Religio Publica

The “public religion,” or state religion of the Romalian Empire. Based on the classical pantheon, much effort was made to synchronize pantheons when the empire encountered a new people. Thus formal lists were made of how Romalian gods were the same as Agothian, Orisec, and Qhashdean gods, but simply called by Malian names.

Relative to other classical pantheon faiths, the public religion emphasized action over philosophical rigor. Careful attention was to be paid to human action so that a right relationship with the gods could be maintained. Heaven was in a civil war, and humans failing to honor the virtuous gods rightly would be treated as traitors. Therefore religion was a matter of public security to avoid calamity. To this end it was an important state function to support and grow the Cultus system - semi-independent cults dedicated to the service of a particular god. These cults were not secret, often receiving regular public funding, to perform sacrifices or other rituals to appease their chosen god.

Cults to Perifanic gods were officially proscribed and did not receive state support. Many officials allowed them to operate as long as they remained discrete, however, viewing them as a “insurance plan” in case the war in heaven shifted.