Makerism

**Background**

The Makerists believe in one god, the Maker. On Year 1, Charas was burnt to the ground by the Calradics. Following the destruction the Forgiver was born during a blizzard to the Virgin Ada, having been created in her womb by the Maker. The Forgiver traveled throughout the Calradic Empire, preforming miracles and preaching the Maker's word, as closest followers compiled together the Old Book from his teachings. On Year 33, he was imprisoned at Charas on grounds of suspected treason by Prefect Ianuarius. Accepting a bribe from the local Elandite officials, he ordered that the Forgiver be flogged, crucified, and that his skin be flayed after his death. Remorseful, the centurion came to the Forgiver three days later to see if he was still alive. The Forgiver forgave the prefect, who was stomped to death by an elephant for his belief in the Forgiver a week later.

**Beliefs**

The Maker is the creator of the world and cosmos, while the Forgiver is his divine son who went sent down and sacrificed to allow mankind a chance at salvation and to restore their perfect, original state. The Forgiver was both human and god, and has always been part of the Maker as he was directly created by the Maker in the womb, instead of being indirectly created like all other humans are. The Forgiver and Spirit are all considered to be of the same essence, energy, and material as the Maker, thus there is one god - the Maker.

The Spirit proceeds from the Maker, and all goodness, holiness, virtue, and dignity reaches the world from the Maker through the Spirit. Likewise authority has been established by the Maker through the Spirit. The Cores believe the Spirit also proceeded through the Forgiver, while the Orthodox believe the Forgiver and Spirit were fully separate. These are considered grounds of heresy against the other denomination.

Before the Maker there were demonic beings which rebelled against him, the Taker leading them. The Taker is not another god, while being the Maker's mortal enemy, but is an inferior demonic being. The Maker created mankind to be perfect and sinless, but with the Taker they rebelled against the Maker, condemning themselves to death and pain. The Forgiver defeated the Taker, as men could now save themselves and purge their sin. All sins are rebellion against the Maker.

The last days will take place as the dead are resurrected to all face final judgement by the Maker. All evil will cease to exist under the Maker.

**Councils**

The most widespread heresies in early Makerism were following:

The belief that the Forgiver was not god as he was a creation, the belief that the Maker died on the cross, the belief that mortals cannot have any spiritual authority over other mortals, the belief that Ada was not a virgin, the belief that the Forgiver was not a person and his flesh was an illusion, the belief of predestination, the belief that the Maker and Forgiver are two separate gods, among others. Heresies which continue to plague Makerism to this day is the belief that all matter is inherently sinful, that the Taker is an evil god and the Maker a good god, and that the clergy is illegitimate.

746 AD - The fractured states of the Calradic Empire accept the Forgiver's full divinity. While they were converted since the 6th century, they rejected the Forgiver being god until after Sunorium fell.

881 AD - The Papacy is established. The Corists and Orthodox formally excommunicate each other.

999 AD - The Pope and Patriarchs agree to forbid cremation. This is ignored by many northerners, as it is not explicitly forbidden in the Old Book.

**Translations**

Old Calradic - Deus (Maker), Ignosco (Forgiver), Spiritus (Spirit)

Kalradikos - Theos (Maker), Synchoron (Forgiver), Psychi (Spirit)