With how much attention the Moravia/Slovakia thread has received, I thought I'd try making something similar for the CKII cause nearest to my heart: Manichaeism.
Manichaeism is a fascinating ancient religion which remained relevant well into CKII's timeframe (unlike, say, Roman paganism). Founded by the Persian prophet Mani, it was influenced not only by Zoroastrianism, but Christianity and Buddhism. It taught a moral cosmology that emphasized a battle between good and evil. Now, I don't know about you, but all of that sounds pretty damn cool to me.
I'll keep it short since we've all heard it before. Manichaeism shouldn't be a Zoroastrian heresy, but a separate religion in the Mazdan group - and there are a lot of reasons why.
Reason 1: Almost all existing heresies were radical or short-lived splinter movements of their orthodoxies. This doesn't describe Manichaeism at all.
Reason 2: Manichaeism was historically significant.
Reason 3: Manichaeism is a really cool opportunity for the devs.
Reason 4: The framework for making Manichaeism a full religion is already in-game.
It bears repeating that Manichaeism is the only heresy with its own holy order and festival event. It has unique holy sites. It has a religious head. It has access to reincarnation events (in reference to actual Manichean beliefs). In other words, it already has as many features as Judaism and almost as many as Zoroastrianism. With a few more features thrown in, it'd be as complete as any of the game's main religions.
Possible Manichean features:
Let's show some support for this change and get it the attention it needs to be implemented.
Manichaeism is a fascinating ancient religion which remained relevant well into CKII's timeframe (unlike, say, Roman paganism). Founded by the Persian prophet Mani, it was influenced not only by Zoroastrianism, but Christianity and Buddhism. It taught a moral cosmology that emphasized a battle between good and evil. Now, I don't know about you, but all of that sounds pretty damn cool to me.
I'll keep it short since we've all heard it before. Manichaeism shouldn't be a Zoroastrian heresy, but a separate religion in the Mazdan group - and there are a lot of reasons why.
Reason 1: Almost all existing heresies were radical or short-lived splinter movements of their orthodoxies. This doesn't describe Manichaeism at all.
Although Manichaeism was persecuted by the Zoroastrian Sassanids, it was a religion unto itself, not an upstart movement or passing fad. Though little of it survives, a complete Manichean scripture is known to have existed. The Manichean church had a proper hierarchy. As a religious institution, Manichaeism endured for centuries after the collapse of its in-game orthodoxy of Zoroastrianism.
Reason 2: Manichaeism was historically significant.
In antiquity, Manichaeism was briefly the main rival of Christianity during the twilight of the Roman Empire. It was so important that many Christian theologians wrote about it. St. Augustine of Hippo was himself a Manichean early in life who criticized their doctrines later on. They were said to have a significant population in France, as well as in North Africa.
Even if Manichaeism was mostly gone from the Mediterranean by 769, it was alive and well in its homeland of Persia and in the East. In the 700s, the Uyghurs and many other steppe peoples became Manicheans after being converted by missionaries. This demonstrates not only the relative reach of the Manichean church, but its status as a state religion for several major empires.
Manicheans also lived in India and Tibet. Manichaeism even spread to China, where it would influence the Red Turban movement that finally overthrew the Mongols near the end of CKII's timeframe.
Even if Manichaeism was mostly gone from the Mediterranean by 769, it was alive and well in its homeland of Persia and in the East. In the 700s, the Uyghurs and many other steppe peoples became Manicheans after being converted by missionaries. This demonstrates not only the relative reach of the Manichean church, but its status as a state religion for several major empires.
Manicheans also lived in India and Tibet. Manichaeism even spread to China, where it would influence the Red Turban movement that finally overthrew the Mongols near the end of CKII's timeframe.
Reason 3: Manichaeism is a really cool opportunity for the devs.
Mani saw himself as a prophet in the tradition of Buddha, Jesus, and Zoroaster. He believed that his revelations were completing a sort of universal religious tradition. And guess what? All the religions that inspired Mani are already in-game, with their own unique features. Why not treat this as a chance to make Manichaeism a hybrid faith that blends the playstyles of Christianity and the Eastern religions?
Reason 4: The framework for making Manichaeism a full religion is already in-game.
It bears repeating that Manichaeism is the only heresy with its own holy order and festival event. It has unique holy sites. It has a religious head. It has access to reincarnation events (in reference to actual Manichean beliefs). In other words, it already has as many features as Judaism and almost as many as Zoroastrianism. With a few more features thrown in, it'd be as complete as any of the game's main religions.
Possible Manichean features:
- Ambition to reject sinful traits, like Buddhism
- Division into schools/sects, like Hinduism/Buddhism/Jainism
- Learning bonus
- Heir Designation
- Unique monastic society
- Unique Great Work
- Unique interactions with China + possibility for Manichean dynasty in China
- Unique Artifacts: Seal of Mani, Book of Giants
- Morale bonus in home provinces (HIP)
- Expanded religious head system with Council of Apostles (HIP)
- Mandaeism, representing the sect from which Mani originated
- No heresy, representing the syncretic nature of the faith and the many ways it was practiced
- No heresy. Instead, Nestorian/Buddhist/Zoroastrian provinces can appear at low MA
- A heresy representing a different geographical incarnation of Manichaeism (like Chinese Manichaeism)
Let's show some support for this change and get it the attention it needs to be implemented.
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