Infernalism

Infernalism (Phoenician: 炎教, : Yánjiào, lit. "teachings of fire") is an Occidental religion originating from Fengjiang based on the worship of the Mother Phoenix in accordance to the doctrines and teachings articulated by her Tianshizhu (天使祖, "original prophet") and daughter in the temporal realm, Yanshizu, and all her successive reincarnations as the Scion of the Divine Phoenix Ascendant - hegemon over all Phoenician civilization. These teachings were first compiled in the 1000s BCE as the Book of the Fire, later expanded upon by both successors and other lesser Tianshi (天使, "herald") recognized to be part of the Infernal - the principal of which are the Four Infernal Apostles who studied under Yanshizu and are believed to have undergone similar reincarnations. Various denominations have contributed further articulations and interpretations to the faith throughout the millennia, known collectively as the Exhortations, but are all united in a common adherence to the Infernal canon as defined by the Scions' historical edicts, compiled into the Exegeses supplementing the original Book of the Fire.

Infernal belief is predicated on the revelations of Yanshizu and successive prophets on behalf of the compassionate Mother Phoenix, expounding the ultimate necessity of liberating oneself from temporal objects and which are  and. It is posited that the human being is a dualistic communion between hui and yan (輝湮) - respectively the brilliant consciousness belonging in the spiritual realm and the oblivious husk which holds it in the temporal realm, and it is only through (悟炎, "understanding the inferno") and  (涅火, "extinguishing the fire") that the  is released from its  and transcends all worldly concerns - thus obliterating the meaningless experiences of one's temporal ego (化身, "dissolving the body") and achieving  through reunification with the spiritual inferno of the Phoenix (返真, “return to the truth”). The ultimate endgoal of the Infernal Cult is the apotheosis of all beings, thereby ending the continuous cycle of suffering and initiating a grand eschatological upheaval where Wuji (無極, "Limitless") is created - a renewed lacking the confusion of the temporal realm.

Guided from the Yuedi Monastery, seat of the Scion and heart of Infernalism since antiquity, there are currently more than 2 billion adherents to Infernalism - known as Infernalists - worldwide, primarily in the continents of Serica and Capricornia, the world's most populous continents. With Fengese geopolitics and interests in cultural Phoenicization as vehicles, the religion has maintained a steady growth in popularity worldwide, though such associations have in turn caused its persecution in large parts of the world - especially those aligned with the Tavaric Treaty Organization.