Argiztaroa (Pacifica)
| Argiztaroa | |
|---|---|
| Argiztaroa | |
| Scripture | Gauaren Hitzak |
| Theology | Pantheistic |
| Language | Izarian |
| Territory | Izaria |
| Origin | c. 3,400 BC Izaria |
| Number of followers | est. 35,278 |
Argiztaroa is a pantheistic religion based on the teachings of the canonical book Gauaren Hitzak (Austral: The Words of the Night). The religion's adherents, called Argiztars (singular Argiztar), are estimated to number approximately 35,278, representing the overwhelming majority of the population of Izaria. Argiztaroa holds the status of the official and most widely practiced religion in the Republic of Izaria, with its principles deeply embedded in the nation's culture, philosophical traditions, and political structure.
Beliefs and Theology
Argiztars believe that the universe, in its totality and material reality, is divine. This theology holds that there is no distinct, personal, or anthropomorphic deity separate from creation. Instead, divinity is immanent, present in all matter, energy, and natural laws. The cosmos itself, the sum of all stars, planets, life, and the void, is understood to be God, a singular, self-existent, and eternal entity.
This divine cosmos is seen not as a passive object of worship but as a dynamic, conscious, and self-expressive system. Its primary mode of communication and revelation is through its own structure and operation. Consequently, the stars and celestial bodies are not gods themselves but are venerated as the most direct, luminous, and orderly manifestations of the divine cosmos. They are the "words" or "script" through which the universe makes its nature and will intelligible. Observation of the heavens is therefore the primary form of prayer and theological study, a practice known as Ikaratzea (The Watching).
From this core tenet flows a concept of universal interconnectivity. Since all things are part of the divine whole, every element of existence, from a human being to a stone, from a thought to a supernova, is intrinsically connected and shares in the sacred nature of the cosmos. This belief fosters a profound sense of responsibility toward the natural world and other living beings. This has led to strict laws on protecting nature and animals, as they are all considered divine objects in the universe. Even humans themselves, are considered divine creatures.
Ethics and Morality
Argiztaroa is considered a theologically liberal religion. This liberalism is defined by an absence of detailed proscriptive codes that govern the personal lives of adherents in areas such as dietary restrictions, mandated dress, or specific daily rituals. The religion makes no claim to holding an exclusive spiritual truth and does not engage in organized efforts to convert or proselytize individuals from other faiths or belief systems. Its foundational ethical framework is derived not from a list of commandments but from the observed order and balance of the cosmos itself, emphasizing principles of universal harmony, natural equilibrium, and the fundamental preservation of life in all its forms.
The religion has been historically noted for its liberal and permissive stance on various social practices. Within Argiztar theology, concepts such as homosexuality, regulated drug use, and abortion are generally not viewed as moral transgressions, as they are not seen to violate the core principles of cosmic harmony and are understood to fall within the realm of personal conscience and societal law. Furthermore, Argiztaroa was one of the earliest known religious traditions to formally grant equal spiritual rights and roles to women, a principle directly embodied in the Hiri-Herri duality that places female leadership at the highest level of its symbolic and, historically, its political expression. The religion’s primary prohibitions are based exclusively on a concept of severe cosmic disruption. Actions that violently, permanently, or unjustly sever the essential interconnectedness within the divine whole are considered the only true transgressions. These are understood as acts that damage the fabric of the sacred cosmos itself. The prohibited actions include, but are not strictly limited to, murder as the ultimate destruction of a conscious thread of the universe, tyranny or oppression as a systematic rupture of social harmony, and severe environmental destruction as a violent assault on the physical manifestation of the divine.
Beyond these foundational prohibitions, which are explicitly defined, daily ethical living is guided by broad principles extrapolated from celestial observation. These include balance, which refers to maintaining an equilibrium between action and rest and between individual needs and community obligations; adaptability, which involves responding to life's changes with the fluid grace observed in the cyclical movements of the stars; and reciprocity, which emphasizes the obligation to give back to the community and the natural environment in proportion to what one receives from the cosmos. The religion places a very high value on personal conscience, reasoned intellectual inquiry, and ongoing philosophical discourse as the primary means for an individual or community to determine morally correct action in complex or ambiguous situations not covered by the basic prohibitions.
Scripture and Texts
The foundational scripture of Argiztaroa is the Gauaren Hitzak. This text is not considered the dictated words of a deity, but a sacred compilation assembled over centuries by the astronomer-priest class. It contains several core elements. The book includes mythic narratives describing the origin of the Izarian people from the stars, with a central focus on the journey of the Zeldizan ancestors as guided by the Celestial Chariot constellation. It also provides essential astronomical data and detailed calendrical calculations used for determining the precise timing of festivals and ritual observances throughout the year. Furthermore, the scripture encompasses philosophical discourses that explore the nature of the cosmos, which is understood as the divine itself, along with examinations of the foundational principles of Hiri-Herri and the place of human consciousness within the universal whole. Finally, the Gauaren Hitzak contains a collection of poetic hymns and formal liturgies that are employed in communal worship and private devotion.
Supplementing the primary Gauaren Hitzak are the Behatoki Liburuak (Observatory Books), which constitute a living body of secondary sacred literature. This ongoing compilation includes scholarly commentaries, precise observational records, philosophical expansions, and detailed ritual instructions, all meticulously maintained and updated by the priesthood. Over time, later prophetic revelations or significant poetic insights, which are known as Distira Berriak (New Gleams), may be formally reviewed and canonized into this broader and evolving body of sacred literature.