| << Previous | Up | Next >> |
The Bokuchi don't have an official religion, but most of them follow a body of doctrine (the Way of the Cosmic Couple, Inic Tikak Gaimi, or simply Inci) that postulates two deities, in a quasi-Manichaean way. The two deities are a man and a woman, Lifar and Naim, who have existed forever and will exist until the sun dies or the universe ends. They live together in a plane of existence that is totally inaccessible to humans, but they can pierce the veil that separates our world from theirs and communicate with us if they wish. Besides, their actions and words reflect (automatically) in our plane.
Lifar and Naim are a troubled couple. As all couples, they have good moments and bad moments. When they fight, the Earth suffers: storms, earthquakes, floods... When they are at peace, days become sunny and warm. The last time they parted, after a big argument, the Earth got sick and cold, and froze for an entire Ice Age. When they make love, new and strange things appear: new religions, new inventions, revolutions...
As people, they are inconstant, inconsistent, voluble, and have all kinds of personal quirks. Thus this is not a classical Manichaean, good-god-vs-evil-god religion. Neither is it a yin-yang type doctrine, though of course Lifar is definitely masculine and Naim is definitely feminine, and their behaviours are rather stereotypical in this regard. Theology is difficult; it could be called theopsychology.
Some followers of the Way believe that the Couple are eternal, and that they will survive even the death of this universe (Eternalism). Most, however, believe they are mortal, and theorize that when all things get cold and dark, eons from now, they will make love for the last time before joining the rest of the Universe in thermodynamic equilibrium, and have a child who will make a new universe, or a new realm of existence (Rebuildism); others postulate two children, brother and sister, who will become the Couple presiding a new universe, and so on ad infinitum (Regenerationism). In this view, the Couple are the sustainers, not the creators; the First Cause is purposefully pictured as unreachable and utterly ineffable.
A minority believe (Localism) that the Couple are just one of many, and that their influence extends only to the Solar System, and is destined to disappear when the Sun dies. Some of these believe (Polylocalism) that the universal pantheon is made up of many such gods, in couples or families, but they too believe they're sustainers and not creators. For most, the gods are intrinsical of the universe, a part of its structure, which goes from the before-eternity to the forever-eternity.
The Way has no clergy. Since the Couple aren't especially interested in giving humanity a moral lesson, and indeed seem totally oblivious to what happens on Earth, their attitudes and preferences are not taken to be a moral compass. They're considered the archetypes of men and women, though, and a model of the cosmic community (since they fight but invariably come back together), so some doctrine has been built on the assumption that humans are meant to be reflections of the Couple, i. e. the ideal sentient beings who have their ups and downs but manage to stay close, never giving in to hate or dangerous passions. This leaves a lot of room for interpretation, of course, but then religion is not supposed to be the framework of society at this point.
Worship consists mainly of procedures intended to claim the attention of the Couple. Silent prayer alternates with rhythmic music and percussive noise (much like Chinese opera sounds for Westerners). Tradition dictates a number of prayer models and musical patterns, as well as proper occasions, but these are strictly followed by a minority only. It is agreed in general that worshipping during a storm or a solstice is a bad idea, while eclipses, equinoxes and sunny, torrid summer afternoons are especially good occasions.
Sometimes men prefer to pray to Lifar, while woman worship Naim, but every believer knows that too much attention to one of the Cosmic Couple may produce jealousy on the other. Theologians aside, both men and women pray to their same-sex god regarding sexual matters (impotence, fertility, preferred gender of a baby that is to come, etc.). This doesn't influence the use of proper medical treatment; that treatment works is simply ascribed to the conjunction of its medical properties and the cooperation (or non-interference) of the Cosmic Couple.
Asking for forgiveness of immoral acts is generally not done. Asking for favours and giving thanks is encouraged. Thus the most religious people say grace before meals, and many pray before all difficult tasks, but confession and penitence are almost unheard of. The Couple are not (theologians claim this emphatically) parent figures.