To understand our ways is to be only understood from the inside. This is because no outsider can look at us in an unbiased nature and form a certain just opinion. It seems that throughout or history we have been looked upon as citizens who have unrealistic visions and are a "menace" to the people around us. Though the people making these judgments have never found the truth faith with our members guiding them towards it. That is- how to achieve an eternal consciousness.
Many people simply ignore the preachings of our faith as mysticism and disregard it as they go about their daily lives. However, those people that have been touched by our teachings see their life drastically altered. We feel that through our teachings you too will be able to see the truth and then in turn be chosen to walk the path to eternal consciousness.
To simply answer the question above, the Society of the Aeternum is a group of individuals who together practice a long standing faith in Sirius that has been existent for hundreds of years and continues to practice in our current time. It would seem that enrollment corresponds to mass genocide because of various atrocities caused by humanity.
Why have I never heard of the Society of the Aeternum?
The biggest reason you may have never heard of the Society is because we have lived in shadow for many centuries here in Sirius. Particularly during the second or third centuries in Sirius, the Society began its teachings but restricted the amount of initiates because of the fear of government spies. Now that Sirius has immersed itself in conflict, the Society feels that it can no longer stay hidden as its practices are justified in a climate of mass human genocide which results in complete damage of humanity in all aspects.
In short, the practices of the Society that receive judgment are far less destructive then the wrath humanity incurs on itself.
What are some of the practices that receive "judgment?"
Because stereotyping is present in all of the lower types of people that inhabit Sirius, most of them are unable to make a decision on a group without forming some sort of bias. The Society receives constant threats about some of its practices because certain groups feel that they are "destructive" to our members.
To my knowledge, these people are referencing the blood rituals we take from the person until they almost die of a hypovolemic shock (due to the loss of blood viscosity). This ritual is sacred to us and we feel that it is essential for all of our members to participate. This is just one of our practices that is ridiculed.
Teachings:
Basic Ideas:
The Society is based around the idea that with death comes an immortal being in which you are able access if you are conscious of its existence. This revolves around the person completing various tasks that must lead a member to an assumption about humanity and how it interacts with itself and the galaxy. This must lead to a realization or epiphany that humanity cannot control itself and is therefore a hell that we commit ourselves to. Everyday struggles are made possible by the various biased decisions of people all around them, and suffering is all there is to show for it. The Society is one of the biggest opponents against war, however many argue the effectiveness of their protest when they perform public suicides in the name of the aeternum.
Many people after they have come close to death various times because of self torture say that they can feel the pain of the galaxy, which is believed to be in constant strife. Priests promise the members that if they follow the ideals of the religion, that they too can become part of the universe's existence and be a conscious being without form. This requires a lifetime of self torture and having a true realization about the universe. A graduate from the initiates is determined when the member is no longer afraid of death and realizes that it is in harmony with life in the galaxy. Then the initiate demonstrates this by then committing sacrifice in various fashions.
However, the sacrifice is not the climax of the religion. It is the realization that death and life are one. The suicide just provides for a door way between the two realms in which a person is able to enter their true and eternal form.
The Society is also highly invested in the fact that humanity cannot truly take care of itself. By coming to this conclusion the Society has begun in recent years allowing groups of people to join and earn their way to eternity. These mass sacrifices have become known as "the last great ship," drawing similarities between the sleeper ships that brought the Sirians here and the Society's own beliefs of a second life. It has been the hope in the last couple years that these people shall be saved as Sirius falls upon an eternal sleep itself. Certain officials question the goals of the group which aims to prove that the group intends to commit large murder itself. An Priest questioned on this simply responded, "If we were to do that, the casualties in destroying Sirius would be less than all the casualties of war if we would have allowed Sirius to continue on." This sparked controversy but the Society claimed that the worked published was a "hyperbole of our more radical beliefs" and an attempt "to limit free religion in the galaxy."
It's a good start, but I recommend you change the tag.. there was once an [SA] that did some rather.. stupid things until it reformed into the [LN]. Long time ago, but still.
Otherwise, it'll be interesting to see where this goes.