Eedhataism

Eedhataism is a syncretic religion originating from the Leytaan Archipelago. Although generally considered a Dianic religion, it does not revere a goddess but a unisex deity known as Khaen.

Eedhataiism emerged in the fourth millennium before The Fall, during an era of religious conflicts encompassing all of the Leytaan Pennisula. It was founded by the Great Sage Eedhata, who observed during his travels that every religion has either an all-powerful god, or a king of the gods. When Eedhata returned home from his travels, he proclaimed all these deities are simply different aspects through which the one true god, Khaen, has revealed himself to other cultures. All temples, sacraments and religious texts were revered by Eedhata as pieces of a larger narrative, for which no one Birrin, including himself, could know. A devout Eedhataist studies the scriptures and teachings of all the known religions, in an effort to discover the meaning of life. While most of life’s questions are expected to be answered through one’s own initiative rather than formal instruction, there are 3 tenets all Eedhataiists live by: Humility, Tolerance and Knowledge. These ethics have constructed a cultured, literate society who value education and the various schools of thought, philosophy, spirituality and science.

History
The Leytaan archipelago is comprised of two main islands: the much larger Shuhiei island, and the eastern Tukhiei island. Historically three tribes have lived on the islands: The Leytaani tribe, for which the archipelago and city get their namesake, indigenous to the southern Shuhiei. The Khaeni tribe, the original tribe of Eedhata, indigenous to Tukhiei, and the Gretheni tribe, indigenous to northern Shuhiei. The Great Sage Eedhata unified the three tribes 3,200 years before The Fall. The islands has long been host to perpetual wars of religion. Eedhata, a merchant, travelled across the Morning Gulf and encountered numerous cultures and religions along the way. He noticed the similarities between the deities of various religions. That’s when he had an epiphany: all these deities are simply different aspects through which the one true god, Khaen, has revealed himself to other cultures. All temples, sacraments and religious texts were revered by Eedhata as pieces of a larger narrative, for which no one Birrin, including himself, could know. When he returned home from his journeys, he preached his newfound religion across the Leytaan archipelago. With the majority of the islanders won over by his preachings, the warring kingdoms laid down their arms. Eventually, the chieftains of the three tribes came to an agreement resulting in the formation of the confederacy. This new government became known as the Aratnalli, meaning the united peoples.