Church of Jou

Church of Jou
General Information
Theology	Deistic
Headquarters	Nightwell Cathedral
Other names	Vorsian Orthodoxy

The Church of Jou, also known as the Vorsian Orthodoxy, and commonly referred to as the faith, is the prevalent religious organisation of One Nation Under Jou. It was spread across all of the nation's planets to provide common ground for the new society that emerged from the creation of the nation in Year 21. The primary purpose of the Church is to offer support to the people of One Nation. The teachings are meant to inspire shared values, provide guidance to those that need it, inspire charity and offer common ground. As such the Church has more cultural than spiritual influence on the populace. Since its establishment, the Church has influenced One Nation's philosophy, culture, art, music and science.

Vorsian Orthodoxy is a deistic religion where Vigo Amaranalah Jou is worshipped as a divine figure but not with the belief that she would directly intervene in the lives of the Church followers or perform miracles. Prayers to Vigo Jou are mainly used for comfort and as an act of confirming one's faith. The Church acknowledges the Force as the power that binds the galaxy together, and teaches that Vigo Jou's divinity came from the Force.

History

Vorsian Orthodoxy, as the name would imply, originated on the moon Vorsia Companion. Countess Lilith established the Church to exalt Vigo Jou so that the Vigo's decision was not forgotten and its importance could inspire others, believing it to be a fundamental part of Vorsian history. The decision by Vigo Jou was made in Year 11, however, the earliest concepts of the religion can only be traced to Year 18. Lilith's reverence towards the Vigo was well known, but it wasn't until Year 18 that she began to reference Vigo Jou as a divine figure. The event that changed Lilith's views was never explained in detail, but Lilith believes that she was contacted by the Vigo, which was the inception for her faith.

Due to Lilith's position in Vorsian society, the ideals of the faith first spread among the nobility and then gradually among the common people. This led to the official establishment of the Church of Jou. The religion remained relatively unknown to the galaxy until Year 21. When Lilith was approached with the offer to bring Morobe under her rule, she saw it as an opportunity to introduce the faith to the galaxy. The governors of Morobe welcomed the Church and its potential to unite the nation under cultural common ground.

Doctrine

The central narrative of the religion is the Jou's Judgment; an event referencing Vigo Amaranalah Jou's decision to spare Lilith Delcroix's life when she willingly offered herself as an atonement for her sins against the Family. This is believed by the Church followers to be the catalyst which led to the formation of the Vorsian state, and in extension the One Nation. With this single decision Vigo Jou allowed Countess Lilith to influence the galaxy and create a better world for the Vorsian people. Without Jou's mercy, the Vorsia Companion would not have been uplifted from its deteriorating conditions.

The cornerstone of the Vorsian Orthodoxy is self-sacrifice, and the understanding of long lasting impact one's actions might have. The believers are expected to have faith and follow Vigo Jou's example towards the creation of a better world. The belief in a better world is an idea that many can believe in, to work together and find some connection to begin to mend, heal or negotiate. The teachings also emphasise the value of honour and family, to put others above personal interests; with the ultimate goal of creating paradise worlds through common faith and social values. This behaviour is referenced by the believers as walking in Jou's Grace.

Criticisms

One of the criticisms of the Church and the faith is about Vigo Jou herself. Some question how she can be worthy of exaltation and reverence when her deeds within the Black Sun crime syndicate were criminal in nature, and thus not aligned with the preaching of a better world. The answer to this criticism is approached in different ways. Generally it is taught that even those criminally minded are capable of acts that contribute to the betterment of society. Vigo Jou is not revered for her past but for setting out the ideals that allowed for the eventual creation of the faith and One Nation.

Some argue that the Vigo who is revered by the faith is an ideal separated from the person, but it is widely accepted that the past should not be ignored or brushed away; it is there to be learned from. The Church accepts that Vigo Jou cannot be holistically considered a good person by many due to her past in the syndicate, and there is no effort made by the Church to hide this fact. Vigo Jou's past is not often talked about because as far as the Church and the faith is concerned, Vigo Jou's last act was to allow for the creation of the One Nation, even if unknowingly at the time, regardless of her past.

It is not expected that everyone who follows the faith will have a sinless past. The faith does not intend to serve as a way to excuse any and all crimes, but even the damned can walk the path that contributes towards a better world. That is not to say criminal acts are encouraged by the Church, upholding the law is necessary, just as is taking responsibility for one's actions.

Those with more apologetic attitudes further argue that within the confines of the syndicate the definition of good virtues was different. Vigo Jou was loyal to the Black Sun's Family and her actions directly contributed to the improvement of the syndicate, even if on a galactic scale many of those actions were considered criminal by laws common among governments. Undoubtedly, Vigo Jou would have to answer for her actions within certain parts of the galaxy, but laws are limited to the territory upon which they have jurisdiction, and it is not One Nation's place to judge and trial those outside of its own territory.

Worship

The faith does not have a rigid worship structure or demands. The main form of worship is reflected in everyday decisions. The faithful are expected to choose whatever path leads them towards the ideal, the better world, no matter how small the impact of their decision. It is taught by the priests that creating a better world starts with taking care of one's self, their surroundings and so on, until collectively the society would reach the ultimate ideal. Such practises are not unique to the faith, but with the prevalence of the Church in the public eye, the teachings are on the forefront of everyone's thoughts.

The faithful are encouraged to take a personal approach to worship, and decide for themselves how to include the faith in their lives. Such as creating their own private prayers, though there are common prayers offered by the priests that people can default to or use for inspiration. Praying is most often done in personal space, but during services some are sung as hymns. Some of the faithful also chose to recite gratitude before meals.

The formal ways of worship within the local churches and cathedrals are symbolic and aim to provide communal space for social interactions, rather than demanding attendance. Services of certain symbolic dates are attended frequently due to their advertising, and attendance of the royal family and other public figures.

Litanies of Faith

The collective of common prayers, hymns and the scripture is referred to as Litanies of Faith, a book that is found at all churches, and is often owned by the faithful. In essence, the book is a guide to the faith and it's history.

Structure

The Church has a vast structure not dissimilar to a corporation. The most notable and publicly known roles are those of the various priests from local churches, given their prominent role in communities. Behind the scenes, the Church has internal groups for maintenance and logistics, among others. The Church also has its own security force, soldiers trained with the duties of priests. Their main job is protection of property (such as churches and warehouses), and offering protection to travelling priests and pilgrims. Although not confirmed, it is assumed the Church is also involved in the training of Force Sensitive citizens.

Iconography

The most common symbol of the Church is a stylized letter J, the first letter of Vigo Jou's surname. The Church is also often represented with icons of the sun and the crown of sunlight.