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Vorinism

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Vorinism
Related to Alethkar
World of Origin Roshar

Vorinism is the primary religion in Alethkar, Jah Keved, and Kharbranth (known as Vorin kingdoms).[1] It is less common the further west you travel in Roshar, and both the people of the Purelake and Shinovar have their own unique religion.

The traditional temples for Vorinism are circular and domed. Usually, the dome is exactly ten feet tall at its highest point. The temples are often filled with statues and pictures of the Heralds.[2]

Beliefs

In Vorin religion people believe in the Almighty, force of good, creator of mankind, and the divine prism, with the ten facets representing his Heralds. It tells of a struggle between mankind and the Voidbringers. When the Voidbringers, an embodiment of evil, had forced mankind and the Heralds out of the Tranquiline Halls, into Roshar, the Voidbringers didn't stop there, coming again and again in times known as Desolations, trying to force mankind off Roshar as well, into Damnation.[3][4]

On Roshar, mankind led by the Heralds and their chosen knights, fought them off ninety and nine times. Until finally, Aharietiam came, the Last Desolation. The Voidbringers were defeated and cast back into the Tranquiline Halls and the Heralds followed to force them out of heaven as well and mankind entered the Era of Solitude.[3]

People are expected to choose a Calling, their greatest talent, and those who grow to be the very best at their Calling are chosen to join the Heralds in the fight to regain the Tranquiline Halls when they die. Those who are the very best at farming in life become farmers for the Heralds in death, and those who are the greatest at battle are chosen to fight beside the Heralds.[1][5][6][2][7] It is taught that those who do not achieve their greatest potential are given to a sort of dreamless sleep, stuck in limbo-like eternity, and those who do horrible things will be cast into Damnation.[citation needed]

Titles

The priesthood of the Vorin religion are referred to as ardents. Ardents join devotaries (sects) based on their beliefs. Both males and females can become an ardent,[5] though many of the devotaries encourage women toward the female arts, rather than studies of theology.[8]

Following the Hierocracy, the ardents are not allowed to own any property of any kind, and they are directly owned by lighteyed lords.

Devotaries

There are many different devotaries of Vorinism, which vary greatly in their interpretation of the beliefs. A devotary and its ardents encourage to expand the growth of a person's talents. So far the known devotaries are:

  • The Devotary of Purity[8] is dedicated to wholesomeness and honesty. Members of this devotary are expected to keep their thoughts and actions 'pure'. A member's talents are expected to be dedicated to purity as well, such as an artist depicting only things like the Heralds. Known member: Shallan.
  • The Devotary of Sincerity[9] is dedicated to seeking truth in all things. Members believe that there is always something to learn, and everything is subject to scrutiny, even their own religion. No question is rebuked. It is the smallest devotary.
  • The Devotary of Insight[8] is not described. Many ardents from the Devotary of Insight are seen exchanging dulled lamps from the Palanaeum and putting infused ones in their place.
  • The Devotary of Denial[10] is not well defined. This Devotary seems to emphasize the denial of desires to the point of asceticism.

Ardentia

The Ardentia was the collective body of Ardents from all of the separate devotaries.

Hierocracy

The Hierocracy had been a time when the ardents attempted to conquer the world and control the people "for their own good." The Hierocracy is considered the failure of Vorinism.[3] Priests controlled what people learned, what religious paths they followed, and the overall doctrine. The priests claimed to see visions and prophecy, and claimed that the common people could not understand theology.[2]

“They were taught to follow the priests. Not the Almighty or the Heralds, but the priests. ”

— Kadash [2]

These priests were eventually cast down by the Sunmaker in the War of Loss and they split into the devotaries.

Notes

  1. ↑ a b The Way of Kings chapter 3#
  2. ↑ a b c d The Way of Kings chapter 18#
  3. ↑ a b c The Way of Kings chapter 45#
  4. ↑ The Way of Kings chapter 61#
  5. ↑ a b The Way of Kings interlude I-8#
  6. ↑ The Way of Kings chapter 16#
  7. ↑ The Way of Kings chapter 28#
  8. ↑ a b c The Way of Kings chapter 33#
  9. ↑ The Way of Kings chapter 48#
  10. ↑ Words of Radiance interlude I-11#
  11. ↑ The Way of Kings chapter 54#
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