Animism

The mainstream beliefs of Arginet are so broad and so nearly universal in their following that they don’t have a formal name. ‘Animism’ is a common neutral term; ‘Orthodoxy’ is preferred by most priests, although it is rather less accurate.

The foundation of this system is the belief that the five elements are holy and worthy of veneration, and that the spirits of the elements and the ancestors are therefore closer to divinity than are mortals. Respect for these spirits ensures the physical and spiritual well-being of mortals and will bring them prosperity in the afterlife.

Many sects also personify the elements as powerful creatures - the Dragon, the Phoenix, the Bear, the Tiger, and the Serpent for Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water respectively - and may worship them as deities, but to date no mortal has made contact with any of these entities, and the lesser spirits seldom speak of them. Many people are content to see them as abstract symbols rather than actual beings.