On Flamenism

[_Stigwig 1510]

On Flamenism:

-9th of The Amber Cold, 1515

 

Flamenism is widely viewed as the most militant and aggressive form of church preaching and ideals. The vast majority of Flamens either serve directly on the frontlines or in areas of high militancy, preaching their views so as to inspire the soldiers. At times of crusade the Flamens are most visible, actively engaging with the fighting and inspiration. Their primary style of preaching is that of being a chaplain, actively travelling to inspire men in passionate and fiery speeches, their theses and dissertations tending to revolve around the topics they feel most strongly about with a style of writing that is short, punctual and aggressive.

 

Flamenist views are often focused upon purity and their mannerisms and actions reflect such. Their zealous fervour in such, sometimes similar to the fervour displayed by members of organisations such as the White Rose, can however lead to the alienation of many. Oft they clash with the peaceful or common folk that have no knowledge of war except for tales; enjoying the support of the warriors conversely.

 

In rare cases Flamens are warriors themselves, tutored in fighting and having served on the frontlines themselves. During such times, most often holy wars, Flamens gain their piety and zealotry and lay down their blade for a crozier of iron, the primary symbol used by Flamens, to join the Church. Some of these warriors do not always lay down their blade though, and an even rarer sect of extremely militant Flamens are schooled in the ways of anti-magic fighting and more often inquisition.

 

Flamens make the best inquisitors, their aggressive nature and unshakeable belief in GOD serving as their best tools. High Pontiff St. Lucien I was a famous Flamen, leading a successful crusade but also cleansing Crestfall of false beliefs in an inquisition. Whereas Celebrants may help to guide settlements in acts of stewardship and improvement, Flamens will cleanse and ensure the safety of settlements through strong actions.

 

Flamens hold their key teaching as the Scroll of Spirit, granted by GOD to Owyn “the Purifier” and detailing the supremacy of the Faith over others such as that of Urguan, “I admonish; GOD is able to do all things. And His power is not parted amongst servants, but imitated, [...]. He is above all.” They seek to emulate the beliefs and keen sense of justice of Owyn in many cases, including their inquisitive and warlike activities.

 

Often taught in both clerical law and the local secular laws they hold it in their beliefs that they should dole out the teachings and justice of GOD to all: faithful and unfaithful; pious and not; crusader or pacifist. As with their sometimes harsh point of view this style can often alienate some such as the common folk that look to them for guidance and find in many cases iron justice.

 

Many would oppose the vocation of becoming a Flamen, and its critics declaim it as unnecessary, aggressive, going against the teaching of GOD. Time however has proven the the need for this school of thought. The Church would be far less respected were it not for the actions of St. Lucien I, not for the successful crusades. Inquisitions allow for the purging and removal of the most devout of heretics and the infidel. No doubt Celebrants may preach through peace, but sometimes the false refuse the light of GOD.

 

Writ by,

Priest Oscar of Norfolk.

[DagonsChosen 85]

[!] The deceased Flamen and Inquisitor Simon de Clare gazes down from the skies, and smiles the sun's smile, as he spots Oscar. [!]

 

"Hope is not lost... Afterall."

[John Ivory 4546]

 

Ah, Flamenism. It is a fragile subject. I would prefer to use the term Lucienist, due to its distinct relation to such a cause. The term Flamen is rather new, you see, established by the Daniel I. I must state my disagreement with Flamo-Lucienic ideology, for it is simply the thought of zealous warriors who would seek to believe God's grace will come to them via steel fisted flame.

 

But we all know such is untrue. The Flamo-Lucienic belief that God is to be delivered by blade is a pathetic one indeed. A belief that will never come to fruition. I would like to state my outright opposition to this deadly ideology, the same ideology which led to the horrible in-fighting of Saint Wilfriche's troubles against the previous militant sect of the Church, the Lucienists and their hawkish supporters, such as the damned Darfey.

 

If we as a Faith are to continue to grow, it is through not this horrid Flamenist thought that we will do so, for the thought is inherently a cause for destruction of all missionary works in our world. A hateful religion, as once practiced by the earlier Flamenites, is completely distasteful towards the unfaithful, thereby removing our chances to convert to bring the other peoples of the Lord's realm into our flock.

 

I rebuke the idea that through the Lucienist reforms the Church gained respect. If anything, the respect was lost by the common-folk, who began to see the Church as but an object of war, an object that a King uses to justify his conquests, an object that gives people a purpose to go out and kill the name of their LORD, but it is not my Lord.

 

The Lucienist reforms to the Church gave the Church an aspect of fear. Something to be feared by the folk. This is not what I would seek. The Lord's grace is good, and the Lord's temple should be just as good as it.

 

​The crusades are exaggerated greatly once more by you, Father Norfolk, it is unfortunate to once more say. The crusades were not of the magnificent grandiose you make them out to be. It was a crusade which lasted for about a year or two, which led to lost Canonist lives, in effort to retrieve several relics which had mysteriously ended up in the damned desert. Within a year of establishing their fortress, the crusaders left, and the fortress was then used as a battle-ground between tribes.

 

The crusade, or the idea of one, gains the Church not respect but dread. It creates the hatred which begins to burn in every man, forming into wrath, a wrath which is used to kill those who are unnecessary to be slain.

 

This Flamenist ideology is a concerning one, and I shall keep my eye upon it, an ever-judging eye.

 

HIGH PONTIFF SIXTUS III, Vicar of God, Supreme Pontiff of the Faithful, Bishop of Huss, Primate of Oren, Servant to the Servants of God 

[_Stigwig 1510]

 

-snip-

Oscar, hesitantly, pens a response to his Holiness. 

 

"Your Holiness, I dearly thank you for your response - it is greatly appreciated to see and read your opinions. However, I would like to write to refute the claims of this ideology being 'Lucienist', 'Flamo-Lucienic', or even associated with the ideals of the former Lucienists. I certainly, as a Flamen, have no desire to fight and kill unnecessarily. Nor do I desire to see the name of my primary ideology (for I hold myself also as a Sybilist) tainted by connection to a military order that overstepped its bounds and committed the Franciscan Massacre, a brutal day. In fact, my first thesis for admittance into the Church was on Church Militarism, and in such I condemned the ideals of the Order of St. Lucien - those who were Lucienists. 

 

I also fear that, though I attempt not to insult, you read too much into my fervour in this thesis. Only in the last few lines do I support the cause - the rest is a fair dissertation on the subject. I do not preach that the ideals of Flamenism will help the Church to grow, but rather to protect it.

 

PRIEST OSCAR OF NORFOLK"

[Daisy 9732]

Moved to The Great Library. It shall be sorted into the appropriate category shortly.

 

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