Shemite Religion
Shemite Religion The Shemites have an inclination toward what others might characterise as obscene and horrible fertility gods and goddesses. Each city state has one or more as its patron, trusting that horrible, squat brass idols built in honour of those gods and goddesses of fecundity actually hold the essence and presence of those gods and goddesses. Crops grow because a male god mates with a female goddess. When the hot and dry summer arrives and the fields and meadows burn brown, they know the male gods are dying, but when the fields bloom in the autumn, their gods are resurrected. Thus it is in Shemite religions, the male consort is killed and reborn each year, coinciding with annual growing and harvest cycles. Many Shemite rituals involve enactments of this sacrifice and rebirth in caricatured, symbolic manners that often include human sacrifice and sexual rituals. Indeed, even coming before these awesome and feared gods, humanity must show humility, often requiring worshippers to approach on their hands and knees in the nude. Even prayer is handled in a manner of humility, done with the hands clasped across the chest. More complete information, including information on the priesthood and zikkurats, can be found in Conan: Faith & Fervour.
Born to Serve The Shemite priesthood of the meadow cities teach that humanity was created to serve the gods, to do the labour not befitting a god to do. They teach that the gods revealed to humanity all the skills and abilities they have and use, that the Shemites have no ability or skill without the gods and no chance at survival without the gods. All change comes about by divine revelation or inspiration, not from humanity’s perspiration.
Inherent Fatalism of the Shemites Shemites are fatalistic as a result of their religious concept of predestination. Shemites believe that when their day to die arrives then they can do nothing to change that outcome. Moreover, the Shemites do not fight against any outcome perceived to be preordained.
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As with most religions, Shemite religion attempts to explain the reason for hardship, misfortune and ill-events. Essentially, all suffering is the fault of the people, the result of their sins falling back upon them, sins that essentially summon demons to wreak havoc in their lives. Sin is any act considered displeasing to the gods. The gods are considered to have a positive attitude toward the Shemites in general, but acts of sin force the gods to demonstrate their wrath. They do this by sending forth demons to afflict sinners. If the sin is grave enough, the demons will even torment the sinner’s family, home or city by causing disease, plagues, madness, enemy conquerors, infant mortality, environmental disasters or even monsters. Shemites are taught never to curse the gods when one suffers, but to glorify the gods in hopes of appeasing their displeasure, for the gods’ better natures can be appealed to, perhaps the god will give deliverance. The Shemites teach that correct behaviour is better than correct belief, for the gods will smite those who behave in a sinful manner, regardless of their belief. Instead of complaining, Shemites either pray for pity and mercy or they simply accept the suffering the gods have seen fit to send them. All Shemites know that if a god has made a decision, then that decision will stand unless someone knows the correct ritual or says an appealing prayer to appease the god. Humanity is at the mercy of the gods, and if the god has made a decision, that decision will stand – unless the god decides to change its mind.
Rituals to Appease the Gods The gods of Shem do listen to prayers and they can be swayed by ritual. Indeed, the sons of Shem argue that their very prosperity depends utterly on ceremony and ritual. The gods, after all, control all the events of life and the anger of the gods is likely to manifest as tidal waves, drought, earthquakes, volcanoes and other natural disasters. Most magic in Shem falls in the category of sympathetic magic, not sorcery. Essentially, magic works because the recipient of the spell or ritual believes the magic works. Also, because the will of the gods is so important to a Shemite, divinatory magic is also practiced. Shemites tend to be
