Orthodoxy & Schisms

Revelation or Revolution

People form social, religious, and ethnic groups based on rules that reflect beliefs and define behavior. These groups provide a sense of security and affirmation of values and lifestyles that are reinforced by group rules. There is less strife when people choose to conform and cooperate based on rules. Strict adherence to rules is called orthodoxy. Schisms are divisions within the group that result in factions with different interpretations of orthodox rules. Heretics are those who reject important orthodox rules.

I was raised in a traditional Christian denomination. Beliefs and practices were based on interpretations of the Bible that were made by a hierarchy of leaders. I was taught to accept these doctrines and practices without question because they were developed by experts under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. As a young adult, I began to systematically study the Bible. I found many serious differences between what it said and the doctrines of my church. The truths of the Bible changed me, and I experienced a spiritual birth that transformed my thinking and views. I became a heretic to my family and friends who continued to adhere to the church doctrines that I now rejected. They believed that I strayed from the faith.? In their view, I was in error because their faith was accepted by most people who called themselves Christians over thousands of years. They could not accept the possibility that so many people could have developed a powerful church organization that could have misinterpreted the Bible.

The elves in The Past and Future King have strict orthodox beliefs that were passed down for thousands of years. Elves lived long lives and spent their years studying books. They have superior knowledge compared to other creatures. One of their core beliefs is based on a prophecy that one day some humans will appear who will herald the dawning of a new age when their creator renews the earth and dwells among them. These human heralds are called the Sons of Light. There are magical stones that will only work for them. This is a sign from the Creator that these individuals are the true Sons of Light. The elf lords are keepers of these magical seeing stones until the Sons of Light are revealed.

Lord Ceowulf is an influential leader among the elves. He is next in the hierarchy of elf nobles to become a guardian of a seeing stone. There is another elf lord called Lord Swefred who is the keeper of a seeing stone. He is killed during a battle with orcs and trolls. His seeing stone is taken by an orc general who is later killed. A troll named Min finds it. Lord Ceowulf joins a group led by Tom and Willet to find and recover the seeing stone. When they find Min, Lord Ceowulf demands that Min give it to him. Tom, Willet, and some other elves disagree based on the fact that the seeing stone glows around Min’s neck. Lord Ceowulf’s strict orthodox thinking causes him to view Min as an evil creature because he is a troll. His thinking does not allow for any race of creature other than humans to be the Sons of Light. Willet agrees that it is unprecedented for a troll to rightfully possess a seeing stone. However, he advises caution in light of the reaction of the stone to Min and his desire to reject his race and make friends with humans and elves. A confrontation results in which Lord Ceowulf finds himself alone in trying to take the seeing stone from Min. He therefore leaves the group and returns to the elf city of Taliesin. He calls a council of elves and accuses Willet of breaking the requirements of the sacred prophecy and of treason.

The elf Princess Linette, who raised Willet, does not believe that Willet has betrayed them. Lord Ceowulf is incensed and calls her a fool. This confrontation results in a schism among the elves. Those who hold to a strict interpretation of the prophecy leave Taliesin with Lord Ceowulf. They relocate to a remote elf city and search for Willet and Min. This schism divides families and friends. It creates animosity and breaks the former unity and peace among the elves. This is similar to what has happened to Christianity. The Bible says that Christians are to be unified and at peace as the body and bride of Christ. However, schisms and heresies have divided the church into many opposing denominations.

Andhun is the head of a worldwide order that is based on their sacred book, The Once and Forever Ruler. Andhun was a very bright and talented pupil of Willet. They were members of The Order of Alastrine which was comprised of influential people with advanced learning who were dedicated to the advancement of mankind. Andhun is deceived by evil angels into believing that The Once and Forever Ruler is superior to the more ancient book called The Past and Future King. Evil angels provide him with visions and magical abilities that inspire him to write The Once and Forever Ruler. Andhun claimed that The Once and Forever Ruler was better because it was a new revelation that clarified and was more accurate than The Past and Future King. After studying The Once and Forever Ruler, Willet and other orthodox leaders rejected it and so Andhun formed his own order. The Once and Forever Ruler portrayed evil angels as good and so there were irreconcilable differences between it and The Past and Future King. These serious differences caused the members of The Order of Alastrine to consider Andhun and his followers heretics.