Created by Captain Michael Turlogh Kane on May 21, 2017 @ 10:10pm

BOLIAN RELIGION
by Sarah Albertini-Bond

Excerpt from "Bolian Religious History":

The eight main Bolian Houses were named for the 8 gods that the Bolians believed in, or aligned themselves with their designations:

Design (Pain)
Serendipity (Love)
Perfidy (Hostility)
Fidelity (Faithfulness)
Folly (Indiscretion)
Wisdom (Prudence)
Enmity (Animus)
Amity (Goodwill)

Every house had smaller houses that were ancillary to the main Houses; in most cultural, political, and historical events the ancillary Houses until recent times aligned to the main Houses, especially during the great wars of Bolarus (wars that went on both militarily and via political hostility between the Houses, characterized by threats, propaganda, and other measures short of open warfare). The unification of Bolarus was capped by the religious event known as the Revelation of Nine.

Nine was the child of all the Houses and became the central figure to Bolian iconography and religion, although interpretation of Nine varies by House. While all interpretations agree that Nine is a child, age and gender are fluid. From Bolian unification on, the Houses were reunited harmoniously in all religious, social, cultural and political events. With unification, the Houses mingled freely in all ways except for the following pairings:

Serendipity-Design (Love-Pain)
Perfidy-Fidelity (Hostility-Faithfulness)
Folly-Wisdom (Indiscretion-Prudence)
Enmity-Amity (Animus-Goodwill)

When a there is a pairing (or a union) from opposite main Houses (see above) then that increases the chances for an Avatar. The Avatar is a religious designation to understand why a small portion of Bolians have natural psi abilities. Depending upon the pairing it will then influence the inclination of psi tendency.


Illustration of an Avatar

Excerpt SFA Book on Races: Bolians, Religion, and Psi Ability

While many races have some type of telekinetic, telepathic, and/or empathic ability (for the sake of clarity referred to as psi ability hereafter) there is a curious relation between Bolians and these abilities. Unlike Betazoids or Vulcans, for example, where telepathy is part of the general population, few Bolians show these abilities. Statistics range from 1-10% of the general Bolian population have this type of ability; this trait only manifests when 2 Bolians from different "Houses" (re: geographic sections of BOLARUS IX) mate and produce an offspring (in rare cases it be dormant and appear in the next generation). As "Houses" were associated with specific gods, which were seemingly at war with each other, the mating of people from these Houses then perceived to be undesirable. After Bolian reconciliation (symbolism of Bolians coming to terms with their own tumultuous past and moving towards a more support-based society) the view that someone who had these abilities was viewed with ignominy. The religious/cultural views held fast and as such some people with these abilities did not receive the training they needed. It was left for them to go off world to seek out those (usually Vulcans or Betazoids) who could help train them. Only recently have Bolians started to come up with their own teaching methods that blends both practical and cultural methods. However, in keeping with old traditions, and due to its limited use, the Bolian way of training a psi ability is quite unique.


The Avatar of Serendipity, alive today