Doctrines

Each faith has a large number of doctrines. Doctrines determine what is allowed and what is forbidden within a faith.

Main doctrines

Main doctrines determine the rules of the faith itself and have a considerable impact on how the realm is governed.

Category	Doctrine	Effects	Max piety cost	Requirements
View on Gender	Male Dominated	Enables the Male Only and Male Preference succession laws Claims of women can only be pressed against other women, children or incapable rulers Women do not get implicit claims Women cannot be granted titles Women cannot become commanders and knights Only men and vassals can be appointed chancellor, marshal or steward −10 Opinion of female rulers	300 if  Male Dominated 600 if  Equal 900 if  Female Dominated	None
	Equal	Enables the Male Preference, Equal and Female Preference succession laws	600 if  Male Dominated 300 if  Equal 600 if  Female Dominated	None
	Female Dominated	Enables the Female Only and Female Preference succession laws Claims of men can only be pressed against other men, children or incapable rulers Men do not get implicit claims Men cannot be granted titles Men cannot become commanders and knights Only women and vassals can be appointed chancellor, marshal or steward −10 Opinion of male rulers	900 if  Male Dominated 600 if  Equal 300 if  Female Dominated	None
Religious Attitude	Fundamentalist	+20% County conversion speed +100% Opinion penalties with other adherents of other faiths +100% Heresy risk Counties of other faiths are more likely to join factions Can revoke landed titles from adherents of a hostile or evil faith without incurring tyranny	200 if  Fundamentalist 400 if  Righteous 600 if  Pluralist	None
	Righteous	Can revoke landed titles from adherents of an evil faith without incurring tyranny	400 if  Fundamentalist 200 if  Righteous 400 if  Pluralist	None
	Pluralist	−20% County conversion speed −50% Opinion penalties with other adherents of other faiths −50% Heresy risk Counties of other faiths are less likely to join factions Winning a holy war will vassalize rulers of other faiths instead of seizing their titles	600 if  Fundamentalist 400 if  Righteous 200 if  Pluralist	None
Clerical Tradition	Theocratic	Enables the Realm Priest council position Temple holdings must be leased	200 if  Theocratic 600 if  Lay Clergy	Temporal Head of Faith
	Lay Clergy	Enables the Court Chaplain council position	600 if  Theocratic 200 if  Lay Clergy	None
Head of Faith	None	Fervor cannot go below 25% Faith does not have a head of faith	200 if  None 400 if  Spiritual 400 if  Temporal	None
	Spiritual	−500 Piety when declaring war against own head of faith The head of faith title is given to a prominent clergy member The head of faith can grant  gold and  pressed claims on landed titles	600 if  None 300  Spiritual 600  Temporal	None
	Temporal	−100 Piety when declaring war against own Head of Faith The head of faith title is given to the reformer of the faith, or created at a cost of piety once they control a holy site, and passed on to the primary heir as long as they have the same faith If the faith has great holy wars, the head of faith can choose its target	1000 if  None 1000 if  Spiritual 500 if  Temporal	Theocratic clerical tradition
Muhammad's Succession	Sunni	Considers faiths with the same doctrine to be astray	0 if  Sunni 200 if any other	Muslim religion
	Shia	Considers faiths with the same doctrine to be astray	0 if  Shia 200 if any other	Muslim religion
	Muhakkima	Considers faiths with the same doctrine to be astray	0 if  Muhakkima 200 if any other	Muslim religion
	Zandaqa	+5 Advantage against enemies of the same religion	0 if  Zandaqa 200 if any other	Muslim religion
Ecumenism	Ecumenism	Considers faiths with the same doctrine to be astray	N/A	Cannot be chosen for a custom religion

Marriage doctrines

Marriage doctrines determine who a character can marry, when can they marry or divorce, and the status of children born out of formal relationships.

Category	Doctrine	Effects	Max piety cost	Description
Marriage type	Monogamous	Characters can have one spouse An event when first marrying gives a choice between  +350 prestige or a scaled amount of  gold	200 if Monogamous 400 if Polygamous 400 if Consorts & Concubines	Marriage is a sacred bond between two individuals. Attempting to form such a bond with multiple people at once is sacrilege.
	Polygamous	Characters can have up to four spouses, of which one is primary Having fewer spouses than required by the primary title rank incurs a  piety penalty (−0.25 per month, plus −0.25 per missing spouse)	400 if Monogamous 200 if Polygamous 400 if Consorts & Concubines	Since marriage is a holy union, having multiple marriages is clearly more holy than having just a single marriage — so long as each marriage is holy in and of itself.
	Consorts & Concubines	Characters can have one spouse Rulers can have up to three (male) consorts or (female) concubines	400 if Monogamous 400 if Polygamous 200 if Consorts & Concubines	Marriage is a sacred bond, but as long as their spouse takes priority one may be permitted to have concubines or consorts to engage with as well.
Divorce	Disallowed	Characters cannot divorce	100 if Disallowed 200 if Must be Approved 300 if Always Allowed	The vows of marriage are final and binding. Only death may do us part.
	Must be Approved	If there is a spiritual head of faith, characters require its approval to divorce If there is no spiritual head of faith, characters require the approval of the house head to divorce	200 if Disallowed 100 if Must be Approved 200 if Always Allowed	While the bonds of marriage should not be taken lightly, extenuating circumstances can sometimes make divorce a necessity.
	Always Allowed	Characters can spend  100 piety to divorce	300 if Disallowed 200 if Must be Approved 100 if Always Allowed	Marriage is merely a partnership between two people, and like all partnerships, can be ended at will.
Bastardry	No Bastards	Children born outside marriage or concubinage have the Wild Oat trait	200 if No Bastards 400 if Legitimization 600 if No Legitimization	Blood determines lineage, not marriage. Children born out of wedlock are just as legitimate as any other.
	Legitimization	Children born outside marriage or concubinage have the  Bastard trait House Heads can legitimize characters with the  Bastard trait, replacing it with  Legitimized Bastard	400 if No Bastards 200 if Legitimization 400 if No Legitimization}}	Marriage is holy, so children born outside of it must be blessed in another way if they are to be considered legitimate.
	No Legitimization	Children born outside marriage or concubinage have the  Bastard trait	600 if No Bastards 400 if Legitimization 200 if No Legitimization	The bonds of marriage are sacrosanct, and children born outside of wedlock will always be illegitimate.
Consanguinity	Close-kin Taboo	Characters cannot marry family members Characters having sexual relations with family members gain the Incest secret	300 if Close-kin Taboo 600 if Cousin Marriage 900 if Avunculate Marriage 1200 if Unrestricted Marriage	It is a sin to permit two relatives to marry each other or engage in sexual relationships.
	Cousin Marriage	Characters can marry cousins, but not close family members, uncles, aunts, nephews, or nieces Characters having sexual relations with family members, except cousins, gain the Incest secret	600 if Close-kin Taboo 300 if Cousin Marriage 600 if Avunculate Marriage 900 if Unrestricted Marriage	Cousins may be related, but distantly enough that it is acceptable for them to marry in order to preserve their lineage.
	Avunculate Marriage	Characters cannot marry close family members (parents or grandparents, children or grandchildren, or siblings) Characters having sexual relations with close family members gain the Incest secret	900 if Close-kin Taboo 600 if Cousin Marriage 300 if Avunculate Marriage 600 if Unrestricted Marriage	As long as they are not directly related, family members are permitted to marry each other for the good of the dynasty.
	Unrestricted Marriage	Characters can marry family members	1200 if Close-kin Taboo 900 if Cousin Marriage 600 if Avunculate Marriage 300 if Unrestricted Marriage	It is natural and healthy for family members to love each other, and those who say that love should be restricted to non-sexual relationships are fools.

Crime doctrines

Crime doctrines determine whether certain acts are accepted, shunned or  crimes. Shunned activity gives rise to secrets that can be blackmailed for a  weak hook, while criminal activity gives rise to secrets that can be blackmailed for a  strong hook. Exposing such a secret gives the relevant characters a negative fame trait, and causes them to lose a level of  devotion and  opinion with all characters who consider the activity shunned or criminal.

Category	Trait	Doctrine	Max piety cost	Description
Same-Sex Relations	Sodomite	Criminal	200 if Criminal 400 if Shunned 600 if Accepted	The sinful desires of sodomites are a danger to society itself, so they shall be punished and locked away for their transgressions
		Shunned	400 if Criminal 200 if Shunned 400 if Accepted	It is unnatural for two men to engage in sexual relations with one another, regardless of the circumstances.
		Accepted	600 if Criminal 400 if Shunned 200 if Accepted	Love transcends physicality into something so profound and wondrous that it cannot be restricted by mere gender.
Male Adultery	Adulterer (if criminal)  Fornicator (if shunned)	Criminal	200 if Criminal 400 if Shunned 600 if Accepted	It is a crime for men to engage in intercourse outside of marriage, and they shall be punished accordingly.
		Shunned	400 if Criminal 200 if Shunned 400 if Accepted	It is sinful for men to engage in intercourse outside of marriage, but like all sins it is the divine who must judge them for their failings.
		Accepted	600 if Criminal 400 if Shunned 200 if Accepted	There is nothing inherently wrong about a man deciding to engage in intercourse outside of marriage, so the decision is his alone.
Female Adultery	Adulterer (if criminal)  Fornicator (if shunned)	Criminal	200 if Criminal 400 if Shunned 600 if Accepted	It is a crime for women to engage in intercourse outside of marriage, and they shall be punished accordingly.
		Shunned	400 if Criminal 200 if Shunned 400 if Accepted	It is sinful for women to engage in intercourse outside of marriage, but like all sins it is the divine who must judge them for their failings.
		Accepted	600 if Criminal 400 if Shunned 200 if Accepted	There is nothing inherently wrong about a woman deciding to engage in intercourse outside of marriage, so the decision is hers alone.
Deviancy	Deviant	Criminal	100 if Criminal 200 if Shunned 300 if Accepted	It is clear that there is only one proper way to love another. Any deviations from that form are sinful and should be punished.
		Shunned	200 if Criminal 100 if Shunned 200 if Accepted	There are some sexual practices which are simply abnormal and strange. It stands to reason that people with those desires are equally abnormal and strange.
		Accepted	300 if Criminal 200 if Shunned 100 if Accepted	Love is beautiful and sacred, no matter the form it takes. Everyone should be permitted to love and do as thou wilt.
Witchcraft	Witch	Criminal	100 if Criminal 200 if Shunned 300 if Accepted	Only the divine have the right to work miracles on this earth. Any who make profane attempts to do the same shall be punished for their hubris and arrogance.
		Shunned	200 if Criminal 100 if Shunned 200 if Accepted	The divine have the rightful jurisdiction over supernatural forces in this world, so any attempt to coerce those forces into obeying a mortal's will is inherently misguided.
		Accepted	300 if Criminal 200 if Shunned 100 if Accepted	Magic fills the world around us, and it is our right and our privilege to engage with it the way our ancestors did.
Kinslaying	Kinslayer (close family)  Familial Kinslayer (family)  Dynastic Kinslayer (neither, but within dynasty)	Dynastic is Criminal	200 if Dynastic is Criminal 400 if Familial is Criminal 600 if Close Kin is Criminal 800 if Shunned 1000 if Accepted	All kin are bound by blood, and to kill even a distant relative is a grievous crime against the entire dynasty. Such transgressions will not be forgotten.
		Familial is Criminal	400 if Dynastic is Criminal 200 if Familial is Criminal 400 if Close-kin is Criminal 600 if Shunned 800 if Accepted	The murder of one's own family is one of the most abhorrent crimes one can commit. Anyone who does such a thing will be severely punished.
		Close-kin is Criminal	600 if Dynastic is Criminal 400 if Familial is Criminal 200 if Close Kin is Criminal 400 if Shunned 600 if Accepted	Fratricide and acts like it can not be tolerated in a just and righteous society. Those who commit such offenses will be punished.
		Shunned	800 if Dynastic is Criminal 600 if Familial is Criminal 400 if Close-kin is Criminal 200 if Shunned 400 if Accepted	While it is appalling to murder one's own relatives, such acts are not inherently more criminal than any other murder.
		Accepted	1000 if Dynastic is Criminal 800 if Familial is Criminal 600 if Close-kin is Criminal 400 if Shunned 200 if Accepted	The murder of one's family is no different from any other murder, and shall be treated in the same way.

Clerical doctrines

Clerical doctrines have various effects that only apply to court chaplains, realm priests, temple holders, and characters with the  Monk trait.

Category	Doctrine	Effects	Max piety cost	Description
Clerical Function	Control	+20% Clergy control growth	100 if Control 200 if Alms and Pacification 200 if Recruitment	The priest derives its authority from the divine, and that still applies here on Earth.
	Alms and Pacification	+10 Clergy popular opinion -5% Clergy domain taxes	200 if Control 100 if Alms and Pacification 200 if Recruitment	Our priests are entrusted with ensuring that the poor and downtrodden have sufficient food and shelter when they can not provide it for themselves.
	Recruitment	+2 Clergy prowess +30% Clergy levy reinforcement rate if same faith −3% Clergy domain taxes if same faith Members of the clergy can serve as commanders or knights	200 if Control 200 if Alms and Pacification 100 if Recruitment	Every able-bodied person has a duty to take up arms and defend our faith, and it is the responsibility of our priests to remind everyone of this.
Clerical Gender	Only Men	Women cannot be granted temple holdings or be appointed as court chaplains or realm priests	100 if Only Men 200 if Either 300 if Only Women	Only men can shoulder the great responsibility of serving as priests of our faith.
	Either	All characters can be granted temple holdings or be appointed as court chaplains or realm priests	200 if Only Men 100 if Either 200 if Only Women	Anyone who has felt the call of the divine should be able to serve as a priests, no matter their gender.
	Only Women	Men cannot be granted temple holdings or be appointed as court chaplains or realm priests	300 if Only Men 200 if Either 100 if Only Women	Only women are wise enough interpret the divine will and serve as priestesses of our faith.
Clerical Marriage	Allowed	Clergy members can marry	100 if Allowed 300 if Disallowed	Marriage is a holy institution, and priests should be able to take part in it just like any other faithful adherent.
	Disallowed	Clergy members cannot marry	300 if Allowed 100 if Disallowed	Becoming a priest means devoting one's life to the divine. It is inherently unfaithful to consider taking a mortal spouse in addition to that.
Clerical Appointment	Temporal, Revocable	Court chaplains and realm priests are appointed by the Liege Court chaplains and realm priests can be fired or replaced	300 if Temporal, Revocable 900 if Spiritual, Revocable 900 if Only Temporal, for Life 1350 if Only Spiritual, for Life	Priests are ultimately servants of the realm, and so should be able to be hired and fired by their liege as any other vassal.
	Spiritual, Revocable	Court chaplains and realm priests are appointed by the head of faith Court chaplains and realm priests can be fired or replaced	900 if Temporal, Revocable 300 if Spiritual, Revocable 1350 if Only Temporal, for Life 900 if Only Spiritual, for Life	While the head of faith should appoint all priests, secular rulers should still be able to fire those who fail them.
	Temporal, for Life	Court chaplains and realm priests are appointed by the liege Court chaplains and realm priests cannot be fired or replaced	900 if Temporal, Revocable 1350 if Spiritual, Revocable 300 if Only Temporal, for Life 900 if Only Spiritual, for Life	While a ruler should be able to select their own priests, their responsibilities are holy and sacred, and their appointment should not be subject to revocation.
	Spiritual, for Life	Court chaplains and realm priests are appointed by the head of faith Court chaplains and realm priests cannot be fired or replaced	1350 if Temporal, Revocable 900 if Spiritual, Revocable 900 if Temporal, for Life 300 if Spiritual, for Life	Priests are servants of the divine, and as representative of the divine, the choice that the head of faith makes for the position is final and absolute.

Special doctrines

Special doctrines are encountered on some faiths as an additional doctrine.

Doctrine	Effects	Faith	Description
Teachings of Jesus	Faiths with the Christian Syncretism tenet are considered hostile instead of evil +30 Opinion with faiths with the Christian Syncretism tenet	All Christian	There are those in the world who adhere to the teachings of Jesus without acknowledging his divinity. Though blasphemous, we should still show compassion to these misguided souls, as they may one day become converts to the true faith.
Teachings of the Prophet	Faiths with the Islamic Syncretism tenet are considered hostile instead of evil +30 Opinion with faiths with the Islamic Syncretism tenet	All Muslim	Although they do not follow all of the laws of the Prophet, there are some in this world who are more guided by the will of Allah than they know. With time, these half-converts may even give up their evil ways and become true members of the Ummah!
Teachings of Moses	Faiths with the Jewish Syncretism tenet are considered hostile instead of evil +30 Opinion with faiths with the Jewish Syncretism tenet	All Jewish	Not all among the gentility dwell in sin. There are those who respect God's chosen people, and these deserve a measure of our respect in turn.
Naked Priests	Priests and  Zealous characters do not wear clothes	Digambara	Our priests know that clothes entrap the spirit and prevent us from achieving true enlightenment. Only by shedding our garbs can we awaken our souls and experience The Tirthankaras' love.
Rightful Rulers of the World	−50% Holy war piety cost	Dharmic religion that enacts the Unite India decision	We are those who will usher in an era of peace and prosperity for all peoples. We are the rightful rulers of the world.
Full Tolerance	All faiths are considered Righteous	All (requires the Faith Tolerance game setting set to Full)	Everyone is free to choose their own faith. Our differences do not divide us, they make us stronger.

Notes

Mechanics