Erudition

Erudition (Fengese: 知明, : Zhīmíng), in Infernalism, is the state of possessing gnostic knowledge of the "true" nature of reality, initially through knowledge and recognition of the Empyrean Illusion. Beyond the simple state of possessing such knowledge (considered the most basic erudite knowledge), Infernalism considers erudition to be an enlightened state of being attainable by a person, within which one internalizes erudite knowledge such that their desires and actions promotes further erudition in oneself and ideally, others. Erudition is a prerequisite to any transcension. The accumulative erudite understanding of a vitae contributes to its potential ascension up the Vital Spiral, while the lack of erudition (ignorance) brings upon descension and must be solved by correct conversion and bestowance.

Erudition is the central concept of Infernalism entire, applicable to every facet of life and society at large, from politics and science to the arts and daily lives of its adherents. Infernalism considers the attainment of erudition and its propagation to be a holy duty on the basis of Guashi's Dilemma, essentially requiring that every Infernalist practice the religion and apply its teachings to every sphere of their life, whether private or public. As described by Yunbo in her Clarifications: "If one is to be an Infernalist, one must be nothing but an Infernalist." The pious practice of the religion necessitates one's total devotion to the faith, whether it be in its active evangelization (Illuminarianism) or its passive reinforcement through internalization of its precepts in one's life. In Infernalism, the accumulation of erudite knowledge is equivalent to worship, the constant pursuit of knowledge equivalent to piety.

Erudition has been a core concept of Infernalism ever since its founding by its messianic prophetess Yanshizu in the 1000s BCE, an embodiment of the intensely inquisitive nature of the faith as it inquires into the truths of he world in its every facet, from the material and mortal Microcosm to the transcendental Macrocosm beyond. In its early practice, Infernalism prioritize the mystical cultivation of the self, interrogating the perceived patterns and flaws of the Microcosm so that one may attain greater understanding of the Empyrean Illusion - many Infernalist preachers have claimed to be able to perform arcane miracles based on the discovery of purportedly profound knowledge about the universe. The emergence of the empirical sciences in the 11th century onwards led to a more rational interpretation of the methodology through which the faithful may pursue understanding of the world, this interpretation positing empirical study of what is recognizable to the orient as science. This rational approach has been codified into Materialism, the more traditional and inwards-looking opposite in turn defined as Vitalism.

Infernalism splits erudition into two parts: Zhili (the Known) and Yinli (the Hidden). Zhili is knowledge that is made available and clarified to the lay public, whereas Yinli is knowledge that is to be hidden and obscured from the lay public. This distinction between the publicizing and obscuring of knowledge is the foundation of clerical and by extension, societal hierarchy, zealously guarded on the basis that certain knowledge can only be truly understood and utilized in full by those "in the know" - typically Novitiates of the faith or higher levels of religious leadership. It is reasoned that knowledge considered Yinli can be easily misused or misunderstood to the detriment of Infernalism, opening the possibility of its corruption and the dispersion of such corrupted knowledge - a heretical phenomenon which only hinders the Infernalist goal of spreading Erudition.