Difference between revisions of "Magna Aenilia Ecclesia/Beliefs"

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A small number of Aenil, however, work to hinder or destroy man, the Aenil, or both. They are perhaps driven by reasons such as power (in the world of man or the world of Aenil), hatred, or malevolent apathy, seeing our world as a plaything. It is important to act well and have faith that good Aenil will protect against these. With good certainty they will.
 
A small number of Aenil, however, work to hinder or destroy man, the Aenil, or both. They are perhaps driven by reasons such as power (in the world of man or the world of Aenil), hatred, or malevolent apathy, seeing our world as a plaything. It is important to act well and have faith that good Aenil will protect against these. With good certainty they will.
  
When judging men, the Aenil look at intentions and beliefs as much as they look at actions. Aenil are impartial in petty disputes of men. An example of this is were a man to face a horde of monsters in protection of others. Were the man driven by the attraction of the power and glory such action would give him, the Aenil would not consider him well compared to the man who does so to protect those he cares about without thought of reward or safety. Both actions are good, the intentions of one not so.
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When judging men, the Aenil look at intentions and beliefs over actions. Aenil are impartial in the petty disputes of men. Were a man to face a horde of monsters in protection of others. Were the man driven by the attraction of the power and glory such action would give him, the Aenil would not consider him well compared to the man who does so to protect those he cares about without thought of reward or safety. Both actions are good, the intentions of one not so. Similarly, The murder of a good man in the belief that it must be done for a greater (good) cause is better than the rescue of an evil man with the intention that the man continue in that manner - honourable is in the eye of the beholder, and the Aenil are impartial. There is nothing good or bad around any deed - the intention behind the act is what seperates good men from those who are not.
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There is nothing inherently good or bad about an action, there is nothing that says an Aenil who acts in ways considered dishonourable or that cause suffering on others is a bad or malicious Aenil - sometimes such acts are necessary. A bad Aenil, just as a bad man, is one that acts with ''intent'' to be dishonourable and malevolent.  
  
 
===Effects of Man on Aenil===
 
===Effects of Man on Aenil===
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This does not include the abilities not considered the sole domain of the Aenil. For example, most Aenil have fighting skill to best the most brillant of human swordsmen, despite rarely exercising that ability.
 
This does not include the abilities not considered the sole domain of the Aenil. For example, most Aenil have fighting skill to best the most brillant of human swordsmen, despite rarely exercising that ability.
  
===Purpose===
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===Faith===
  
===Faith and Action of Men===
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As above, good deeds and intentions combined with faith will give you the blessings of the Aenil, who (for the most part) are pleased with such things. The greater the faith and deed, the greater your recognition among the Aenil will be. Bad deed and intention and lack of faith will make the Aenil apathetic or worse about you. Bad deed and faith is dangerous - it might bring you to the attention of good Aenil who may want to have you change your ways, or it might bring you to the attention of malevolent Aenil who will join you or use you in their own malicious designs.
  
 
====Where Taith Aenil Went Wrong====
 
====Where Taith Aenil Went Wrong====
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Taith Aenil was a political institution dedicated to the study of the Aenil. While this began with good intentions, the issue of having politics entwined with religion caused the realm to depart or waver its religious beliefs and study in the name of bureaucracy. Coupled with the growing power-hunger and eventual madness of Arella, the realm devolved into a shadow of what it once was, with no path left for the politic or the spiritual. It is for this reason that political titles are ignored in Magna Aenilia Ecclesia and the faith established as a soverign and independent institution beyond realms - both to prevent such collapse from occuring again and to remain impartial in mortal matters just as the Aenil.
  
 
==Other Religions==
 
==Other Religions==
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Despite all this, we know relatively little of the Aenil's purpose or their own beliefs. From the ''[[Magna Aenilia Ecclesia/Book of Promises|Book of Promises]]'', it has been implied that the Aenil have in some form accepted responsibility over those of clay (man), however we know nothing of if there is a superior being or beings just as the Aenil are above us. Thus, these beliefs are not incompatible with the beliefs of other religions - there may be other beings similar to the Aenil, the Aenil may reveal themselves differently under different names, beings whom the Aenil themselves worship may have revealed themselves elsewhere. We, however, hold our beliefs solely toward the Aenil and to live in a manner which ensures their blessing and friendship.

Revision as of 04:01, 21 December 2006

The Aenil

The Aenil ('Aenil' being singular and plural) are beings that occupy a world greater than and parallel to our own. Our own actions on this plane of existence call out to the Aenil in their identical yet seperated world, influencing them as much as their blessings (or curses) influence us. It is impossible to say 'all Aenil are good' or 'this many are good and this many are bad'; the Aenil are innumerable (in the sense that, while it is unlikely there are an infinite number, there are so many it is beyond the capacity of man to number them) and as varied as men. Our own actions influence those Aenil who take an interest in our lives. For that reason, it is important to act well so that our actions might attract benevolent Aenil who can guide and protect us from those that would cause us harm, Aenil or man.

Physical Nature

The Aenil are beings that occupy a world which is greater than and parallel to our own, although this is not a good description. Another way to describe it would be to take a duplicate of our own world and lay it over our world, so that there are two almost overlapping worlds on top of each other, mortal below and Aenil above, each with its own realities and activities that influence (but don't control) the other. The actual reality of the world of the Aenil is too difficult a concept for mortal men to understand, so we must make do with what we can.

Existing in this fashion, the Aenil may influence to a small degree events both minor and major in our world in a way beyond the ability of man if they choose to do so. To a lesser degree, how we act also has subtle effects on the Aenil. As beings who, as a rule, do not make their presence known, their physical form is not generally shown in any form (beyond mortal representations such as paintins or statues) to man. However, some faithful have been blessed to have Aenil reveal themselves bodily. The most blessed have had the opportunity to speak with them and even be given Aenilian items; artifacts beyond value.

The Aenil are innumerable in that, while it is unlikely they are infinite in number, there are so many that we could not hope to count them all even had we the means to do so. Each Aenil is different, as each man is different, and may work together or alone for the purpose that the Aenil alone follow.

From what few descriptions have been gathered from the faithful blessed to see the Aenil's physical form, they are similar to humans in appearance but for their greater physical perfection and athleticism, and a spectral aura of power and authority that distinguishes them immediately from men. From the even less we know of their minds, even the least among the Aenil is said to have an intellect equal to the brightest of men. All Aenil revealed have thus far been male, but there is evidence to suggest that there may be female Aenil as well.

Moral Nature

Just as each Aenil is different in power and mind, the beliefs and morals of each Aenil is different. It is impossible to say 'the Aenil are all good' or 'two-thirds of the Aenil are good and the other is bad', both as each individual Aenil may be good or bad at different times or in different amounts, and because we simply don't know. Most Aenil are honourable and benevelent to some degree, and such actions on our behalf will attract good and noble Aenil to watch over and bless us, or curse those that would cause good men harm. Some are apathetic to man, but may still be called upon in desperate times. Some Aenil work for all men, some take interest and watch over a single man or group of men. The latter is what is usually revealed to us, as the 'patron' Aenil will make themselves known to those that they are watching.

A small number of Aenil, however, work to hinder or destroy man, the Aenil, or both. They are perhaps driven by reasons such as power (in the world of man or the world of Aenil), hatred, or malevolent apathy, seeing our world as a plaything. It is important to act well and have faith that good Aenil will protect against these. With good certainty they will.

When judging men, the Aenil look at intentions and beliefs over actions. Aenil are impartial in the petty disputes of men. Were a man to face a horde of monsters in protection of others. Were the man driven by the attraction of the power and glory such action would give him, the Aenil would not consider him well compared to the man who does so to protect those he cares about without thought of reward or safety. Both actions are good, the intentions of one not so. Similarly, The murder of a good man in the belief that it must be done for a greater (good) cause is better than the rescue of an evil man with the intention that the man continue in that manner - honourable is in the eye of the beholder, and the Aenil are impartial. There is nothing good or bad around any deed - the intention behind the act is what seperates good men from those who are not.

There is nothing inherently good or bad about an action, there is nothing that says an Aenil who acts in ways considered dishonourable or that cause suffering on others is a bad or malicious Aenil - sometimes such acts are necessary. A bad Aenil, just as a bad man, is one that acts with intent to be dishonourable and malevolent.

Effects of Man on Aenil

Just as the Aenil may influence men, men may influence Aenil in a much smaller way. The actions, thoughts and beliefs cry out to the Aenil like an emotional echo. This happens regardless of the nature of these things - the murder of good men will be felt by the Aenil equally as much as the saving and healing of good men. Of course, good things will make the Aenil happy, and bad things cause the Aenil pain. In addition to watching over men, this is how the Aenil judge us. Good and honourable action is likely to give you the notice and blessing of Aenil, malicious and malevolent deeds their apathy or disgust, or worse the attraction of Aenil of like mind.

Abilities

Given their nature above yet together with our world, the Aenil have abilities far beyond even the legendary SpellMasters of old. Each Aenil is different, and may not have (or choose to use) the same abilities as another.

A number of the abilities shown by the Aenil are:

  • Moving objects of any size or form (books, trees, wind) without touching them (telekinesis)
  • Reading and/or interpreting thoughts and feelings (telepathy)
  • Influencing the thoughts and feelings of men
  • Appearing and disappearing at the location they will instantaneously
  • Speech in any language
  • Illusions

More powerful Aenil may have other abilities including:

  • Transmutation of anything into any other thing
  • Transmutation of objects out of air
  • Changing their physical form (from changing their appearance to changing species)
  • Creation and control of beasts, both mortal and supernatural

A very few of the Aenil have these absolute powers, and by far most of them are opposed to the use of them:

  • Mind Control
  • Bodily Possession of mortal creatures and men
  • Actual physical substance in our world indistinguishable from men (as opposed to the semi-physical state seen by those the Aenil reveal themselves to, or their usual ethereal state)

This does not include the abilities not considered the sole domain of the Aenil. For example, most Aenil have fighting skill to best the most brillant of human swordsmen, despite rarely exercising that ability.

Faith

As above, good deeds and intentions combined with faith will give you the blessings of the Aenil, who (for the most part) are pleased with such things. The greater the faith and deed, the greater your recognition among the Aenil will be. Bad deed and intention and lack of faith will make the Aenil apathetic or worse about you. Bad deed and faith is dangerous - it might bring you to the attention of good Aenil who may want to have you change your ways, or it might bring you to the attention of malevolent Aenil who will join you or use you in their own malicious designs.

Where Taith Aenil Went Wrong

Taith Aenil was a political institution dedicated to the study of the Aenil. While this began with good intentions, the issue of having politics entwined with religion caused the realm to depart or waver its religious beliefs and study in the name of bureaucracy. Coupled with the growing power-hunger and eventual madness of Arella, the realm devolved into a shadow of what it once was, with no path left for the politic or the spiritual. It is for this reason that political titles are ignored in Magna Aenilia Ecclesia and the faith established as a soverign and independent institution beyond realms - both to prevent such collapse from occuring again and to remain impartial in mortal matters just as the Aenil.

Other Religions

Despite all this, we know relatively little of the Aenil's purpose or their own beliefs. From the Book of Promises, it has been implied that the Aenil have in some form accepted responsibility over those of clay (man), however we know nothing of if there is a superior being or beings just as the Aenil are above us. Thus, these beliefs are not incompatible with the beliefs of other religions - there may be other beings similar to the Aenil, the Aenil may reveal themselves differently under different names, beings whom the Aenil themselves worship may have revealed themselves elsewhere. We, however, hold our beliefs solely toward the Aenil and to live in a manner which ensures their blessing and friendship.