weldherwings
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we are abraham's people
the backstory.
In 1910, Moon Ji-U stood before his Presbyterian Church and declared with great vigour that we were all sons and daughters of Abraham. The room roared, exploding into songs of worship and praise. This was his crystallizing moment where he saw his future before him. Brothers and sisters, coming side by side of each other and living out the promises that their Lord had planned out for each one of them. But there was something in the way: society.
Japan had just effectively annexed Korea with the Japan-Korea Treaty, and the Japanese were starting to take the arable land. Ji-U could sense that something bigger was going to come; something much worse. So, as he stood there making his declarations, he put through his plan. They were all to sell all their belongings; sell every piece of material possession they had of this world. And that they would move into the land. They would build their own houses, hunt, grow their food, and start their own community; live the way that God had intended for them to live.
This was the beginning of Abrahamโs People Community.
Over the span of one hundred years, four generations of families lived within Abrahamโs People Community. No electricity, no running water, no cars, and absolutely no contact with the outside world. Those who lived in the outside world were corrupt, evil, and were not humans. Abrahamโs People were the only humans left on this Earth and were replaced with the Enemy in accordance with Moon Ji-Uโs teachings. That was the reason why they stayed in this town they have created for themselves.
The boys of the town spend their day at school and their free time learning how to hunt with the older men and discovering the land that they grow their crops on. The girls, however, spend their days learning how to be housewives, being educated on how to clean the house top to bottom, cook mouth-watering feasts, and how to please their future husbands. A womanโs role in the world was to bear children and to submit to her husband. The manโs role was to provide for the family and protect. This is why it was so important to whom your spouse was to be.
Every Daeboreum (The first full moon of the year; Day 15 of the Month 1), Moon Chin-Mae โ the leader of Abrahamโs People, which was passed down to him from his father โ pairs up the selected singles within the town to be married. If you were between the ages of twenty-one and twenty-four, you were eligible. Chin-Mae has the final say in whom is matched with whom, whether people like it or not. After all, he was the chosen messenger from God. This year Daeboreum is quite special, for Chin-Maeโs only son โ the future leader of Abrahamโs People โ was to be wed to a special someone. And once he was wedded, he would then be told all of the family secrets; to become the next leader of the people.
"For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another."
Romans 12:4-5
Romans 12:4-5
The outside world: The community has zero contact with the outside world. For beyond the mountains, theyโve been told that hell has been raised from the pits of the Earth. The only thing keeping their community safe is their prayers, pure way of living, and their yearly virgin sacrifice. Abrahamโs People believe that those who are outside beyond the mountains are mutated demons, living in sin and burning for eternity.
Saved ones: Every year, a team of missionaries do go beyond the mountain. They are a selected special team whose mission is to go and find any survivors to bring them back into the community. Those who are found are brought to a quarantine facility on top of the mountains and stay there for six months where they are purified of the sin and demons of the world. Once ready, they are introduced into the community. Abrahamโs People do not ask them of their past, for their new life here is whatโs important.
Clothing: The common theme within the communityโs clothing is plainness. Clothing should not draw attention to the wearer in any way, including cut, colour, or features. Women are expected to wear long ankle-length dresses with a pinafore apron, while men are expected to wear trousers, overalls, and button up shirts. Instead of buttons, zippers or Velcro, dress clothing is fastened by hook-and-eye closures or straight pins. Snaps are used on everyday clothing, but plain buttons are used for work shirts and trousers. Colours are limited, kept in a monochrome and beige palette. All clothing is created by the housewives for their families.
Pinafore aprons are always worn for the daughters of Abraham. A white apron indicates that someone is unmarried and pure. A grey or beige apron suggests that the daughter is married.
Both men and woman are not allowed to cut their hair until the week leading up to their marriage. Therefore, it is quite common for everyone under the age of twenty-one to have long hair. Only during their wedding preparations are they allowed to have it cut, and it must be by the man of the house. Once cut by the man of the house, and once married, women and men are allowed to continue cutting their hair. However, it must always be the man of the house who cuts it for them. This includes beards for men.
Schooling: Only men attend school and acquire an education. They begin schooling from the age of four, and finish at the age of eighteen. Abrahamโs People believe that the men of this word should be educated so they could continue to spread the word of the Lord. In their classes, they learn the necessary subjects such as maths, English and selective science lessons. They also have two hours of religious study every day and will have various classes through out the week on how to hunt, build, and farm. They learn about the land that they live on, and the structure of the community.
Music: Singing is a major part of their church services. Their songs are sacred hymns, and often are over ten minutes long. These hymns are monophonic, with a meter and no harmony. Instruments are not played in public as singing is done unaccompanied.
Modern technology: As far as the community is concerned, there is no technology. Electricity, cars, gas โ you name it, it doesnโt exist. Everything is done by hand and through hard work. They live off the land and by their own whims.
The birds and the bees: Women are forbidden to know anything in regards to the birds and the bees. Men only find out about how children are made the night prior to their wedding. Abraham's People believe that if they have such access to this information while unwed, or without a husband, then it would lead to temptation and sin. Daughters are not educated about their menstrual cycle until they start their first period. However, it is between daughter and mother and no one else as menstruation was the outcome of Eve's sin.
Religious texts: Only the man of the house is allowed (and able to) read these texts. He then has the responsibility to share these texts with their families and the community. The two texts in which they read from are The Bible (King James Version) and "Unity" written by their founder, Moon Ji-U.
the life of abraham's daughters.
The purpose of each daughterโs life within the community of Abrahamโs People is to provide for her family by being submissive to her husband, tending to the house courses, and giving birth and raising the next generation. These women are taught from the moment that they enter into this world their sole purpose in life is to ensure the community lives. While the sons are the men of the household, it is the women who run it.
the routine.
5:30 am โ Wake up and get dressed. Mothers wake up their daughters as they are to assist with breakfast and preparing clothes for the men of the house for the day. A trip out to the chickens to retrieve the eggs before itโs time to create breakfast for the whole family.
7:00 am โ Breakfast is served with a morning prayer led by the man of the house.
7:30 am โ Breakfast is finished and cleaned.
8:00 am โ The mothers and daughters walk their sons to school, and walk back home afterwards. If needed, they will pick up items from the shop
9:00 am โ Attend to the animals of the household (sheep, chickens, horses) to ensure they have hay and a clean stable.
10:00 am โ Start preparing for lunch
11:00 am โ Lunch is served; men of the house come home for lunch.
12:00 pm โ Lunch is packed away and cleaned up. The kitchen is tidied.
1:00 pm โ Washing clothes and linen, putting them out to dry also.
4:00 pm โ Mothers and daughters walk back to the school to pick up the sons.
4:30 pm โ Preparation for dinner.
6:00 pm โ Dinner is served
7:00 pm โ Dinner is packed away with table and kitchen cleaned.
8:00 pm โ Man of the house educates the children on their religious texts; will read bible stories to them also.
8:30 pm โ Time for bed.
the life of abraham's sons.
It is the menโs purpose in life to protect their family and community and to spread the word of the Lord. They are the head of the household and make all the decisions to ensure their family and community is safe and only focus on their purpose in life. Only men can go to school, and they are the ones a part of the workforce. Within the workforce, they can pick to become hunters (those who go into the mountains to hunt for deer and other meats), growers (those who are farmers), creators (those who build), essentials (those who are doctors and teachers), and finally, the Higher Council (those who work alongside with the Leader, helping to make decisions for the community).
the routine.
6:30 am โ Wake up and get dressed.
7:00 am โ Breakfast is served with a morning prayer led by the man of the house.
7:30 am โ Preparation for their day โ packing bags and wagons for items they need.
8:00 am โ The mothers and daughters walk their sons to school. The fathers and older men head off to work.
8:30 am โ Work and school start
10:30 am โ The men go and collect the sons from school to come home for lunch.
11:00 am โ Lunch is served; men of the house come home for lunch.
11:45 pm โ The men bring their sons back to school.
12:00 pm โ Work and school commence once again.
4:00 pm โ The sons finish school. They complete their homework between 3:00 pm and 4:00 pm at school. Then, they are picked up by their mothers and the daughters and brought home.
4:30 pm โ Sons are allowed free play. They often meet up with the other boys that live nearby and play together in the fields.
5:00 pm โ The men finish work
6:00 pm โ Dinner is served
7:00 pm โ Sons and Fathers spend time together tending to any maintenance that the daughters and wives could not do themselves during the day.
8:00 pm โ Man of the house educates the children on their religious texts; will read bible stories to them also.
8:30 pm โ Time for bed.
important festivals.
Seollal โ The second new moon after the winter solstice โ The first day of the Chinese lunar calendar: This is one of the most important traditional holidays for Abrahamโs People. The two days leading up to the big day, there is a festival on in celebration for everything the Lord has done. It is during this festival that the Leader and his helpers are on the search for the perfect virgin sacrifice to offer.
On the day of the new moon, families are encouraged to slaughter their best animal on their farm (sheep, chicken, cow etc). Using the blood of the animal, they then smear it onto the door for protection. The families then cook the slaughtered animal for a dinner. Once dinner is finished, the Leader then announces to the community who is this years sacrifice; something which is seen as the highest honour in the community, above the Leader. The sacrifice is laid onto the sacrificial table and the community retreats back into their homes. If the sacrifice fights against being chosen, there is great shame brought to the family and often the whole family is punished for the actions of the child.
Once itโs dark and everyone is inside, the demon known as Bulgasari emerges from the woods. Bulgasari is a frightening monster that protects the village in exchange for a virgin sacrifice every year. Once before the sacrifice, he will kill them and bring their body back into the woods with them. The community is able to watch the whole ritual from the safety of their homes, knowing that they are protected from Bulgasari because of the blood seals on their doors.
Daeboreum โ 1st full moon of the lunar year: A week after the sacrifice, the Leader then announces the selected adults who will be wed for Daeboreum. Those between the ages of twenty-one and twenty-four are eligible to be wed. If you are over the age of twenty-four and have not been selected, it is believed that the Leader has something else prepared for you (including sacrifices which are seen as the highest honour). Each adult is informed if they are going to be married, but are not told who they are marrying. In the lead up to the wedding, there are ongoing celebrations. Men and women split up for the week as they celebrate their children becoming husband and wives.
For the men:
Day one โ Head down to Lake Gayeo, clothed in white, where they receive a kiss and blessing on the forehead by every man in the community. Once they have received this, the Leader then baptises them in the lake.Day two โ They will receive their first haircuts from their fathers or the man of the house.
Day three โ Will start preparations for the wedding by creating the stages and any large woodwork needed to be done.
Day four โ They are fitted for their clothing for the wedding.
Day five โ All the men of the community go out into the forest and camp for the next two days while the women start all the finishing touches for the wedding.
Day six โ Those who are to be wed are invited into a campfire circle with the wise elders, who educate them on their duties as a man and how to create babies with their wives.
Day seven โ The wedding; they finally find out who they will be marrying.
For the women:
Day one โ Head down to Lake Alyeong, clothed in white, where they receive a kiss and blessing on the forehead by every woman in the community. Once they have received this, the Leaderโs wife, Mother Supreme, then baptises them in the lake.Day two โ They will receive their first haircuts from their fathers or the man of the house.
Day three โ They are fitted for their dresses for the wedding.
Day four โ Will spend the day collecting wildflowers for the wedding and to create their flower crowns.
Day five โ Will start decorating the village for the wedding
Day six โ Each household will spend the day preparing the food for the large festival which will be shared amongst the community.
Day seven โ The wedding; they finally find out who they will be marrying.
Dano โ 5th day of the 5th lunar month: Dano, also known as a Spring Festival, is traditional holiday in which is celebration of the end of the sowing season. On this day, the babies born within the first year are brought forth at the festival and prayed for. These new mothers have their hair washed in water boiled with sweet flag (muskrat root) to make their hair shiny, and flowers are adorned in their hair with the belief that the aroma would repel evil spirits. The fathers wear iris roots around their waist to ward off the Enemy, and would hand them to the older males in the community once the festival finished (as these herbs, while wet with dew in the morning, is said to heal stomach-aches and wounds).
Chuseok: The end of the harvest. Chuseok is a special day as the saved ones who have spent their six months in quarantine are welcomed into the community. There is a large welcoming celebration, where families are shown around the village and educated.
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