Canaanism


 * This religion is part of the Altverse universe.

Canaanism is a  that was founded by American-Brazorian John Casingden in 1825. The predominant belief of the Canaanite movement, most of Canaanism's 15 million adherents follow the teachings and doctrines of Canaanism's largest denomination, the Sanctuary of Isachul.

Canaanism teaches that, whose name is Isachul, is the genderless Creator and manifestation of the Universe and maintains that life and the human perception of reality is an. The origin of both good and evil, evil itself derives from Isachul's lesser self, Baahgul. All souls, including humans, Canaanism asserts, were originally in unison with Isachul in Canaan but following the cosmological Great Disturbance event, Isachul's Baahgul personality began to take precedence over Isachul's self, the connection between Isachul and creation was severed, forcing all the souls to exist in the material plane. This life is filled with suffering and injustice, and one can only find relief from it by reuniting with Isachul.

According to Cannanite, should Isachul not reunite with enough of its creation, it will ultimately corrupt and transform itself into Baahgul. Under Baahgul, the created will live merely for Baahgul's pleasure where all the living and dead exist at its pleasure. In this state, creation and the Creator become separate permanently where there is no salvation nor escape unless Baahgul reverts back into Esa. Some sects dispute this interpretation claiming that Baahgul already reigns or that Baahgul itself represents good or an aspect of Esa that is not necessarily "evil".

Much of Canaanism's teachings and doctrines derive from two holy books: the Holy Writ of Isachul and the Apocrypha of Baahgul, both of which were compiled by John Casingden. Casingden, the religion's founder, is believed to have received the "purest" form of information that he placed into the two books from Isachul during meditation and then confirmation by one of Isachul's angels.

Prominent themes in Canaanism focuses on leading a life of, , , , , and. By severing or inhibiting all connections with the real world, one achieves salvation at if one's soul is "in sync" with Isachul. Failing to do so results in to the next life as any form of life, where one must re-attempt the journey of salvation. Canaanism does not guarantee absolute individual salvation as even if one reconnects with Isachul, Isachul itself may still devolve into Baahgul. For this reason, Canaanites believes Isachul must achieve the Great Equilibrium wherein Isachul's good and evil qualities are equal and counteracting. Only then, Cannanites believe, can salvation be guaranteed onto all believers. Non-believers who fail to reach re-connection with Isachul will either suffer the most under a Baahgul reign or be purged indefinitely into a realm of indefinite separation from Isachul known as Mashalca.

s, s, s, and are also found in Canaanite belief, and  is a staple part in Canaanism. Canaanites also profess a strict code of conduct and moral laws to abide by in order to improve one's chances in acquiring salvation. Canaanism claims that past religious and political figures such as, , and were s or divine messengers, and that life is Isachul's progressive revelation of knowledge to mankind.

Canaanism, which spread throughout southern Wabash, Brazoria, and eastern Sierra in the 19th and 20th century, faced conflict with various groups, prominently with the where the two groups clashed over the Sierran territory of the Deseret. In addition, during the early 20th century, Canaanism endured several offshoot movements and s from the original dogma professed by founder Casingden. Today, Canaanism remains a controversial New Age movement whose adherents are predominantly the descendants of the Hoosier and Brazorian followers in the 19th century.