Re: Constructed Religions

Steg Belsky wrote:
> Btw, they don't make sacrifices, and aside from the life-cycle ceremonies
> and the few holidays, most of the religion is made of general moral
> commandments such as "don't murder" - they don't have food taboos, except
> for thanking what you're eating.
Surely they have unspoken taboos, things that are never explicitely
forbidden, but just aren't eaten, it's "natural" not to eat it.  For
instance, in American culture, it seems natural not to eat insects or
cats and dogs.  No one ever explicitely forbad it, it just isn't done.

The Faithful Ones, other than that kind of taboo, have no society-wide
food taboos.  However, there are many *individual* taboos.  Everyone has
4 spirit-animals.  You cannot eat your spirit animal.  At birth, you
receive two spirit-animals - your mother's primary spirit animal, and a
spirit-animal determined by the year (there is a cycle of 48 animals,
each year is one).  Upon reaching adulthood, you gain 2 spirit animals,
one of which is your primary spirit-animal.  These reflect who you are,
and are discovered with the aid of tribal elders.  Sometimes, it happens
that your favorite food happens to become one of your spirit-animals.

> The official Rokbeigalm funeral
> ceremony is much more complicated, however.
The Faithful Ones have a sea-burial - the Sea is associated with the
Life-Death Balance, it gives life (most food is from the sea) and it
takes life.

> As a last cultural note, the Rokbeigalm cover their heads as a sign of
> respect.
At a funeral, or as a general rule?