RuneScape Forum Archive | A Faith of Crisis

Subsum

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AN: Thanks for dropping by! Below is something of an essay by a character named Anselma Darwi, in which she discusses the Zamorakian faith and other related topics. All further OOC notes will be formatted like this. I hope you enjoy the read!

~FOREWORD~

When A Faith of Crisis: A Dialectic Analysis of the Zamorakian Belief was originally published in the ZMI Journal for its Bennath, 167 edition, much in the world was different. The gods had not yet returned, and much about them was shrouded in mystery, possibly invalidating much of my research into the topics at hand. However, in spite of all the changes, I was approached by an independent publishing house who had expressed interest in issuing my work as its own book. We discussed royalties and rights with the ZMI Journal (who were, to say the least, hitting themselves for not coming upon it on their own) and came to make a deal. In the religiously charged environment we presently find ourselves in, it's quite a risk to give this text any sort of distribution to the predominantly Saradominist masses, both to myself and the publishing house's reputation. That being said, I am pleased for the opportunity to educate said masses on what it means to be Zamorakian.

With the Sixth Age upon us, I felt it best that my work remain in the state it was in the Fifth Age. I have made no edits to account for recent happenings, as to do so would undoubtedly tarnish the original essay. I hope that, whatever your particular beliefs, you can enjoy this body for what it is. I aim to spark discussion and debate.

– Anselma Darwi

~TABLE OF CONTENTS~

- Chapter One: My Relationship with Zamorak

03-Sep-2018 07:23:00 - Last edited on 03-Sep-2018 10:17:49 by Subsum

Subsum

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A FAITH OF CRISIS: A DIALECTIC ANALYSIS OF THE ZAMORAKIAN BELIEF
By Anselma Darwi

Chapter One: My Relationship with Zamorak

I am a Zamorakian. These are words I say with pride. I live my life shamelessly according to Zamorakian principles. My love for the God of Chaos knows no bounds, and I have always found comfort in knowing that he is watching over his devout. I am no novice to the faith; I did not come upon it in a state of perpetual teenage rebellion, nor did I reach this place as a middle-aged Saradominist looking for a change of pace. I have been a Zamorakian my entire life, and I shall remain one until my demise.

The Zamorakians among you will rejoice and agree with my words. The Saradominists among you who have somehow come upon this text (at least, those who haven't thrown this Journal down in shock), will react with derision and disgust. In all things, through and through, I am Zamorakian. I have expressed hatred for nobody, and I have certainly not killed anyone. I simply live as I always have.

As a girl growing up in the twenties and thirties in the slums of Southern Varrock, my parents were largely influential in my spiritual beliefs. My mother was a Zamorakian from birth, and my father was originally of Guthixian heritage. They wed happily long before my mother expressed her true feelings. These confessions were met with confusion more than outrage.

"How is it that you, a mild-mannered Varrockian girl, with nary a mean bone in her body, could worship at such a profane altar?" Father was always quite verbose.

In reply, my mother simply said, "Chaos isn't evil, and you needn't cause chaos to appreciate it." I was not yet born, but if she hadn't stayed up with him that night in an attempt to win him over, you would not be reading this text.

03-Sep-2018 07:23:09 - Last edited on 03-Sep-2018 07:37:42 by Subsum

Subsum

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For us, and certainly many hidden Zamorakians out there, this story hits all too close to home. Why is it that we of all people are forced to justify our faith to those who do not understand? Why must we justify not only our lifestyle, but our continued existence? Why must we keep it hidden, cloistering together in small back rooms by moonlight to practice ceremonies as ancient as the gods themselves? As in all things, history was written by the victors. And while no particular god could be said to have "won" the wars of the Third Age, it is clear which ones came out on top. The Saradominists of the world re-framed their mortal enemies as evil, and in desperation, more and more of our brood turned to immoral deeds.

Violence is seen as intrinsic to Zamorakian faith. What people don't understand, however, is that nothing could be further from the truth. There is nothing intrinsic to Zamorakianism but chaos itself. Never have we had a united faith under one banner, at least not in recent memory. Such a uniting would go against our very nature! The worship of Zamorak is diverse, and in Southern Varrock, it was perhaps at its most peaceful. We celebrated several holidays that Saradominists do not recognize; Krilsday, for example, is celebrated on the fall equinox in remembrance of K'ril Tsutsaroth, demon hero of the God Wars. How do we celebrate? Do we murder civilians in the name of our Lord? Do we raze buildings and trample the innocent? No, we slaughter two lambs upon a ceremonial slab and fast until morning. This particular holiday is typical of the holidays we would celebrate in Varrock.

The Zamorakians reading this would likely nod with understanding. The Saradominists reading this, who for whatever reason cannot bring themselves to cast this body into a cleansing fire, will immediately retort, "You may be peaceful, but others aren't the same!" Am I to represent all of those who claim to worship the same god as I do? If so, are you not bound to that as well?

03-Sep-2018 07:23:15 - Last edited on 03-Sep-2018 07:52:49 by Subsum

Subsum

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If you can even group me, a civilized human being, with the oppressors of Morytania, the crazed cultist Iban, and any other number of miscreants, then it is only fair that I do the same. What of the rising trend of unhinged Saradominist mages attacking mere treasure hunters? What of the burning of the Wizard's Tower? Much as they tried to frame us for such deeds, Saradominists were the ones ultimately responsible. The great King Roald himself seems to have a stereotypical "Zamorakian" sense of justice; a poor monk of Zamorak, outed for his faith, now lives in a human zoo in the palace of our very capital. Fanatics of all kind are prone to violence, but the Saradominist majority seems to legitimize some fanatics and disenfranchise others.

Simply put, my faith does not preclude me from worshiping peacefully. I live to appreciate chaos, to synchronize myself with the ebb and flow of chaotic motion. Weather is one of my particular favorite examples of chaos in nature. Rain could strike at any time! It could be seen miles away and then not appear, or a sudden flash flood could ruin what was hours earlier a beautiful day. Attuning myself to chaos means I need not fear these natural movements; through them all, I shall survive. I do not fear what I cannot control. I passively accept that which happens to me, for nothing in life is as predictable as we think. Chaos manifests in even smaller ways. A missed step down a flight of stairs? What a joyous surprise! What a lovely reminder that nothing is certain! After the initial wavering, I still prevail, and I can take the time out of my day to thank Zamorak for being able to live such an eventful life. Meanwhile, what has a Saradominist to appreciate? That the orderly walls of his home haven't fallen over? That his low risk investment was a sound one? That, before sleep, he was not once met with a problem that interfered with his rigid plans for the day? I can only imagine what it's like to live in such fear of the unknown.

03-Sep-2018 07:23:18 - Last edited on 03-Sep-2018 08:07:28 by Subsum

Subsum

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The simple fact is that the worship of a god of order builds an expectation that order will be maintained; this is frankly impossible. Order cannot exist without the base state of chaos, and no amount of order can protect one from the chaotic nature of the world. A Saradominist will almost always be met with a crisis of faith in their life; a breaking point, for which they must decide to either persevere with their belief or submit to the unknown forces that shape our world. A Zamorakian will not ever be put in that position. For us, struggle and crisis are reminders that we are mortal, the forces at work are out of our control, and that we should take surprises as lessons and celebrate that which uplifts or abases us. It keeps us sane.

For me, the lowest point in my life was in my mid-twenties. My then-husband (a Saradominist; he had no knowledge of my Zamorakian upbringing) and I were expecting a child. For both of us it was a happy revelation. To bring new life into the world is always a joy. Yet it was not to be. Four months into my pregnancy, I experienced a miscarriage that took a drastic emotional toll on me. Despite the sorrow I felt, I turned to my God. I felt comfort and relief at the fact that this was a natural process of the world, and that events such as that, while significant to me, were ultimately out of my control. It was a burden lifted from my shoulders. Conversely, my husband handled the news with a much different response. He was wrought with anger and rage, and I heard him late at night screaming into the wind about the cruelty of his god. He had been a devout worshiper of the god of order, why should he be forced to undergo such hostility? There were no answers for him. Months later, he still could not understand. Then one night, he was simply gone. He abandoned the life he had planned with me, in search of something to console him. To this day, I still regret not sharing some of the knowledge my faith had prepared me with.

03-Sep-2018 07:23:21 - Last edited on 03-Sep-2018 08:45:49 by Subsum

Subsum

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Zamorak makes no promises. He does not promise that His followers will be lucky, that they will be rich, or that they will succeed in their endeavors. Instead, He teaches us to be conscious of the world and the chaotic minutiae that impact us daily. He gives us the strength to function in a world without any natural laws, in which any number of situations, for better or for worse, can befall us. I take comfort in His bluntness; without it, I would surely go mad. He teaches us to appreciate surprises and to savor every moment of this earthly existence. Saradominists are bound by divine responsibility to uphold order, we are bound by nobody. We live as all life does, chaotically and above reproach. We can go about our days peacefully with the knowledge and acceptance of all of life's various mysteries. This is what it means for me to be Zamorakian. I savor life, and I do so with pride.

End of Chapter One

03-Sep-2018 07:23:24 - Last edited on 03-Sep-2018 08:52:18 by Subsum