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The role of '''religion in Westarctica''' is an area of only limited social concern by the country's government and peoples. | The role of '''religion in Westarctica''' is currently an area of only limited social concern by the country's government and peoples. [[Westarctica]] distinguishes itself from many other sovereign nations in that it does not place religious restrictions nor enforce religious laws or edicts on any of its citizens, nor does it limit the availability of diplomatic visas for entry or exit from the country's borders for religious reasons. | ||
However, previously, religion played a very significant role in the shaping of Westarctica's national character. | |||
==Religion in the Achaean Territory== | ==Religion in the Achaean Territory== | ||
When the territory of Westarctica was first claimed in 2001, the country largely followed the religious inclination of its leader, [[Grand Duke Travis|Consul-General Travis McHenry]]. The trend among many of the nobles at that time was a general sense of agnostic irreligion. However, the [[Consul-General of the Achaean Territory|Consul-General]] himself was a semi-practicing Classical Pantheist who predominantly worshiped the gods of the ancient Greek Pantheon as well as Alexander the Great (who was considered by the Egyptians and the Persians to be a living god, and later, by the Greeks as member of the Pantheon). | [[File:Alexander bust.jpg|thumb|Bust of Alexander the Great]] | ||
When the territory of Westarctica was first claimed in 2001 as the [[Achaean Territory of Antarctica|Achaean Territory]], the country largely followed the religious inclination of its leader, [[Grand Duke Travis|Consul-General Travis McHenry]]. The trend among many of the nobles at that time was a general sense of agnostic irreligion. However, the [[Consul-General of the Achaean Territory|Consul-General]] himself was a semi-practicing Classical Pantheist who predominantly worshiped the gods of the ancient Greek Pantheon as well as Alexander the Great (who was considered by the Egyptians and the Persians to be a living god, and later, by the Greeks as member of the Pantheon). | |||
Thus, Classical Pantheism showed its mark on the naming of the territory itself (''Achaea'' is a region of ancient Greece) as well as the naming of Achaea's capital city (''Achilles'', after the mythological hero of ''The Iliad''). The [[Coronation of the Consul-General]] occurred in a castle utilized by Alexander the Great during his conquest of Asia Minor (Turkey) and the [[Consular Crown|crown]] used was a solid gold circlet carved in the shape of a laurel wreath in the style of a Roman civic crown. | Thus, Classical Pantheism showed its mark on the naming of the territory itself (''Achaea'' is a region of ancient Greece) as well as the naming of Achaea's capital city (''Achilles'', after the mythological hero of ''The Iliad''). The [[Coronation of the Consul-General]] occurred in a castle utilized by Alexander the Great during his conquest of Asia Minor (Turkey) and the [[Consular Crown|crown]] used was a solid gold circlet carved in the shape of a laurel wreath in the style of a Roman civic crown. | ||
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==Adoption of Christianity as National Religion== | ==Adoption of Christianity as National Religion== | ||
===Legal basis=== | ===Legal basis=== | ||
In June 2004, the Consul-General underwent a religious conversion and became a born-again Christian as publicly declared in the 13 June 2004 Statement of Faith. As part of a reorganization of the government of the Achaean Territory, all previous legal codes were abolished and the [[Grand Ducal Mandate]] became the new law of the land. At this time, the country changed its name to [[Westarctica]], and adopted a new flag with a cross and crown design. | In June 2004, the Consul-General underwent a religious conversion and became a born-again Christian as publicly declared in the 13 June 2004 Statement of Faith. As part of a reorganization of the government of the Achaean Territory, all previous legal codes were abolished and the [[Grand Ducal Mandate]] became the new [[Laws of Westarctica|law of the land]]. At this time, the country changed its name to [[Westarctica]], and adopted a new flag with a cross and crown design. | ||
[[File:Statement of Faith.jpg|thumb|Statement of Faith as written, signed, and decreed by Grand Duke Travis in 2004]] | |||
Although the Grand Ducal Mandate explicitly guaranteed "freedom of religion to all religions" (in Chapter II, Article 4, Section 2, Subsection H), Chapter VI, dealing with special religious clauses, declared Protestant Christianity to be the state religion of Westarctica and also awarded remuneration and pensions to religious leaders. Article 60 stated: | Although the Grand Ducal Mandate explicitly guaranteed "freedom of religion to all religions" (in Chapter II, Article 4, Section 2, Subsection H), Chapter VI, dealing with special religious clauses, declared Protestant Christianity to be the state religion of Westarctica and also awarded remuneration and pensions to religious leaders. Article 60 stated: | ||
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Less than two months after the transfer of power, there was an explosive series of arguments between the [[Grand Ducal Cabinet|cabinet ministers]] in Westarctica's government forum. A variety of charges and accusations were made against Jon-Lawrence Langer, the [[Duke of Moulton-Berlin]] by several of his fellow ministers. According to His Grace, the accusations included: | Less than two months after the transfer of power, there was an explosive series of arguments between the [[Grand Ducal Cabinet|cabinet ministers]] in Westarctica's government forum. A variety of charges and accusations were made against Jon-Lawrence Langer, the [[Duke of Moulton-Berlin]] by several of his fellow ministers. According to His Grace, the accusations included: | ||
<blockquote> | <blockquote> | ||
I have been publicly accused of treason, sedition against the United States of America, not | I have been publicly accused of treason, sedition against the United States of America, not being christian, being evil, and few charges that I fail to recollect at the moment.<br> | ||
Travis, I am truly and deeply disgusted with Westarctica. They lied about me. They hid evidence of their wrong doing. I can never trust any of them in the future. You are a good man. Sadly, you are also the exception. | Travis, I am truly and deeply disgusted with Westarctica. They lied about me. They hid evidence of their wrong doing. I can never trust any of them in the future. You are a good man. Sadly, you are also the exception. | ||
</blockquote> | </blockquote> | ||
This altercation, where religion was not the central issue, but still included on the periphery, marked the beginning of the end of Westarctica's prestige and ability to function as a sovereign government. The fact that the new [[Minister of Theocratic Affairs]] was involved with the turmoil only made matters more difficult to resolve. | |||
===The Thurston=== | |||
In 2007, an announcement was made on Westarctica's official website by the [[Minister of Foreign Affairs|Minister of Affairs]], [[Lady Thurston]] that a new religious enclave would be carved out of [[Thurston Island]], which was ruled over by her daughter, Her Highness, the [[Princess of Thurston]]. Although it was presented with the caveat that the project would not interfere with Westarctica's freedom of religion policy, the core idea was described as: | |||
<blockquote> | |||
We desire to create a place where officials from governments around the world may come to find out the collective Protestant view on various social, political, moral and faith issues of the day. “I lift my eyes up unto the hills from whence cometh my help,” say the Psalms.<br> | |||
Since the Vatican is simply the name of a hill, the Princess of Thurston has kindly set aside a hill on a portion of the Isle of Thurston for the development of an actual edifice. As befits its future installation, it shall be called “The Thurston.” Until such time as we have a visual embodiment of our ideals, the Thurston is currently “virtual.” Hebrews teaches us that faith is belief in both the seen and the unseen, so we should have no difficulty with the idea of a virtual Thurston! | |||
</blockquote> | |||
Although the project never came to fruition as intended, its mere existence highlights the importance of Christianity and religion in general during the reign of [[Grand Duke Philip]]. | |||
==Religion during the Reign of Grand Duke Jon-Lawrence== | |||
As a Knight of the [[Holy Order of The Cross]], the new Grand Duke had already been recognized for his devotion to Christianity, but having learned from the mistakes of the previous ruler, after he assumed the throne in 2008, [[Grand Duke Jon-Lawrence]] did not make the advancement of religious principles a significant part of his government's agenda. | |||
==Religion during the Transitional Government== | |||
[[File:Flag of Westarctica.jpg|thumb|Redesigned Cross and Crown Flag]] | |||
By the time [[Grand Duke Travis|Travis McHenry]] seized control of the government of [[Westarctica]] again in mid-2010, he had renounced religion entirely and was no longer practicing any form of religious worship and considered himself an atheist. Or, as he once phrased it: "A spiritual atheist. I might believe in ghosts, but not God." | |||
To highlight the lack of religious influence in the [[Transitional Government|new government]], the flag was changed from the cross and crown to a more republican tricolor. The Prime Minister, the [[Duke of Waesche]], a Wiccan High Priest, ordained through the Universal Life Church, was the real power in the government and had total authority to create laws, sign treaties, and engage in relations with other countries. | |||
==Religion during the second reign of Grand Duke Travis== | |||
In November 2014, Travis decided that he would once again bear the cloak of royalty and was elevated from being "Protector of Westarctica" to Grand Duke of Westarctica. At this time, he redesigned Westarctica's flag and created a more attractive version of the original cross and crown motif. He also declared "God Save Westarctica" to be the nation anthem again. These very public changes were intended as an overture to citizens who joined during the years when Christianity was the National Religion to let them know their presence was welcome in the nation. | |||
===Current legal status of religion=== | |||
The Charter of Westarctica guarantees freedom of religion for all citizens. [[Grand Duke Travis]] has stated that in the future, his own personal religious choices shall remain his own and will not permeate the national identity of the government or the country. | |||
==Ecumenical Church of Westarctica== | |||
On 20 December 2018, Grand Duke Travis informed the [[Royal Council]] that he had approved the creation of a ecumenical church in Westarctica. The idea for a Westarctican church was first proposed by Dr. Hans Kempe, the Duke of [[Mount Howe|Howe]], and Westarctica's Consul-General to the European Union. Since Dr. Kempe had been an ordained Senior Bishop in the Philippine Ecumenical Christian Church since 2005, he was uniquely suited to serve as leader of the new church. | |||
The [[Ecumenical Church of Westarctica]] is not a state church, nor does it represent an official religious position of the nation. It was officially incorporated as a church on 25 December 2018, however no activity has come from the church since its inception. | |||
==External links== | |||
[https://web.archive.org/web/20070510145955/http://westarctica.com:80/thurston.htm Archived page describing The Thurston] | |||
[[Category:Culture of Westarctica]] | [[Category:Culture of Westarctica]] | ||