Church of the One

The **Church of the One** was a religious cult formed by Nathaniel Titus which worshipped a deity called the One and Titus himself as a prophet of the One. Eventually, Titus proclaimed that he was the One in mortal form, and declared himself the God-Emperor. This led him to founding the Jovian Empire from the Church.

The cult was stationed at the city of Deliverance on the moon Io, although it had roots on Mars. It was ruled by God-Emperor Nathaniel Titus, with the assistance of his most trusted advisors, which he called the Hand of Titus.

## History

### Pre-Revelation Period

The Pre-Revelation period was the state before Nathaniel Titus declared himself the One made flesh. Titus claimed that he received visions of angels, or aliens, which promised him paradise if he could gain a following. Once Titus was able to do this on Mars, he claimed that an angel came to him in a vision and told him to climb Olympus Mons. Doing so, Titus was given the Epiphanic Tomes by an alien at its summit, which revealed to him the truth about the One, the Profane and his influence, and what had to be done to achieve enlightenment.

Returning to his people, Titus shared the Tomes and declared that the fledging Great War was an example of the Profane's hold on mankind, and that humanity was lost. It was with this declaration that he and his followers moved to Jupiter, which was mapped but largely uninhabited, and settled on an old mining rig in the planet's upper atmosphere.

## Philosophy

The Church of the One believed in one supreme God of Good, which they called the One. This God is widely considered to be a rendition of the Abrahamic God. They also believed in a God of Evil, called the Profane, which tempted humans and had largely corrupted society. This belief is what prompted them to move to Jupiter, in an effort to get away from the politics and supposed corruption of the inner worlds.

The Church was obsessed with finding aliens, and their prophet Titus preached that aliens traveled throughout the universe and planted seeds of life on habitable planets. According to Titus, this was the origin of all life stemming from Earth. Aliens were considered to be the angels of God, his messengers and servants. Titus stated that if the aliens were found, they would bring all his followers to God and they would live in a paradise by his side.

### House of Paradise

The House of Paradise was a metaphor for the ways the Church believed they must live by for them to be welcomed into paradise by the One and his angels. Titus preached that there were four corners to the House of Paradise: Faith, Purity, Endurance, and Compassion. Living by these ideals would lead to a good life, ward away the Profane, and bring humanity closer to the One's light.

#### Faith

Believe in Titus and the One, trust in their words, trust in the tomes, and trust in the Church.

#### Purity

Purge the undesired, breed well and often, become perfect, and master the future.

#### Endurance

Conquer hardship, learn from your challenges, embrace your path, and revel in dominance.

#### Compassion

Love your family, love your comrades, love Titus, and love your God.

### Beliefs Toward Titus

#### Pre-Revelation

Pre-Revelation, it was believed that Nathaniel Titus was a prophet of the One, who had received visions from His angels or even the One Himself. Titus was worshipped as much as the One was, as it was believed these visions made him a Holy Being and a Chosen One. Titus declared all other prophets false, and all other religions heresy.

#### Post-Revelation

Post-Revelation, Titus believed that he really was the One, who had become mortal to show humanity the way to apotheosis. He believed that Jupiter was the paradise that was promised to him and his followers in his visions. Now believing himself to be God, he wished to spread his will onto all that did not believe in him, attempting to invade the inner solar system and declaring himself God-Emperor of all humanity. His followers, now a new generation that had lived with Titus all their lives, were completely brainwashed and embraced this revelation with open arms.

## Society and Culture

Society in the Church was high authoritarian and invasive. Praise toward the God-Emperor was everywhere, and propaganda posters and holographic were commonplace in both public and private areas. Having lived in the shadow of Titus their entire life, the people of the Church fully embraced these conditions and loved him as their savior, friend, and elder.

The people in the Church loved the God-Emperor so much that they willingly became his soldiers during the Crusade of the Unholy. When the people of the Church were not at sermons or resting, they were often training for battle, as every able-bodied adult was required to join the Grand Army.

The Church of the One believed in eugenics, and favored strong, tall offspring with high genetic potential and capability to reproduce. Many who did not have desirable traits were sterilized. Anyone who could not reproduce or did not have desirable traits were labelled "The Undesired" and sent to the Flesh Sculptors on Callisto. However, the general public did not know of these atrocities, and were simply told that the Undesired had been corrupted by the Profane and would return cured once the Church had conquered the solar system and spread the light of the One.