Creedhold

The CreedHold of each religious order represents the soul of the order as defined by the commitments made to the order by its members through the oaths which define its moral and ethical aspect.

The Oaths

Each order has a CreedHold, defined in part by a series of oaths. These oaths start out very simple: basic requirements needed to be welcome in their hostels or monasteries. They extend to the very profound: The most powerful orders will require extremely restrictive oaths which will be very difficult for members to hold to.

Not all members will necessarily have sworn the most difficult oaths. As each member works her way through the order, each higher level will require a more restrictive oath. So, the first thing the creator of a new religious order needs to do is to decide what the various oaths will be.

Some guidelines are outlined here (with specific instructions for order-creators in italics ):

Oath of Visitation

The first oath should be very general and very easy to adhere to. Think of it as what you would expect visitors to the order's shrines or monasteries to do. General rules of politeness as they apply to the order's specific mission.

Friend's Oath

The second oath should be a little more restrictive. Think of it as what you would expect of the neighorbors and special friends of the order in order that they might retain their special status with the order. Anyone who fulfills these requirements would automatically be considered a good neighbor who supports the basic mission of the order (even though they may not have actually joined).

Fill in what you think the people in the immediate vicinity of the order's monasteries should be willing to accept. Things that make a good neighbor who does not interfere with the order's purposes might go here.

Oath of Initiation

The third oath is a fairly inflexible set of rules which all novices are required to swear (along with the first two oaths) in order to be allowed into the training programs of the order. While the restrictions should be fairly inflexible, they cannot be too hard to maintain.

Fill this in with an oath according to these guidelines.

Membership Oath

The fourth oath should be more flexible, but more restrictive. Sworn by initiates as part of the process of moving to full membership in the order, it is the clearest statement of the main principles of the order.

Fill this in with an oath according to these guidelines, if you want. It is not required for creating a covenant (especially right at first), but it will be needed quite soon if a large number want to join. A member of the Guildmasters Guild should be able to help if needed.

Oath of Envoy

The fifth oath is very hard to maintain complete adherence to, given that it attempts to create a set of rules for most situations not specifically covered by the Membership Oath. Anyone who has sworn the Oath of Envoy is considered qualified to serve as the personal representative of the order in most affairs. Most orders are governed by those who have sworn such an oath (since few orders will ever reach the level required for the sixth oath).

Fill this in with an oath according to these guidelines. This one will probably be a little harder to write, and those who are starting off with their first covenant can easily put it off 'til later since few orders start off with such a difficult oath being defined (and it is unlikely to be of any use if it is defined). Once the order reaches the point where it needs an Oath of Envoy, a master of the Guildmasters Guild can be hired to help them create a good Oath of Envoy?.

The Intimate Oath

The sixth oath must be very hard to maintain full compliance with. It is rare that any order even creates an intimate oath because such an oath must fully and perfectly define the underlying principles on which the order is built.

Fill this in with an oath according to these guidelines. A good way to think about it is terms of a member martyred on behalf of the order's deepest principles. Creating such an oath almost certainly requires the participation of one of the most powerful members of the Guildmasters Guild.

Creedhold Statistics

The primary statistic of the Creedhold is its Commitment?. The secondary statistic is its Followers?, which is determined by dividing the number of people who participate regularly in the order's sacraments by 100.

Commitments can be divided into the various "balances": Interindividual Balance, from 87 to 118; Institutional Balance, 55 to 86; Interpersonal Balance, 37-54; Imperial Balance, 19-36; Impulsive Balance, 11-18; Incorporative Balance, 3-10. (A commitment of 1 represents the absence of a covenant more than an actual covenant. A commitment of 2 represents a need for a covenant that doesn't yet exist. Sometimes these are known as the Prenatal Balance.)

Each balance has a characteristic subject-object relation. As the CreedHold moves from one balance to the next, the subject of the previous balance becomes the object of the succeeding balance.

Interindividual Balance

The subject of the Interindividual Balance is the principles which undergird its oaths. The object of the balance are the institutions which are created by those who take those oaths.

Commitment of between 87 and 118

The minimum requirements for each of the commitment values which are in the Interindividual Balance:

Commitment		99	98	97	96	95	94	93	92	91	90	89	88	87
Intimates		13	12	11	10	9	8	7	6	5	4	3	2	1
Envoys		45	44	43	42	41	40	39	38	37	36	35	34	33
Members		63	62	61	60	59	58	57	56	55	54	53	52	51
Initiates		81	80	79	78	77	76	75	74	73	72	71	70	69
Friends		89	88	87	86	85	84	83	82	81	80	79	78	77
Visitors		97	96	95	94	93	92	91	90	89	88	87	86	85

Thus, a Commitment of 97 requires 95 members have taken the Oath of Visitation, 87 members have taken the Friends Oath, 79 have taken the Oath of Initiation, 61 have taken the Membership Oath, 43 have taken the Oath of the Envoy, and 11 have taken the Intimate Oath.

And minima for the rest of the Interindividual Balance is:

Commitment		118	117	116	115	114	113	112	111	110	109	108	107	106	105	104	103	102	101	100
Intimates		32	31	30	29	28	27	26	25	24	23	22	21	20	19	18	17	16	15	14
Envoys		64	63	62	61	60	59	58	57	56	55	54	53	52	51	50	49	48	47	46
Members		82	81	80	79	78	77	76	75	74	73	72	71	70	69	68	67	66	65	64
Initiates		100	99	98	97	96	95	94	93	92	91	90	89	88	87	86	85	84	83	82
Friends		108	107	106	105	104	103	102	101	100	99	98	97	96	95	94	93	92	91	90
Visitors		116	115	114	113	112	111	110	109	108	107	106	105	104	103	102	101	100	99	98

Institutional Balance

The subject of the Institutional Balance is the institution defined by the oaths of the covenant. The objects of the balance are the relations those oaths imply with other covenants.

Commitment of between 55 and 86

The minimum requirements for each of the commitment values which are in the Institutional Balance:

Commitment		86	85	84	83	82	81	80	79	78	77	76	75	74
Envoys		32	31	30	29	28	27	26	25	24	23	22	21	20
Members		50	49	48	47	46	45	44	43	42	41	40	39	38
Initiates		68	67	66	65	64	33	62	61	60	59	58	57	56
Friends		76	75	74	73	72	71	70	69	68	67	66	65	64
Visitors		84	83	82	81	80	79	78	77	76	75	74	73	72

Thus, a Commitment of 77 requires 75 members have taken the Oath of Visitation, 67 members have taken the Friends Oath, 59 have taken the Oath of Initiation, 41 have taken the Membership Oath, and 23 have taken the Oath of the Envoy.

And minima for the rest of the Institutional Balance is:

Commitment		73	72	71	70	69	68	67	66	65	64	63	62	61	60	59	58	57	56	55
Envoys		19	18	17	16	15	14	13	12	11	10	9	8	7	6	5	4	3	2	1
Members		37	36	35	34	33	32	31	30	29	28	27	26	25	24	23	22	21	20	19
Initiates		55	54	53	52	51	50	49	48	47	46	45	44	43	42	41	40	39	38	37
Friends		63	62	61	60	59	58	57	56	55	54	53	52	51	50	49	48	47	46	45
Visitors		71	70	69	68	67	66	65	64	63	62	61	60	59	58	57	56	55	54	53

Interpersonal Balance

The subject of the Interpersonal Balance is the web of relations the oaths imply. The object of the balance is built of the perceptions on which the oaths are founded.

Commitment of between 37 and 54

The minimum requirements for each of the commitment values which are in the Interpersonal Balance:

Commitment		54	53	52	51	50	49	48	47	46	45	44	43	42	41	40	39	38	37
Members		18	17	16	15	14	13	12	11	10	9	8	7	6	5	4	3	2	1
Initiates		36	35	34	33	32	31	30	29	28	27	26	25	24	23	22	21	20	19
Friends		44	43	42	41	40	39	38	37	36	35	34	33	32	31	30	29	28	27
Visitors		52	51	50	49	48	47	46	45	44	43	42	41	40	39	38	37	36	35

Thus, a Commitment of 47 requires 45 members have taken the Oath of Visitation, 37 members have taken the Friends Oath, 29 have taken the Oath of Initiation, and 11 have taken the Membership Oath.

Imperial Balance

Commitment of between 19 and 36

The minimum requirements for each of the commitment values which are in the Imperial Balance:

Commitment		36	35	34	33	32	31	30	29	28	27	26	25	24	23	22	21	20	19
Initiates		18	17	16	15	14	13	12	11	10	9	8	7	6	5	4	3	2	1
Friends		26	25	24	23	22	21	20	19	18	17	16	15	14	13	12	11	10	9
Visitors		34	33	32	31	30	29	28	27	26	25	24	23	22	21	20	19	18	17

Thus, a Commitment of 27 requires 25 members have taken the Oath of Visitation, 17 members have taken the Friends Oath, and 19 have taken the Oath of Initiation.

Impulsive Balance

The subjects of the Impulsive Balance are the impulses which the oaths are predicated upon. The objects are the needs of the members.

Commitment of between 11 and 18

The minimum requirements for each of the commitment values which are in the Impulsive Balance:

Commitment		18	17	16	15	14	13	12	11
Friends		8	7	6	5	4	3	2	1
Visitors		16	15	14	13	12	11	10	9

Thus, a Commitment of 17 requires 15 members have taken the Oath of Visitation, and 7 members have taken the Friends Oath.

Incorporative Balance

The subjects of the Incorporative Balance are needs. There are no objects per se.

Commitment of between 3 and 10

The minimum requirements for each of the commitment values which are in the Incorporative Balance:

Commitment		10	9	8	7	6	5	4	3
Visitors		8	7	6	5	4	3	2	1

Thus, a Commitment of 7 requires 5 members have taken the Oath of Visitation.

Add up the numbers of friends, initiates, members, envoys and intimates (assuming the visitors do not regularly take sacraments) to get the number of congregants. Then divide by 100 to get the Followers? statistic (if it exceeds your commitment? make it equal to your commitment; if it's far below your commitment?, you may want to increase the number of friends or even initiates remembering that the numbers in the charts above represent the minimum requirements for each kind of oath-taker).

Eco-Relations

Eco-Relations are expressed in ecological terms, in emotional reactions, and in subject-object interactions. They are also associated with the seasons of a particular period's development.

The ecological terms are things like predation, parasitism, commensualism and symbiosis. The subject-object pairs are related to these terms. For instance, predation's pair (+,-) implies that the subject for that particular period benefits from the interaction while the object is damaged.

The emotional terms associated with eco-relations are things like satisfaction, anger, depression, conflict and even evangelism or laudation. They generally imply some kind of action which is likely to be taken in response to proposals for changes in the oaths (sometimes a verbal action like evangelism or laudation). This will add to the overall mood of the institution defined by the oaths of the CreedHold.

• Sacrificial Satisfaction (0,-) The satisfaction which abounds in such a CreedHold seems to persist even when changes are made which seem to cause damage or require sacrifice.

• Evangelical Predation (+,-) Members cannot stop trying to convince others to try the changes they are making in their oaths.

• Commensal Laudation (+,0) Members cannot stop telling others about their oaths but they no longer likely to try to force them on others.

• Symbiotic Cooperation (+,+) Happiness expressed as laughter seems to dominate the mood of the covenant, especially when they discuss their oaths.

• Benign Warding (0,+) A quiet smile is more likely than open laughter about the benefits of the oaths which define this CreedHold.
• Depressed Parasitism (-,+) Depression seems to prevail in the mood of the CreedHold which is angry at itself over its oaths, which no longer serve as well as they once did.
• Angry Sadism (-,0) Once depression turns outward, others can be blamed for the limitations of the oaths resulting in an angry mood throughout the covenant with this kind of CreedHold.
• Synnecrotic Conflict (-,-) Fighting and conflict are likely in a mutually destructive CreedHold at odds over the inadequacies of the old oaths.

Seasons

Seasons are associated with the various eco-relations and reflect the periodic nature of the relationship between the order and its oaths. Each period begins with a similar kind of acceptance of the current balance the order has with its oaths and ends with a similar kind of rejection.

In between, the relationship follows a similar kind of ebb and flow, which is similar to the changing of the seasons. The more advanced periods may go through this kind of ebb and flow more than once.

• Spring Covenants are filled with newly minted idealism and youthful vigor. Change is the order of the day and some changes are made strictly for the sake of change. Younger members of the spring covenant sometimes refuse to listen to older, wiser heads even when they would benefit by so doing. The oaths of the CreedHold in springtime are in constant flux.
• Summer Covenants are at the peak of their change and improvement. Although they are still changing like the springtime covenants, summer CreedHolds have learned to temper the changes with the wisdom of older covenant members. Still not dogmatic, such covenants are no longer interested in changing oaths simply to try something new.
• Autumn Covenants have learned to incorporate the conservative values of consistency and dependability by becoming little more dogmatic than the summertime CreedHolds out of which they have grown. Many members believe the oaths are probably about as good as they can get and see little value in listening to suggestions from younger members.
• Winter Covenants are dogmatic (this one about its oaths) and loathe to change. Long-time members restrict the input of newer members. Decisions made long ago, however, force it to accept the internal dissent which will one day mean some of its members will start their own orders.

Vocabularies

As an order goes through periodic change in the kinds of oaths it uses, the terminology used in the oaths themselves will change. When a new period is first achieved, those who achieve it will require a new way of speaking about all the oaths of the order. But, as they become more focused on bring members up to the new level, they will find that convincing people (or other covenants) to consider the new balance is easier if they use the terminology familiar to those at the earlier level of development. Eventually, the ideas of the new period will become so commonplace and intimately woven into the identity of the order that the vocabulary of the new period will be taken for granted in all the oaths.

The two possible vocabularies are thus:

• Current Balance - Used for the oaths in the first two stages and the last 6 stages of development in the Imperial Balance, the Interpersonal Balance, the Institutional Balance, and the Interindividual Balance as well as in all stages of the Prenatal Balance, the Incorporative Balance, and the Impulsive Balance.
• Previous Balance - Use for the middle stages of the more advanced balances:
  • 10 stages of development in the Imperial Balance and the Interpersonal Balance
  • 24 stages of development in the Institutional Balance and the Interindividual Balance

Dependency

Various balances (periods) of the CreedHold each have a dependency based on the oaths sworn by members of the religious order. Oaths are either oriented toward interactions between covanants and their members or toward the ability to operate independently.

• Inclusive Balances are balances reached by swearing oaths that emphasize interaction. Usually this means interaction between the order and other covenants. But the oaths can also deal with interactions between individuals (either within the order or with those outside the order).
• Independent Balances are balances reached by swearing oaths which emphasize independent action. Usually this means independence of the order as a whole. But the oaths can also deal with the independence of individual members of the religious community defined by taking those oaths.

See also Religious Orders.

— Scotus - 07 Apr 2001