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An unusual syncretic religion originating upon the planet of Assunzione, Luceism is descended from a variety of faiths held by the original colonists that first emerged following the unexpected extinguishing of Assunzione’s star in 2274. It is the state religion of Assunzione and has unprecedented influence over the affairs of the planet’s government and its people, ranging from Church politics to the very ideals that govern the world.
Unlike its precursor Abrahamic religions, Luceism is unique in that it does not revere ancient historical figures or deities - rather, its faith focuses on the anomalous and yet-unexplained extinguishing, or Dimming, of the Assunzione system’s star. Its deity is a genderless, non-anthropomorphic entity known as Ennoia, the symbolic representation of light itself, believed to hold unparalleled influence over the universe. Devoid of natural sources, save for the stars in the sky, light is a precious resource in the confines of Assunzione and its people. To them, light represents truth, guidance, protection, and vision - to be stripped of light is to be lost and blind, not only to one’s surroundings but to their faith, their future, and their friends and family.
Luceism is unique in that it does not necessarily devote its following to worshiping its deity Ennoia; rather, it is a religion focused on self-improvement and improvement of the community, promoting above all else charitable acts and bettering oneself, with Ennoia acting more as a guide than as a centerpoint. As a syncretic religion, Luceism draws elements from all manners of past faiths, from the structures and ceremonies of Christianity, to the concept of internal masteries spearheaded by Buddhism, to the dualistic themes of Gnosticism.
Liturgical History
Luceian texts dating back to its founding attribute the survival of Assunzione during the Dimming to the power and foresight of Ennoia. The star's already-anomalous behavior led to unstable weather patterns on Assunzione’s then-habitable surface, causing climate fluctuations that disrupted crop growth and were detrimental to colonists’ health. Initially, these were shrugged off as natural aspects of the planet. However, over several months, various prominent figures in Assunzione’s society – ranging from engineers and scientists to the Governor of Assunzione – concluded that these anomalies would worsen. They believed that the colonies needed shielding from further interference to prevent conditions from becoming intolerable. These individuals’ accounts can be considered the foundational testaments of modern Luceism, and their testimonies would prove critical to establishing the religion in the future.
Recorded accounts point to a curious coincidence: each of these figures had their revelations within the same year, 2254, exactly 20 years before the Dimming, all in dreams. Their reports describe visions of cataclysmic events, from meteor showers to devastating cold snaps, and even premonitions of the star itself extinguishing. Although none believed the latter at the time – despite it being the system’s ultimate fate – they were still inspired to protect against these potential disasters.
The Dimming and the Miracle
When the Dimming occurred in 2274, chaos ensued despite the planet’s preparations. The transition to geothermal energy from solar was incomplete when the star extinguished, leading to rolling blackouts and critical shortages of light and heat. The dome cities were plunged into cold waves, with thousands dying of hypothermia. Desperate attempts to keep warm led to fires that ravaged the cities. Furthermore, much of Assunzione’s food supply, grown outside the domes in the planet’s atmosphere, withered away as temperatures plummeted to hostile levels, additionally decimating the local fauna. The people of Assunzione were cold, hungry, and dying daily.
However, in what was then called the “Miracle of Assunzione” – or in modern Luceian terminology, “Ennoia’s Grace” – a significant portion of the population managed to subsist on underground-grown crops and farms. Starving citizens prioritized their community, working tirelessly to bring geothermal power plants online. Though many died in the process, power was eventually restored to the cities, giving heat and light to its citizens once more.
Three years after the Dimming in 2277, as society stabilized, Luceism was founded. Though the founder's name is lost to history – with at least two dozen names cited – it is generally agreed that Luceism was built by multiple people. It united the people of Assunzione, who all sought answers to their star’s mysterious fate and their collective suffering.
Early Growth
In the wake of the Dimming, as Assunzione grappled with its new reality, the seeds of Luceism began to take root in the collective consciousness of its people. The religion grew organically, a beacon of hope and understanding in a world that had been plunged into darkness and despair. It started as small gatherings in homes and community centers, where people shared their experiences, fears, and hopes. These meetings often involved collective meditations, discussions about the nature of light and darkness, and the sharing of dreams and visions that many believed were messages from Ennoia. As these ideas resonated with more people, the gatherings grew larger, and the informal network of believers began to form a more cohesive structure.
The teachings of the new generation of Foresayers, coupled with the shared experiences of survival and resilience, became the cornerstone of Luceism. People found solace in the idea that there was a greater purpose and meaning to their suffering, and that by mastering the internal dichotomy between lightness and darkness, they could emerge stronger and more enlightened. The concept of the Four Flames – Self, Community, Faith, and Light – provided a framework for this understanding, offering a path for spiritual and personal development. Stories of the Miracle of Assunzione, where the community's collective efforts led to survival against all odds, were told and retold, becoming central myths within Luceism, embodying the religion's emphasis on community and the power of collective action.
As Luceism’s influence grew, it began to formalize its practices and doctrines. The first temples and cathedrals were constructed, serving as sanctuaries of light where the faithful could gather. The clergy, initially just respected members of the community who had shown deep understanding and commitment to the religion's principles, began to take on more defined roles. Rituals and ceremonies were developed, drawing from the people's diverse cultural heritage, and integrating elements that resonated with the Luceian philosophy. The religion's growth was not just a response to a crisis but a reflection of a deep human need for connection, understanding, and a way to make sense of the universe's mysteries.
Early Luceism borrowed heavily from dominantly Catholic and Eastern Orthodox themes, reflecting the colony’s strong Mediterranean ancestry. Many of these themes persist to this day, from the pew-based designs of Luceian churches to the structure of the clergy, and even the use of wine as a sacrament in Luceian mass.
Theology
Light and stars are the main driving aspects of the Luceian faith, and many go to great lengths to lighting up houses of worship, altars, or in the case of Assunzione, entire cities. Artificial and natural light are of equal precedence, though natural sunlight, being a foreign concept to Assunzione, is often revered as having fantastical properties to followers, with many Luceians traveling abroad having awe-filled reactions to seeing daylight for the first time in their lives.
Light, in addition to physically allowing a person to see, also symbolizes the concepts of clarity, knowledge, protection, and nature. Light is what allows most forms of life to thrive and sense their surroundings, giving them not only nourishment but also the power of senses.
It should be noted that Luceians regard “light” scientifically as any form of electromagnetic radiation, meaning that infrared, ultraviolet, radio, and even ionizing radiation can be considered as light, though visible light is naturally the most desirable and most worshiped, and harmful radiation is avoided (though revered).
Aside from electrical light, candles and flames are popularly used in the religion, due to their ability to produce both heat and light. Simple candles, typically purple, red, or white in color, are used in home altars alongside a warding sphere, while flames – typically lit by gas – crown the four pillars of a Luceian church, flanking the central warding sphere at the church’s center.
Warding Spheres
Perhaps the most famous representation of light in the Luceian faith are its manifestations in the form of warding spheres – bioluminescent crystal bulbs. The warding sphere is the core religious object and symbol of the Luceian faith, and alongside the Luceian amulet, is core to followers of the religion, especially those who travel abroad. It is said that warding spheres can shine a directed light that will always point towards Assunzione in the night sky.
The warding sphere is made of luce vine bulbs (see below), and crafted by the Spheremakers of Guelma, masters of glassmaking who are able to fashion perfect crystal spheres to hold the vine’s fruit inside of. The bulb inside each sphere is chemically treated to be able to give off a faint yet persistent light for decades on end before burning out, without requiring any source of external energy.
On Assunzione, every household is encouraged (but not required) to keep a warding sphere in their home, sat atop an altar. Said altar can be as simple or as elaborate as the sphere’s owner permits or can otherwise afford, but all altars always contain the warding sphere and some sort of stand for it to rest on. The preferred “stand” for a stationary altar is a Cushion of Light, a violet down pillow covered in velvet with gold inlays, with a divot in its center for the warding sphere to rest on. In absence of a pillow, either due to space, flammability, or availability (such as living in a remote location), a metal stand may be substituted that keeps the sphere stationary and elevated above the altar’s surface.
Traveling Sphere
Abroad, most Luceians are almost mandated to be given a warding sphere to guide them on their travels; such warding spheres are smaller than the home variant and are always found secured in a cushioned metal casing, emblazoned with the Eye of Ennoia. The casing is designed to withstand drops of up to 20 meters or harsh impacts without damaging or cracking the sphere inside, and traveling Luceians keep it within said casing unless in a safe location such as their lodging or residence while abroad.
Doctrine does not mandate that Luceians carry a warding sphere wherever they go, but rather, that they are placed in a highly-frequented location by its owner, so that its owner may meet the light of Ennoia at least once or twice a day. It is for this reason that most prefer to keep their warding sphere at home, though those who do carry a sphere around do so with it inside the protective casing.