Difference between revisions of "Religion in Westarctica"

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).

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.

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:

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.

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.

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.