Helmarie Legalizes Practice of Unofficial Religions in Public

Current Date:
Oron 39, Salgan 6, Adonsik 40, Vylor Cledman VI
(39th Day of the 6th Month, 40th year of the reign of Emperor Cledman VI)


Ulor Esinie of Helmarie province has issued a decree legalizing the practice of unofficial religions in public. Currently imperial law prohibits all public praying, worshipping, displaying of religious symbols, construction of temples or other religious buildings, carving of idols, sacrifices, etc. except for the official religion of the empire which is the Zekresh religion. The sacrifice of goats to Gilhalnan on the solstices is not actually required by law, but is strongly encouraged. The worship of other Zekresh gods is also permitted and large temples to them have been built in every province with money from the Imperial treasury. All other religions must be practiced in secret, if at all, and they are strongly discouraged by imperial officials. In some provinces there are fines and penalties for being a member of any unofficial religion, even in private.

Lord Chancellor Rubanya Cledman has endorsed the move by the Ulor of Helmarie and sent messages asking the Uloro of other provinces to consider following the example of Helmarie province and issue decrees legalizing the practice of unofficial religions in public.

The Ulor of Trayavix Province has agreed to issue such a decree and has set his scribes to preparing the decree. The Ulor of Slythia has taken a middle course, legalizing the Cult of the Viper God only and retaining the ban on all other religions except the official religion of the Empire.

For more information on the official religion of the empire, see here:

http://nationsandempires1.blogspot.com/2006/11/zekresh-religion.html

The Lord Chancellor has said of this, "We have tried for centuries to make all the peoples of the empire into devout worshippers of Gilhalnan the Goat God of the Forest and the other holy deities of our religion. Alas, those who are going to join us in our sacred temples have already done so. The others, and I speak of the vast majority of the population of the Empire, have their own gods and goddesses and there is no reason they should not be able to worship them in public as we worship our gods in public. There will be less grumbling about Imperial rule if we permit our people this small liberty. Gilhalnan will understand. After all, the Ulor of Helmarie has already carried out this reform and the sky didn't fall. The Empire didn't crumble. Goats did not rush out of the forest and smite him to show Gilhalnan's displeasure."

Levorek, a member of the Imperial Council, and the leader of the Loyalist Faction, has been critical of this proposal, "Ulor Esinie of Helmarie is playing with fire and we could all get burnt. Religion is one of the things which holds the Empire together. People who pray together, stay together. If we legalize unofficial religions, there will be six hundred temples to six hundred different gods in every city. I predict arguments over religions, dissent, chaos and holy wars that will tear the Empire apart. It was wise to suppress the unofficial religions and urge people to follow the one true faith. We should reconsider allowing the worship of heathen gods in private, too, I say. And since when is this up to an Ulor to decide? This is a matter for the Emperor to decide."

Ulor Esinie of Helmarie Province said, "I have decided to join the Reformist Faction and stop suppressing the native religions of this province as the Lord Chancellor suggested."

Here is more information on the Stavuk Vyloresh
(Imperial Council) where this is being debated
http://nationsandempires1.blogspot.com/2006/11/imperial-council.html

Here is more information on Helmarie province which
initiated action on this issue:
http://nationsandempires2.blogspot.com/2006/11/salan-helmarie.html