Table of Contents
Zezouism
Overview
Zezouism is a modern monotheistic religion centered on the worship of the deity Zeo, regarded by followers as the singular force harmonizing existence, both in matter and spirit. Its sacred scripture is The Alma Book. Tuesday is the holy day. Principal cult places include the grand shrine, the Big Zenith, in Meppo (Karti), and local sanctuaries universally called Zeniths.
Zezouism teaches alignment with Zeo as the way to braid material survival with spiritual discipline. The Alma Book is treated as divine revelation and a manual for inner purification and social conduct. Tuesday shapes weekly life: in Karti, schools, businesses, and public institutions formally delay duties until 8:30 AM to respect the half-hour communal prayer, making Tuesday mornings unusually quiet across society.
Sacred text
- Title: The Alma Book
- Status: Sacred scripture and guide for spiritual discipline and social conduct
Places of worship and sacred geography
- Local sanctuaries: Zeniths (universal naming across communities).
- Sacred water: Holy water from the Source (river) in Karti is used for ritual purification of sprouts.
Observances and weekly cycle
- Holy day: Tuesday.
- Communal prayer: Mandatory morning prayer every Tuesday from 8 to 8:30 AM (includes children). Public life in Karti starts later to accommodate this.
- Regular hemisphere-shaped prayers and offerings occur every Tuesday.
Dietary and ritual practices
- Ritual consumption of sprouts purified with holy water from the Source (river). Elaborate preparation has created organized supply lines from Karti to the global diaspora and relatively higher costs.
The Five Dictates of //The Alma Book//
- Children must not cut their hair before they turn 15 years old.
- Mandatory prayer every Tuesday in the morning from 8 to 8:30 AM, also for children. School and working day starts later for Zezouic people.
- Zezouic must eat sprouts processed with holy water from the Source (river) flowing in Karti and in Molbra on Tuesdays.
- Every public catering area should offer these specific sprouts for the Zezouic community.
- Given the specific treatment required to prepare these sprouts, they generally are at a higher cost compared to regular sprouts. These sprouts are imported from Karti.
- Mandatory financial contribution to the Big Zenith in Karti (% of salary).
- Abortion is prohibited.
Beliefs and metaphysics
- Zeo is the singular harmonizing force of existence.
- Emphasis on harmony with unseen flows of energy (“Zeo lines”).
- Spiritist traditions: the spirits of deceased Zezouics are believed to assist the living during rituals, bridging mortality with ongoing vitality.
History
- Origins: Trace back some 400 years to the prophetess Nalme Oyria, who is said to have “listened to the current of Zeo” beside the sacred Source River in Karti. Her revelation was transcribed as The Alma Book.
- Early period: Kartian dynasties alternated between suppression and adoption of Zezouic rituals.
- 1724 River Accord: Rulers proclaimed Zeo as the protector and legal sovereign deity of Karti. Pilgrimage and ritual practices tied to the River and the Big Zenith became central pillars of Kartian identity.
- Schisms and reforms: The Reformist Movement of the late 20th century called for reinterpretation of financial obligations and austere dietary rules; most reformists later reconciled while advocating stronger diaspora community links.
Organization and finance
- Zezouics are obligated to provide a compulsory percentage of personal income to the Big Zenith. Funds support temple upkeep, educational campaigns, and philanthropic channels. Centralized finances have granted religious authorities significant influence over social policy and national politics.
Distribution and society
- Karti: Majority religion (more than 95% of citizens identify as Zezouic).
- Perantsa: Substantial minority (about 20% of the population).
- Diaspora: Organized supply lines for sacred sprouts link Karti to communities abroad.
- Culture: Tuesday observance shapes work patterns, infrastructure agendas, and regional cinematography and literature in Karti.
Criticism and debate
- External critics describe the sprouts economy as an “edible monopoly.”
- Devout Zezouics describe the sacred sprouts as the material “nourishment file” of Zeo within human bodies.
Terminology
- Followers: Zezouics.
- Sanctuaries: Zeniths; the grand shrine is the Big Zenith.
- Holy text: The Alma Book.