian pagans saw a duality (i.e. an opposite but complementary relationship) between nature and human endeavors such as science, mathematics and the arts. The creator god Ħembānom, First Mover, created nature; Ȝronaeā, the Second Mover, then helps humans analyze and create. However, it is important to note that Second Mover in early Talmic religion played a more active role in physical domains "near" humans such as harvest, weather, or governance than in later Talman thought.

Warring philosophies

A series of natural disasters and outbreaks, known as the ___ Calamities, set off social instability as well as eroding trust in institutions. The disasters had taught the Talmans that the natural order was not to be trusted; thus the Second Mover took center place in Talman symbolism and became the symbol of good against evil. However, during this time of strife it was difficult to trust other humans as much as it was difficult to trust nature. Exactly how the Second Mover operated and "moved" humans became a matter of heated debate among philosophers. Thus arose various competing philosophical doctrines dealing with 1) how individuals should live and 2) how society should be structured.

Amid the chaos, many nobles and warlords vied for hegemony. In the process they sponsored philosophies that would benefit their kingdom. The philosophies included:

• (Mohism analogue/Idealism: "Universal love!")
• (Machiavelli/Legalism analogue: "Order and stability!")
• A radically individualistic philosophy
• Mărotłianism (Eevo: Myrótxvih (pejorative)), typically associated with Windermere philosopher rith Mărotł (Eevo: rið Myrótx): A collectivist/social conservative philosophy which frowns upon nonconformity and failure

Medieval Ngronaism

Mărotłianism was eventually the ideology to win out. As the Windermere Empire consolidated its power, Mărotłians rapidly took control of institutions in Talma, except in a few remote holdouts such as Nūrē. With the unification of the Lăcoaf Empire Mărotłianism became the state ideology. Various smaller states that were not absorbed by the empire (such as the Tigolian states, the precursors to the modern Eevophone countries Sgewla and Anøvr) would become tributary states.

[Like many religions, Mărotłianism consists of nice normie stuff + nasty stuff. How would Mărotłianism describe itself from the inside?]

Self-description/Tenets:

• obey your betters
• do not offend needlessly or use unjustified violence or force

Nasty stuff:

• it's homophobic
• and most problems with trad societies

Snialism, a mystical form of Ngronaism, also arose during this period as a reaction to the dominant ideology.

Early modern Ngronaism

Embisoom Grwid's "revolution": What's "Grwidianism"?

Basically Grwid's writings could be described as "sci-fi without the tech aesthetic." A lot of it is quasi-mystical woo; Snialist influence is evident in his language. But he got the idea behind modern Ngronaism - a vision of concrete progress and transcendence. Grwid would definitely have been influenced by Snialism in any case.

Basic tenets

Zicyreexúr

The concept of zicyreexúr is a principle of nonviolence, analogous to ahiṃsa in Dharmic religions. (The Eevo word zicyreexúr, from Windermere și·căreałür, means 'nonviolence' or 'non-aggression'.) Traditionally, zicyreexúr allows violence in self-defense or as a punishment for violence - the reasoning was that violence is so serious that it should be discouraged by any means necessary. There has been much debate among Ngronaist thinkers on exactly how much retributive violence is justified.

"Canon"

In a sense, Ngronaism has an "open source" textual canon which allows additions. Thinkers from different time periods and environments have their own interpretations, though often informed by previous ones, on what exactly the philosophy entails about how humans ought to live.

Ancient texts

• The Sondmorið Manuscripts (Eevo: /ˈsɔntmɔrið/) are a collection of manuscripts found in the Sondmorið caves. Among other things, they give a mythological account of human nature and origins. Devotional poems are also included.

Classical texts

• The Ngăthoar (Windermere: /ŋəˈðoər/, meaning "investigations") is a Windermere-language text which depicts philosophers discussing and debating various moral and philosophical topics. Most surviving copies have been edited from a Mărotłian viewpoint. The Ngăthoar was traditionally required reading in Etalocian schools.

Symbols and rituals

Ngronaism uses symbols, allegories, myths and rituals copiously, many of them of syncretistic origin; however, it emphasizes that these are allegories and myth, designed for absorption by the limited human mind.

Holidays

• Spring Equinox/arrival of spring
• Summer solstice festival
• Crifahd in September
• Sdatnsa = 6 months after Easter
• Winter solstice (Eevo: Bwrjadreeg; Clofabosin: lagavulin): A solstice festival where, among other things, they sing songs hoping for a "brighter" future.

[Holidays based on historical events and myths]

[TODO: dishes associated with the holidays]

Spring Equinox

For the Spring Equinox holiday, there are foods that use lightly-flavored mushrooms, along with other spring herbs and other "bright"/tart-flavored ingredients.

Bwrjadreeg

Falling on Llavw 1-6, it is an expansive holiday which emphasizes resolve to survive, remembrance of those who have died, as well as hope for a future better than now.

Variants

Snialism (Mysticism)

Some wings of Ngronaism emphasize the mystic aspects of the philosophy, the most well-known being Snialism (Eevo Snialvih; advocates are Snialwŋ or Snialers). Snialism used mystical experiences, poetry, song and psychedelics. Some well-known historical artists and intellectuals were Snialwŋa, such as Engar Bășuth and Sormand Ðrwaþanve.

in medieval talma snialism served as an outlet for some frustrated people - snialism's existence was officially tolerated tho Snialwŋ were looked down upon

Heresies

"Heretics" are those who fundamentally oppose the morality of "orthodox" Ngronaism. In the modern world, some of the most common "heresies" include:

• fascism but for the whole human species, instead of for a particular ethnic group.
• antinatalism~VHEMT~"let's destroy all life" cluster: an ethical stance, at the very least opposing having any children at all. Adherents argue that any possible life is too full of suffering for it to be ethically worth creating it.
• ethnonationalism
• patriarchy advocates: these would be the equivalent of Satanists.