Pastism

Pastism is the largest religion in the world, and one of the Artic religions.

Etymology
'Pastism' is derived from the word upastā in the Tanumanic language, meaning 'aid, help, assistance'.

Beliefs
As an Artic religion, the supreme object of reverence in Pastism is Arta. Arta is described as a transcendent law which acts upon the world, which is in itself neutral and lifeless, to create order, beauty, and virtue. Arta's presence in the world is opposed by anarta, described theologically as imperfections in creation or areas that have not yet been graced by law, but popularly perceived as a concrete, evil, opposing deity or force against Arta. Pastism dictates that the reach and reverence of Arta should be assisted through personal devotion and good works which align oneself and the world with the transcendent beauty of it, and also to fulfil the purpose of the unique faculties of man which are themselves creations and evidence of Arta.

History
Pastism formed in Ancient Tarsian civilization, with concrete evidence of the earliest Pastic practices and doctrines dating to the Bavaric civilization of the 3rd millennium BCE. It is unknown if this early form of Pastism was also the Proto-Artism that spread and gave rise to later Artic religions in Vasarea or if Artic beliefs were part of an even older faith shared by -speaking peoples. Pastism was gradually codified and its theology sophisticated, and by the time of the rise of the Ancient Tarsian Empire it was a highly developed religion connected closely to Tarsian identity and culture. Early Pastism probably had a dualistic cosmology where Arta and Anarta were considered equally powerful entities, but the development of theology in Isnarid times saw the philosophical elevation of the concept of Arta. As the state religion of the Tarsian empire it was spread across Carsa and Varasan heavily influencing local cultures.