Harsitem: Difference between revisions

Most ''harsitem'' follow the prevailing religion of their region, though there are differences in religious life between ''harsitem'' and neighbouring clean populations. Despite the egalitarian ethos of Christianity, the sacramental nature of apostolic Christian liturgy with the sharing of bread and wine, the laying of hands, and such at its core, meant that Coscivian Christians were often uncomfortable worshipping with their ''harsitem'' coreligionists. In former times it was not unheard of for rural priests to refuse to serve ''harsitem'' entirely. In a few cases, ''harsitkî'' associated with larger towns were served by their own ''harsitem'' priests or deacons, but in most cases ''harsitem'' could expect less access to the Church than their neighbours and as such, many syncretic ''harsit'' families are more strongly connected to the old Coscivian religions than to Christianity. Nonetheless, there are several canonised ''harsit'' saints, many of whom worked with, even miraculously cured, {{wp|lepers}} or other diseased people to whom "clean" persons were unwilling to tend.  

''harsitem'', especially those in the South and those from butchering families, were likely to convert to [[Islam]] when the religion began to spread in Kiravia. The adoption of Islamic hygienic jurisprudence by Muslim converts and the practice of halal slaughter presented ''harsitem'' with an opportunity to present themselves and their lifestyle as clean, or rather, having ''become'' clean, to their fellow Muslims. Conversion also offered ''harsitem'' the opportunity to disguise their lineage by changing their names and giving their children opportunities to marry non-''harsitem''. Around one tenth of Southern Muslims and one-fifth to one-third of Muslim Kir come from ''harsitex'' backgrounds. The spread of Islam among the ''harsitem'' helped to spur reforms in the Coscivian Orthodox and Catholic churches with regard to these communities, and many more ''harsit'' were ordained as deacons to improve this population's relationship with the Church.