Minkowski Transcendentalism

Central Principles

The world is tainted by the Adversary, who tore it from Heaven.

One of the manifestations of this taint is Gravity, which manifests as the temptation of sin as well as physical attraction of masses.

The world can be escaped by refinement and purification, both physical and spiritual/mental.

In this way one can reach Heaven and reunify with God.

History

Minkowski Transcendentalism, or Cavorism, was founded by the futurist/engineer/mystic Dr. Evan Cavor in the 2130s.

Beliefs

The two most important concepts in Cavorism are 'fundamental sin' and 'ascension'. Fundamental sin can be analogised to the Christian doctrine of original sin, but as applied to the entire universe - all creation in which we live is tainted by the Adversary. This manifests itself in both physical and spiritual dimensions as gravity and temptation respectively. These are to be avoided because they hamper efforts to attain ascension.

Ascension is the process of overcoming fundamental sin, and like sin, it is a physical and spiritual process. The cosmos is physically and metaphysically stratified into multiple worlds which form a ladder of unknown all the way up to Heaven. To ascend beyond a world it is necessary to refine oneself and society mentally and spiritually, and eventually this will reveal the nature of higher planes and the means to access them. The archetypical example is that of humans, who had to develop civil society and then advanced technology before they could leave Earth for space. Each world entered will seem harsh and unfit for survival at first, but this is a purifying illusion. Each one can become livable, and the process of transforming and elevating society and one's knowledge of the world in a bid to do so is a purifying ordeal that refines the soul.

This belief in multiple worlds is tied into the concept of reincarnation. The state of ones soul at death as determined by its physical circumstances and mental state determines where cosmologically it will be reborn. Pure and enlightened souls will ascend further towards Heaven, and corrupt souls will fall back to terrestrial life or maybe even further. Outsiders to the religion often ask why group ascension is necessary given this ability to ascend upon death by living a holy life, but two factors work against such a collapse into self-centered cosmology. For one, it is impossible to ascend to a higher world if no lives await there to receive the spirit, and for another such a personal outlook would itself directly work against ascension. Selfishness is a sin, and a sincere belief in the importance and holiness of the act of ascension is a virtue. To strive to aid your fellows upwards is the most sacred act a creature can perform.

These produce the central emphases of Minkowski Transcendentalism: Colonisation of space, scientific inquiry and communitarianism.

Hierarchy

Aphelion

The Space Pope.

Apogees

The council of Apogees is an exclusive, predominantly self-selected group consisting of the high administrators of the priesthood, senior theological scholars and a number of special positions. It elects the Aphelion from among its number.

First Priests

First Priests have authority over multiple Second Priests and tens or even hundreds of thousands of people. They officiate at ceremonies in the grand cathedrals.

Second Priests

Second Priests minister to congregations of thousands.

Third Priests

Third Priests are the lowest level of clergy permitted to hold services. They attend to small groups of people or assist the Second Priests.

Special Orders

Parallel to the standard priesthood are the Special Orders, whose members hold equivalent rank but do not perform services for the general public. Special Orders include the Society of Cavor (intellectual), the Military Order (military chaplains) and the Order of Ether (missionary). The heads of each order sit on the council of Apogees.