Infernalism

Infernalism (Phoenician: 炎教, : Yánjiào, lit. "teachings of fire") is an Occidental religion originating from Fengjiang based upon the doctrines and teachings articulated by the Mother Phoenix through Her only prophet and daughter in the mortal 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 Heralds recognized to be part of the Infernal - the principal of which are the Six Infernal Apostles who studied under Yanshizu and are believed to have undergone similar reincarnations.

Fundamentally, Infernal belief is predicated on the revelations of Yanshizu and successive Heralds on behalf of the compassionate Mother Phoenix, explaining reality as dualistically split between blissful Brilliance and ruinous Oblivion, and that the material universe in which humanity resides is a Brilliant creation made flawed by Oblivion, imposing the terrible cycle of suffering, death and rebirth on all souls. It is posited that humans must gain Erudition, to understand reality in all its facets in order to enable one to escape the cycle of reincarnation and transcend beyond it. As foretold in the Prophecy of Obliteration, the ultimate endgoal of Infernalism is the transcension of all souls, initiating a grand eschatological upheaval wherein the flawed universe is obliterated and rebuilt into the idyllic paradise of the Eternal Consummation in Brilliance's image.

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 concentrated 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.

Etymology
Infernalism is a Fengese religion, the English name itself derived from a literal interpretation of the Fengese name for the faith, that being Yánjiào (炎教): meaning "teachings of fire".

Adherents of Infernalism are called Infernalists, the demonym similarly being Infernalist or sometimes Infernal. Adherents in ancient Fengjiang referred to themselves not by any specific demonym, but as a member of the Yánjiā (炎家), which can be translated to mean "Infernal family" or "Infernal clan" when taking into account the politics which dominated the era - the scholarly interpretation is that the term was used to identify oneself as part of a "greater family" above familial or genealogical ties. With the central nature of Infernalism to the Phoenician identity, the term has at times been used interchangeably to refer to oneself as part of the Phoenician ethnic group. In modern times, the term Yánjiàotú (炎教徒) is more common, meaning "follower of Infernalism".

Doctrine
There are no exact theological or philosophical guidelines that are espoused in Infernalism. Owing to the highly internalistic and secretive traditions of Infernalism in its practice, there is no singular, unified dogma for the faith - the fullest theological models for Infernalism are kept secret from the public, only shown to the Initiated of the religion, known as Qijin (啟燼, Qǐjìn, "beginning embers"). When referring to a "central doctrine" in regard to Infernalism, it refers to the prevailing traditions and rites practiced by the major mainstream sects of Infernalism, which generally find commonality due to their use of the universally adhered Book of the Fire and supplementary Auguries. Generally, all Infernalist sects can be unified in their common citation of the Book of the Fire and recognition of the Scion of the Divine Phoenix Ascendant's unassailable authority to interpret Infernalist canon, from which a and central theological and cosmological dogma is explicated and agreed upon - sectarian divides in doctrine and practice is explained as slightly different paths which nonetheless lead towards the same endgoal of transcension.

This section primarily covers the principal concepts held universally by every sect of Infernalism, referred to as Zhīlǐ (知理, "known knowledge"). This is the foundation upon which the beliefs and doctrines of Infernalism are extrapolated from, one which is unassailable and beyond dispute. The faith's institutional organization and coordination, deeper knowledge of Infernalist theology and cosmology, as well as the exact rites and traditions one must follow in order to achieve enlightenment are kept obscure and in the confidence of the Initiated in the know. This is referred to as Yǐnlǐ (隱理, "hidden knowledge" or ""), and is the basis of clerical and monastic hierarchy in the religion.

Theology
Fundamentally, Infernalist theology is in nature. It is posited that the world in its totality exists as a dualistic communion between the two primordial essences of Hui and Yin (輝湮) - Hui representing Brilliance and Yin representing Oblivion. The mortal realm is said to exist as a conflict between these two essences, a flawed amalgamation described in scripture to be a "stillborn world" lacking the perfection of Brilliance and tainted by the confusion of Oblivion - it is thus stated that Brilliance, representing absolute purity of life, creation, intelligence, existence, and freedom is fated to clash against Oblivion, representing the absolute depravity of death, decay, confusion, non-existence, and aimlessness.

All mortal beings, recognized to be humans, animals and most recently, non-human s, are believed to be a product of this anomalous relationship between Brilliance and Oblivion. The Brilliant Vital - the - is made impure by its Oblivious mortal prison. Humans are the ultimate product of this corrupt amalgamation of essences, granted consciousness and reason through Brilliance yet trapped in a cycle of constant decay and suffering in its Oblivious husk. In the flawed human condition, one is able to perceive mortality yet blind to the realm of Brilliance above from whence they arrived - referred to as the Huànqióng (幻穹, "Empyrean Illusion"). Upon the inevitable death of one's flawed body, the spark trapped within is tainted by its failure to perceive and break past the Illusion, fated to join again with Oblivion to birth mortality in the Infernalist cycle of reincarnation, the Vital Spiral. This process of continuous mortality and suffering is known as Descension, an innately destructive and traumatic experience that chips away at the inherent Brilliance of one's Vital, until it is thoroughly annihilated and damned to Oblivion.

Therefore, it is the, the principal goal of the Infernalist to break free of this continuous cycle of mortality and suffering and purify oneself of the taint of Oblivion. Capable of free will and reason, humans are able to break free of such mortal bonds through attaining Insight towards the Empyrean Illusion by clearly and truly believing in its existence through adherence to Infernalist canon. This is viewed to be the first and vital step towards Ascension, the process where the Infernalist gains more knowledge regarding the universe and all its facets, thus allowing them to truly understand the Empyrean Illusion. This accumulation of knowledge is known as Erudition, which allows for the accumulation of intelligence and thus Brilliance in one's Vital. It is believed that once enough Brilliance is accumulated in one's Vital throughout its journey in the Spiral, it may attain Transcension, wherein the Vital gains - an extraordinary understanding of the Illusion through which one may "see beyond the Empyrean and gaze at the ultimate truth of the realms".

Souls that have attained such grand knowledge and transcended mortal bonds are referred to as Luminaries (烽塔, Fēngtǎ), accorded deserving respect by Infernalists. It is believed that every Luminary in existence reside within the Infernal Sea (炎海, Yánhǎi), a realm of pure, unfettered Brilliance from which they the faithful and guide the needy in their contemplations towards Erudition. Most revered among them are the Heralds (天使, Tiānshǐ), who in a great act of benevolence chose to descend once more into the corruption of the mortal realm and re-enter the cycle of Continuation bringing with them divine knowledge to elucidate the masses and to perform acts of in service of Infernalism. Having descended back into the Spiral through this act of sacrifice, it is believed that people can become Hosts to reincarnations of Heralds, receiving their Brilliance and thus aided greatly on the right path towards Transcension.

Greatly internalistic, much of Infernalistic theology is centered around the trials and tribulations of Luminaries and Hosts as described through collections of s, s, s, and compiled throughout the near-three-millennia-long history of Infernalism, studied and contemplated upon by Infernalists as aids towards Enlightenment. Despite this, Infernalism does possess a supreme deity, known as the Mother Phoenix (鳳凰大母, Fènghuáng Dàmǔ). The Mother Phoenix is the ultimate embodiment of Brilliance, simultaneously representing the primordial essence in all its resplendent glory through Her capacities as an, , and deity and present as the divine spark within every being across the mortal realm and beyond, influencing the world at large and guiding every being on their paths towards Enlightenment at the same time. She is the Allmother, the progenitor who birthed forth the universe from the ineffable nothingness that is the Void (虛淫, Xūyín). She is order manifest, granting coherence and direction to all things real and true. She is reason and existence incarnate,.