Religion
Religion in Adaris takes two broad forms: organized religions, which concern Umalyu, Pavkanai, Osia or the spirits as a whole, and cults devoted to a single spirit. The existence and power of the spirits are not in question; religions differ in how they understand them, and many people follow a religion while also honoring the spirits of their region.
Origins
Tefar and Uisla were practiced on Haberria before the Great Migration. Each of the three armadas of the Migration carried its own dominant faith: Tefar was strongest among the settlers who landed in Gosterra, and Uisla among those who landed at Hilisare. Chishin and Osiala arose later on the continents, after the Ascendant Spirits had taught humans Osia.
Major religions
Tefar
Tefar is the largest religion in Dalel. It worships Umalyu as the one God and seeks communion with it. Tefar holds that the spirits, like humans, are children of Umalyu.
In the 200s ME Tefar divided into two branches. Yeparchism holds that Umalyu has already created the afterlife. Parethism holds that the afterlife has not yet been created: because all consciousness is part of Umalyu, each act of communion by the faithful adds to an afterlife that is still being formed, and until it is complete the dead rest in Homhuen. Yeparchism prevails in Gosterra and among the Oinien of Orinilure. Parethism prevails in Khamria and is the state religion of the League of Balúrail.
Uisla
Uisla worships Pavkanai as the one deity. Its followers seek her through music and art, which are its principal forms of worship.
Chishin
Chishin worships the spirits as a pantheon of divine beings. Many cults of individual spirits belong to it.
Osiala
Osiala is centered on Osia itself. Its followers seek self-improvement and an enlightened state through meditation and lesser practices of Osia.
Suzade
Suzade seeks to bring a god into being through collective belief and ritual. Its practices are considered dangerous, and it is banned in nearly every part of Dalel except Hilisare, where it is tolerated.
Spirit cults
Spirit cults are devoted to a single spirit. Some belong to Chishin; others stand apart from it, among them peoples who revere the spirit that created them, as the Mifajene revere Tahami. The spirits respond to the religions in different ways; some, such as Mavai, regard them favorably.
Followers
Approximate number of human followers in Dalel:
| Religion | Followers |
|---|---|
| Tefar | about 7.2 million |
| Uisla | about 6.4 million |
| Chishin | about 4.0 million |
| Osiala | about 1.0 million |
| Spirit cults outside Chishin, or no religion | about 6.1 million |
| Suzade and others | about 0.3 million |
Many non-human peoples also follow these religions, though in smaller proportions; some, such as the Mundari, follow none of them.
Conflict
Differences of belief have led to wars and persecutions, both between religions and between the two branches of Tefar.