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The collective body of [[ardent]]s from all of the separate devotaries is called the ardentia.
=== Origins and Old Vorinism ===
Though the origins of Vorinism are lost to the [[Shadowdays]], it's known that the name "[[Almighty]]" was used to refer to [[Honor]] even back during the [[Desolation]]s -- in fact, it might predate human arrival on [[Roshar]], as it was used even by the [[Herald]]s themselves.{{book ref|sa1|19}}{{book ref|sa|part=prelude}} The Vorin religion came about around that time, basing itself on writings of a currently-unknown, but highly influential writer whom it was eventually named after.{{wob ref|12365}} [[Nohadon]] was another important figure during that time, and ''[[The Way of Kings (in-world)|The Way of Kings]]'' he penned was one of Vorinism's early holy texts.{{book ref|sa1|53}}
Back in the early days of the religion, now called '''Old Vorinism''', the [[Knights Radiant]] were an important part of the faith, and [[Immortal Words#The First Ideal|the First Ideal]] was a religious doctrine. The primary tenet of the faith, as far as can be ascertained, was that how one lived was far more important than what one had accomplished. Religion premeated every aspect of life, allowing the ardents to own land and property.{{book ref|sa1|53}}
=== Hierocracy: Rise ===
{{for|Hierocracy}}
Following the [[Recreance]], the attitudes towards the Knights Radiant changed drastically, with them being seen as traitors rather than heroes. The focus shifted from the First Ideal to other texts, chief among them ''[[Arts and Majesty]]'', leading to the gender divide among the Vorins that exists until the modern day. In spite of that, the [[lighteyes]]-[[darkeyes]] divide likely began during the same time, with pale eyes becoming the symbol of Almighty's favor despite their previous association with Radiance.{{book ref|sa1|73}}
As time went on, [[ardent]]s took over more and more segments of society, claiming divine mandate to rule.{{book ref|sa3|34}} Ultimately, this led to priesthood holding near-absolute power over large swathes of land and populace as they sought to bring Vorinism to the whole of Roshar.{{book ref|sa1|26}}
The '''[[Hierocracy]]''', as it would come to be called, saw the ardentia go to great lengths to control its subjects through access to information.{{book ref|sa2|3}} The priesthood claimed to have the sole authority to interpret the holy scriptures and the will of the Almighty; the commoners were to follow them blindly as they were told what their Callings were and what their god had planned from them. Knowledge of the Knights Radiant was heavily censored, and what remained was altered and mythologized to fit the doctrine.{{book ref|sa2|6}} Yet even as Surgebinding was discredited and deemed to be mere trickery, ardents themselves claimed to be able to predict the future through visions and prophecies.{{book ref|sa1|18}}
=== Hierocracy: Fall and Aftermath ===
{{for|War of Loss}}
As with many empires, Hierocracy's greatest weakness was its sheer size.{{book ref|sa3|19}} It grew larger with time, but so did the fractures within, and those fractures allowed [[Alethkar|Alethi]] warlord [[Sadees]], later called the Sunmaker, to make war on it. The resulting conflict, known as the [[War of Loss]], saw the ardentia fractured into devotaries, and the ardents themselves stripped of much of their power. No longer were they allowed to hold land or own property; no longer were they even free men. Rather, they became slaves to [[lighteyes]].{{book ref|sa1|45}}
Moreover, as Sadees conquered their strongholds, he interrogated them and their correspondence, and claimed to have learned that the so-called visions were little more than fabrications made to keep the people in check. This marked yet another shift in Vorin doctrine: now, prophecy was an evil thing, of [[Odium]] and the [[Voidbringers]], and to pursue it was heresy.{{book ref|sa1|18}} Yet more changes were made to free the church from ardentia's grip: rather than holding ultimate authority, they became merely advisors, and each man and woman was supposed to find the faith's meaning for themselves.{{book ref|sa1|18}}
=== Present and Future ===
Though Sadees' war of conquest stretched as far West as [[Azir]], Vorinism did not find foothold there.{{book ref|sa3|65}} On the other hand, the states formerly under Hierocracy, now known as the Vorin kingdoms, retain the faith to this day.{{book ref|sa1|8}}
Despite ardentia having few privileges remaining from the days of Hierocracy, their social status has been slowly climbing back up over the past decades. The curates retain their right to excommunicate members of the Church without consulting with any political authority, and though they are forbidden from amassing wealth, some of it still finds its way into their hands.{{book ref|sa3|100}} In addition, ardents are increasingly often used as yet another political tool by the lighteyes.{{book ref|sa1|54}} Some people -- not only ardents, but even laymen -- seek the return of Hierocracy, chief among them the [[Sons of Honor]].{{book ref|sa2|i|12}}{{book ref|sa2|88}} Other groups, like the [[Envisagers]], desire to go even further back, to the age of Old Vorinism.{{book ref|sa2|71}}
With the coming of the [[Everstorm]] and the return of the [[Knights Radiant]], the future of Vorinism is unclear. Many of its tenets, chief among them that the [[Aharietiam]] was the final desolation, have been proven wrong, the Heralds are quite mad, and the leaders of the largest anti-Odium faction are a heretic and an atheist.{{book ref|sa3|122}} For now, the church strives to retain control through hamfisted means like excommunication, although this might not be sufficient, as there are some who believe that now is the time to break free from Vorinism.{{book ref|sa3|100}}{{book ref|sa3|107}}
==Notable Members==
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