A Look Into Dioism

Written by an unknown Diome, this document first came to notice in 547AR, in several different places across Andriath. Before the question of why a document detailing Dio's faith would be circulating Aidon's island could be answered, it vanished. Over one hundred years later, in 688AR, the document resurfaced in Tyranoth, before being transported to the University of Boldragoth, where it's been kept since.

This document has been edited by being rearranged into sections and named, in order to make the information more accessible. Also, no mention is made of the Dioism Holy Scripture, known as the "Scroll of Kotg." Why they've done this is not certain, though from what information is known and that has been gathered, the Scroll of Kotg is one gigantic poem.

All attempts at discovering any information about the author were met with no results, and the search for their identity was abandoned in 691AR.

F. Lignit, Boldragoth University.

Dioism: To be quite blunt(as we Diomes are wont to do), the religion we follow isn't really a religion at all. If I were to put a name to it, I'd call it a philosophy before a religion. We have no prayers, and very little in the way of rituals. To a Diome, nature is the most sacred thing that has existed, exists, or will ever exist. I suppose it might be considered odd that we revere the creation of our God, the mighty Dio, before him, but we feel the blessings of our God through the Earth. The root of Dioism co-exists with nature, followed by the almost as strong ideal of farming. Time is also strong, as it plays a huge role in farming.

The basic beliefs of Dioism:
Unlike the other religions, we Diome do not go about our religious duties within a temple(though the Psychics have no physical temple... but a mental temple still counts!). Nature itself is our temple. Often, when we say that nature is sacred, we do not mean sacred in the sense that we have consecrated it in the name of Dio. Rather, it's sacred because it is a blessing, and the blessings of Dio should be respected by all.

When it comes to how we Diomes view our God, I use a phrase a traveling Fire scholar once said. She said, "The Diome view of their God is pantheistic." I found out that it means we more associate our God as part of the universe, the primal force behind the creation of forests, mountains, meadows and other things that combine to form nature, instead of being a completely separate being that inhabits the universe. This is perhaps the most apt description of how we see our God and the world.

Nature revolves around the concept of consistent renewal through the joining of male and female, those who devote themselves to being the shepherds of Dio's flock are always in pairs of a male and a female. While our priests are not always married couples, more often then not they are. But, in keeping with the tenets of Dioism, they are not religious leaders. Rather, as those wisest in the ways of Dio and nature, they are guides through life. The only thing that they do that can be considered a religious practice is leading Diomes in the ceremonies of Dioism.

In terms of any sort of formal dress, we wear our most comfortable clothing. For after all, clothing comes from Dio's bounty, and the hard work that he honours.

Dioism in practice:
As I said before, Diomes do not pray in the conventional sense to our God. Most of us are farmers, and our devotion is shown through the hard work and dedication to farming and nurturing nature. Other Diomes who do not farm nonetheless work hard at what they do, and do whatever they can to help nature. As such, harvest time is the most important and sacred part of the year for a Diome, as it signifies the rewards for our efforts and toiling. What we have done for the rest of the year, nature pays us back many fold.

Prayer and rituals are considered to be a waste of time against such a heavy workload. The only thing that is considered a worthwhile use of time is the accumulation of money, which the general majority of Diomes use to finance their work anyway.

Celebrations of Dioism:
Probably the only part of our religion that can fall under the "spiritual" category are the two celebrations that we Diomes hold each year.

Seeding the Earth: This is the first celebration, held during the Winter Solstice. We hold this celebration while farms are being prepared in anticipation of Spring. We sing. We give praise to nature. Poems are recited, and hymns are crooned. This festival is finished with a dance that is symbolic of scattering seeds into the soil to await the rain and sun.

Harvest: The second celebration is actually held in two parts. The first part, celebrated just before harvest, is dictated by what it appears the harvest will be like. If the harvest appears as if it's going to be good, it's a time of great merriment, with song and dance being used to raise spirits and increase readiness for harvesting.

If it looks to be bad, however, we enter what's been called”nature frenzy." During this time, we're filled with anger, and we stalk about the land working twice as hard as before, raging at the destruction and the desecration of the land which could have possibly caused our crop failures, and working towards rebuilding nature by planting more and beginning the breeding of more animals. This is to show our sorrow that we have not pleased Dio, and he has not blessed us with a fruitful bounty.

The second part is held after the harvest, and no matter the outcome of the harvest, this celebration is always joyous. We thank Dio and Nature for what they have given us, and enjoy the fruits of our labour. In honor of the time, children are given a day of rest.

Places of worship:
Again, I mention that we have no set structures that constitute as temples. When we must come together, we gather anywhere that can hold the necessary amount of people. The priests raise five boulders in a rough circle upon which to sit, while the rest of us sit (or stand, as some prefer to do) within the circle of stones and listen to their words.