The following MarkDown document is a large partial cutpaste of a set of
rules I'm working on. There are no actual rules here; this more-or-less
defines what the eventual rules will generate. I would like comment on
these, including suggestions for change and for actually defining the two
sections on "Openness" and "Accessibility"

* * * * * *

# Introduction

Although not really addressed in canonical world-building in
*Traveller*, religion is often an important factor in the "shape" of a
culture. Digest Group Publications (*World Builders' Handbook*)
\[p79*ff*\] provided a way of generating a "profile" for a religion,
similar to the various profile strings for characters and worlds, but
the interpretation of the various choices left something to be desired,
and no guidelines were provided for incorporating that religion into a
society. This article is intended to provide an alternative to that
procedure, to provide alternative interpretations for the various
characteristics of the religion, and to offer suggestions regarding the
use of religion in the adventure.

# Definitions

## Religion/Philosophy

There is no single universal agreement on the definition of religion. We
have chosen to start from the definition provided by Max Lynn
Stackhouse, "a comprehensive worldview that is accepted as binding
because it is held to be in itself basically true and just, even if all
dimensions of it cannot be either fully confirmed or refuted". For the
purposes of discussion in this article, *religion* differs from
*philosophy* in one principal respect: a religion acknowledges a Deitic
Principle (q.v., below). For the most part, discussion in this article
will apply equally to religion and philosophy, and the word religion
will be used for both; where a distinction is necessary, some reference
to the Deitic Principle will be included for religions; where the word
philosophy is used, the Deitic Principle is specifically excluded. Note
that if the distinction outlined here is applied to real-world
religions, some (such as Taoism or Confucianism) may be reclassified as
philosophies.

## Deitic Principle

A religion's Deitic Principle is defined as one or more (normally
metaphysical or nonphysical) entities that are generally viewed as
self-aware and able (if not necessarily willing) to intervene in the
affairs of those demonstrating devotion to themselves or to those
aspects of the social contract believed to be important. While
omniscience, omnipresence, and/or omnipotence are often attributes of
Deitic Principles, they do not define a Deitic Principle in the general
case.

## Devotional Activity

This is a very broad term. It refers generally to activities that are
viewed as being part of that religion, whether or not they are
'ordinary' day-to-day activities requiring special note within the
religion. As an example, eating only kosher food, avoiding pork, and not
mixing meat and dairy in a meal are all classed as "devotional
activities" in Judaism; similarly, avoiding beef is a "devotional
activity" for Hindus, as is carrying the *kirpan* for Sikhs. (Naturally,
specific activities such as prayers, rituals, and so on are also
"devotional activities".)

# Characteristics of Religions

## Model

The goal for any religion is to provide a common worldview to bind a
society into a cohesive whole. Part of that common worldview involves
the rules for interacting with the religion itself. We call this the
Model of the religion, and have identified three basic possibilities:

### Propitiatory

The purpose of devotional activities is to either induce the Deitic
Principle to favorable action, or to deter the Deitic Principle from
unfavorable action. This includes devotional activities where no
specific request is made, such as prayers of thanks or of
acknowledgement of suzerainty.

### Ethical

The purpose of devotional activities is to maintain society as a whole
in a functional mode viewed as positive, or to remind devotees of the
need to so maintain the society. This includes self-focussed activities
that are intended to make one a "better person" to the extent that the
normal behavior of the "better person" is favorable to maintaining
society as above.

### Transcendental

The purpose of devotional activities is to bring oneself closer to some
idealized state, representing a "perfection" of the self, or to a state
where there is no distinction between the self and the Deitic Principle.
Occasionally, this is interpreted to focus on becoming "more/better than
human" or to develop abilities that are considered exceptional (for
example, psionics). (For individuals other than humans, substitute
appropriate species identifier, e.g., "more/better than
Vargr/Aslan/Virushi/ Gurvin/etc.)

### A Note on Hybridization

It is actually unusual for an "organic" religion (that is, one that
developed naturally, rather than being specifically 'designed') to be
*purely* in one of the three classes; often, a religion will change as
the society does, and a religion that might be classed as 'Ethical' may
well have 'held over' elements that would suggest a 'Propitiatory' model
(e.g., prayers before and after meals), or one that is principally
'Transcendental' may also have elements of an 'Ethical' model regarding
how the Improved self should interact with those who are less Improved.
Even 'designed' religions may have 'mixed' aspects, as the designers
will often take acceptable aspects of other religions into their own for
multiple reasons, including increasing the "comfort levels" of the
devotees (familiarity of ritual) or deception (influence non-devotees
and prospective devotees toward the belief that the new religion is a
variation/reinterpretation of an older, more acceptable one).

It is possible that an evaluation of a model might result in two models
appearing to be codominant (that is, of equal importance, rather than
one being vestiges of a historical change). Such cases may be religions
that are transitioning between the two models, and thus the codominance
should be considered unstable or transitory. It is also possible that
such a religion is synthetic (i.e., deliberately created, not naturally
developed) or syncretic (the result of two dissimilar religions being
combined, either deliberately or organically).

## Deitic Structure

The Deitic Structure of a religion describes the "shape" of the Deitic
Principle. When evaluating a religion for its Deitic Structure, look at
actual practice, rather than the religion's own doctrinal claims;
historical syncretism resulting from accommodation of rituals from
converts answering the call of proselytism may have in practice changed
the Deitic Structure.

### Omnitheistic

The Deitic Principle is universal; there is no place where the Deitic
Principle does not manifest. This may be divided generally into two
forms:

#### Pantheistic

The Universe and the Deitic Principle are one and the same; the Deitic
Principle pervades every aspect of the Universe

#### Panentheistic

The Deitic Principle contains the Universe, but is also beyond it -- the
Universe is a subset of the Deitic Principle.

### Multitheistic (Polytheistic)

The Deitic Principle is not a single entity. Entities comprising the
Deitic Principle may be associated with particular entities in the
world, or with realms of activity or existence. Broadly speaking, this
can take the following forms:

#### Hierarchical Multitheistic

Some of the entities comprising the Deitic Principle are considered more
important than others, and the less important entities may have their
ability to act constrained by the more important entities. This includes
situations where the lesser entities are acting strictly as intercessors
with the greater, which actually acts on the request.

#### Departmental Multitheistic

There is no real ranking among the entities comprising the Deitic
Principle; all are considered equal. Instead, each entity has an area of
responsibility, and requests falling within that area are to be directed
to the specific entity responsible. It is possible that areas of
responsibility may overlap in day-to-day activities; in such cases,
requests may be made separately or collectively to the relevant
entities.

#### Entity-centric Multitheistic (Animistic)

Each discernably-discrete entity in the world has its own portion of the
Deitic Principle. This may be limited to only those entities that are
alive (people, plants, and animals) or which may be perceived as such
(add such things as rivers or other bodies of water and wind), or it may
be unlimited (add such things as mountains, 'the land', or crafted
things such as weapons).

#### Hybrid Forms

It is possible for e.g., Departmental and Hierarchical Multitheism to
overlap; this could represent something similar to the Celestial
Bureaucracy of Chinese theology.

### Dualistic

The Deitic Principle is embodied in two entities representing opposed
principles. Common principle pairs are Life/Death, Good/Evil, and
Creation/Destruction, but other pairings are not unknown.

### Unitheistic (Monotheistic)

The Deitic Principal is a single entity, distinct from the world. Often,
some combination of omnipresence, omniscience, and/or omnipotence is
ascribed thereto.

### Nontheistic

The Deitic Principal's existence is not acknowledged. This guarantees
that the religion is classed as a philosophy rather than a deitic
religion.

## Deitic Distance

The Deitic Distance of a religion describes the level at which the
Deitic Principle is believed to interact with devotees.

### Interactive

The Deitic Principle interacts with devotees constantly, and on a
personal basis with each. Nothing occurs without the direct and intimate
involvement of the Deitic Principle.

### Personal

The Deitic Principle interacts with devotees on a personal basis with
each, but only at specific need.

### Collective

The Deitic Principle interacts with devotees at need on a group basis,
not individually.

### Uninvolved

The Deitic Principle rarely interacts with devotees on any basis.

## Clerical Structure

The Clerical Structure of a religion describes who may teach or
interpret the principles and scriptures of the religion, and who may
perform the rituals of the religion (this is henceforth referred to as
'acting as clergy').

### Individual

Devotees are universally and individually empowered to act as clergy.

### Congregational

Selected devotees are individually empowered to act as clergy for small
groups of other devotees. Authority rises from the groups, and agreement
to interpretations of principles and scriptures is via negotiation and
consensus.

### Hierarchical

Selected devotees are individually empowered to act as clergy for large
groups of devotees, and to empower others to do so for smaller groups.
Authority descends from a single individual or small council, and
agreement to interpretations of principles and scriptures is via
negotiation and consensus at the highest levels, with doctrinal
statements handed down to lower levels.

## Clerical Role

### Pastoral

Clergy provide advice to devotees and teach doctrine. They may also be
empowered to certify others as competent to act as clergy.

### Paternal

In addition to counselling devotees and teaching doctrine, clergy may
provide specific guidance/direction and may impose penance for
transgressions.

### Intercessionary

Clergy are the only ones empowered to interact with the Deitic Principle
on behalf of devotees, and this is held to be their primary role within
the organization. Other duties resemble those of a strict paternal
clergy. Some senior clergy may be empowered to certify others as clergy.

## Influence

While any religion will by definition have influence among its devotees,
it's possible for a religion's principles to become influential among
others.

### Congregational

The principles of the religion are held primarily by the devotees, with
little acceptance or application beyond that.

### Persuasive

The principles of the religion are held not only by devotees, but by
others outside the religion, and have become a significant influence
among the wider society.

### Statutory

The principles, rituals, and/or other aspects of the religion are
enforced even for non-devotees with the force of law.

## Openness

Openness is an evaluation of how easily one may become part of the
religious community. A "closed" religion does not accept converts; one
must be born into the religion to be considered a member of the
community.

## Accessibility

##

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