Religion in Vana'diel

[Fusionx]

Today with the post about Adoulin it was revealed that the Sacred City alone has 5 different religions. I'm not deeply religious or anything, but I do love me some lore! I would love to know more about these.

Eimert Church (believers in Altana)
Church of San d’Oria (believers in Altana)
Island Animitism
Taleekeeperism
Tavnazian (believers in Altana)

Interesting that there are 3 different Altana based relgions.

The only reference to the Eimert Church I've found is on the description of the Winged Plaque- Authorized by the Eimert Church for use in worship of the Dawn Goddess.

Taleekeeperism (perhaps Talekeeperism?) is probably based on the belief of Galkan reincarnation.

Island Animitism sounds like it could be close to Animalism which is the worship of animals. Perhaps this is related to the Naakuals of Ulbuka?

Curious if there is any other info out there on how these religions differ from each other or perhaps SE could poke the FFXI lore guy for us.

[Ziyyigo-Tipyigo]

Church of San d’Oria (believers in Altana)
Tavnazian (believers in Altana)
Curious if there is any other info out there on how these religions differ from each other

Delved into during the Chains of Promathia storyline.

[Rustic]

Delved into during the Chains of Promathia storyline.

IIRC, some of the JP-only sourcebooks have at least given a bit more info, but of course, translation fail.

[Bahamut]

I don't want to spoil anything, but I always took the differances in the religions of Altanna as just different points of evolved views by each of these nations because of what timeline they were cut off from the mainstream of thier relgions and the absence of thier goddess. One prime example is Tavnazian being cut off from the mainstream because of the war, so it took another evolved direction then San d'Oria, which had the leadership of the church that used to oversee both San d'Oria and Tavnazian before the war. There was no goddess around telling them what she felt or thought, so they all had to guess what Altanna was thinking of how she wanted them to live and worship her.

There also was little secrets of the truth the church leadership kept from thier members pre war, which also is a good way to have split up the views between San d'Oria and Tavnazian beleifs as seen in the promy missions, where you get to find out the truth and be a part of it.

[Ziyyigo-Tipyigo]

One prime example is Tavnazian being cut off from the mainstream because of the war, so it took another evolved direction then San d'Oria

Except there's already a history of San d'Oria and Tavnazia going to war with each other over religious differences well before the Crystal War. And there's really not much left of the Tavnazian cathedral (or much else) after the war to "evolve."

There was no goddess around telling them what she felt or thought

Her incarnation lives in Heavens Tower, as any Windurstian can tell you.

[Meyi]

Don't forget the Tonberry and Uggalepih.

[Alhanelem]

Funny I always thought the Galka took Altana as their god, and the Talekeeper was something else- revered, but not a deity.

[Zhronne]

Taleekeeperism (perhaps Talekeeperism?) is probably based on the belief of Galkan reincarnation.

I found this kinda funny.
I mean, it's not like they "believe" in reincarnation, they actually DO REINCARNATE, it's kinda different.
Is that a religion? Uhm... I never seen it like that until I read it listed as "religion" in the mentioned Adoulin lore page.

Galkas (talekeeper included) do believe in Altana, does talekeeperism allow for multiple religions?

Altough I guess for Altana as well it's not a matter of believing, of "having faith" like in our real world. In Vana'diel Altana does really exist and is a real, tangible entity, even though she has never been seen in the game.

[Demon6324236]

Altough I guess for Altana as well it's not a matter of believing, of "having faith" like in our real world. In Vana'diel Altana does really exist and is a real, tangible entity, even though she has never been seen in the game.

Though I am not religious myself, is that not exactly what religion is? The belief of a being of which is super natural and is not ever really seen, but rather believed in? I mean if you take something like Christianity, where there is god, while he speaks to us humans he has never shown a true form of his own. It seems as though Altana is no different, never showing herself, and people believe in her. Surely we adventurers are special, we go on journeys and travels to see many amazing things, but I think not every person in Vana can say they are 100% certain she exists, as they have not had their lives touched in such a way as us adventurers have.

I don't know, just my thoughts on the matter. Seems as though what you described is exactly what religion is, and a massive part of religion in my view is believing, because most people in Vana have not seen real proof that Altana exists in the first place so far as I know.

[Zhronne]

Though I am not religious myself, is that not exactly what religion is? The belief of a being of which is super natural and is not ever really seen, but rather believed in?

It's a bit different here.
I mean, we have ultranatural entities that talk about Altana, not just a book written by human beings, and other human beings claiming to have seen miracles.
If you see Vana'diel reality as a dicotomy between Good (Altana) and Evil (Promathia) you can compare that to the christian view of God and Devil.
Thing is in our world nobody has ever been able to demonstrate wether any of the two exists, or doesn't exist.
In Vana'diel you actually DO FIGHT against Promathia, which is another god just like Altana. Like Yin and Yang.
If one exists it's pretty much likely the other does too and it's not just a myth made up by humans.

That's what I meant with the subtle difference, but yeah, of course you're very right and there are a lot of similarities with religions in the real world.


Still I can't help but find it funny to consider Talkeeperism a religion. I mean, culture? Tribal folklore? But they do not "believe" in reincarnation, they DO reincarnate. If anything they believe in Altana like 99% of living beigns in Vana'diel, so yeah, it's a bit strange to talk about Talekeeperism as if it's a religion.
It's a social-cultural heritage of a minority lol, not a religion in my view.