The Hierarchy

From Aryez

Book 43 of the Marfat

43: The Hierarchy

1. Other gods and idols are not fake,

2. but they are the loyal servants of God.

3. The ignorance of many has caused people

4. to think otherwise. God’s servants

5. are the demi-gods and angels known

6. as Ainur [singular: Ainu], of which there are many.

7. These servants are powerful and often

8. do many great things. They have

9. powers involving major concepts, themes,

10. ideals, feelings, and natural things. The

11. Devil’s servants are the demons,

12. who are mostly

13. fallen demi-gods. There are many demons

14. as well; they are involved in all the misfortunes

15. and ills of the world. Mother Universe’s servants

16. are almost infinite, and include nature spirits,

17. minor spirits, and guardian spirits,

18. spirits involved in little things and parts of

19. things as opposed to the more powerful

20. demons and demi-gods who are involved in

21. greater things. In addition, holy mortals

22. may be venerated as saints.

23. Saints, demons, nature spirits, and

24. demi-gods can be venerated, loved, and asked

25. to intercede in order to help us, but the Lord

26. has made it clear they are not to be worshiped.

27. Their holiness is from God, who is alone worthy

28. of adoration and worship. It is against God’s commandments

29. to worship any by Him. God wishes for

30. his lesser spirits to bring greater glory

31. to the Universe and follow his commands,

32. and all spirits but the Devil and his servants understand

33. this. The Devil is a vain fool who seeks to

34. be worshipped. Love God’s spirits and they will

35. love and aid you with many things.

36. But one’s highest love and allegiance should be

37. dedicated to God only. That is

38. the truest, highest spiritual connection possible. Build

39. shrines dedicated to spirits,

40. make sculptures of them, but do not worship them.

41. Enter into these shrines to ask only for something

42. good. Build houses of worship for God (especially worship in nature),

43. but worship Him anywhere. He does not need to have a house to be worshipped.

44. Worship Him well, pray to Him with all your heart, anywhere.

45. Style and size does not matter for a house of worship,

46. as long as the idea behind

47. it is pure and good, and these houses are

48. dedicated to God alone. Make no images of God.

49. Such is the hierarchy of God’s servants

50. and those that rebelled against Him, and the rules

51. regarding places of worship.

Commentary: This book acknowledges the fact that the gods of other religions aren’t fake or figments of the imaginations of people. These gods are mostly true servants of god, whose purposes have either been twisted or misinterpreted by people or by the Devil and his demons. All of these gods, nature spirits, and saints may be prayed to in the sense that they can be asked for favors and help (after all their purpose is to help), but only God can be worshiped. Their powers include the ability to do magic, so magic does exist, as a mysterious proof of God’s power to override the physical. However, science is always more trusty and practical than magic. There is nothing wrong with making images of any of these holy beings as long as these images are not worshiped (no image should ever be made of God however, but how can one conceptualize such a being anyhow). The book also states that God can be worshiped anytime and anywhere, so there is no specific place or way to worship God. However, Aralanic tradition has lead to the establishment of a standard type of Rond (Aralanic place of worship). These traditions are summed up in the following passage:

The entirety of the Rond is actually a large elaborate garden, highly resembling a nature garden. Throughout the garden are various outdoor altars dedicated to various ideas, concepts, heros, spirits, or nature [mini-temples or shrines]. There are several places for lighting fires, numerous streams, benches, sacred groves for worship and appreciation. Tables, benches and walled roofs are also found, for comfort and recreation. Worshipers may proceed down a variety of paths to walk around the gardens. Ideally, there should be soft music played along the paths, and the more green trees, the better. In the center of the garden will be a large building in the style of a cross between a giant Mosque and giant Cathedral. This is the Rond proper. Inside this building all formal sermons and group prayers [and weddings] are held as well as storage of important materials [library, records, etc.] and be a seat for the clergy. Inside are high walls, stained glass, an altar in the center or at the northern end [depending on shape] (these buildings are mostly symmetrical or spherical), and these buildings are carpeted with elegant rugs and carpets. Only the center pathway should be tiled with elegant tiles. Pews may or may not be used; worshipers will either sit on the pews placed on carpets or on the carpets themselves. From the center of the roof, a tall spire usually rises. Decorations, paintings, and statues are throughout the interior in order to enhance look, meaning, and worship in the building. Only the actual altar of Iru itself must face a blank wall (made of stone or wood) representing the formlessness of God.