Jaatunism

Jaatunism (from Middle Menneferian jtn, ‘celestial disk, ’), known as Zhoosyirut in Remunmenni, is a henotheistic Mauthinic religion from Mennefer teaching that the God of Light, Jaatun, commonly represented as a solar disk with protruding handed rays, is the creator and upholder of life and Supreme Being. It is one of the world’s major religions with over 500 million followers, known as Zhoos (‘illuminated’).

Orthodox Jaatunism divides the universe into two dualistic halves, the free reality and the unfree reality. These realities are independent of each other, but also incomplete. Jaatun inhabits both realities, the only Being to do so, and is almighty, eternal, always existing, everlasting, all-knowing, and compassionate. The purpose of Jaatunist practice is to liberate the soul and body from their separation and become one with the Supreme Being; prostration upon the sun is the main part of prayer.

The formation of Jaatunism dates back to Maithun, a man who lived in Mennefer around 1100 BCE; he is considered a prophet by Jaatunism, Sabbatarianism and several other religions. Maithun did not assign any special importance to Jaatun, but by the time his teachings officially replaced the traditional religion as Mennefer’s state religion in 191 BCE, Maithun’s message of a Divine Light upon mankind had come to be associated with the disk of the sun, Jaatun’s physical representation. The adoption of Jaatunism was a turning point in Menneferian history as it is a universal religion to be followed by all, very much unlike the traditional religion’s Menneferian exclusivity.

Jaatunism is primarily found in Napsal and Central Yoju, being the most common religion in Mennefer and several other countries. Immigration and cultural exchange has brought Zhoos to all corners of the world, and Jaatunist philosophy and art have significantly influenced those of the surrounding region and beyond.

Etymology
The term Jaatunism means “worship of Jaatun”, a word originally covering any celestial disk (like the sun or the moon) visible in the sky. It is a common moniker for the faith in many languages, but is not used in Remunmenni, which prefers Zhoosyirut instead. Zhoosyirut comes from zhoos yi rut, translating word for word as “illuminated is the gate” (written šsp y rwt).