A denomination of Astronism, also referred to as an Astronist denomination, is classified as a form of Astronism characteristic of a particular region or ethnic group that interpreted Astronism in way that often corresponds to Institutional Astronism but may also hold differences due to the effects of syncretisation.

A denomination is a designation provided to a distinct group of followers of Millettarian Philosophy that identify under a common name, usually in alignment with their mother tongue, and although they may share different practices and beliefs that are common amongst their denomination, a denomination must not be confused with a tradition, a movement, or the non-Millettarian definition of a denomination which is markedly more defined and autonomously governed than a denomination within Astronism.

Examples of denominations within Astronism include Hanazavaism (Madagascan Astronism),  Bamphluism (Cambodian Astronism), and Tanwirism (Arab Astronism) which are expected to hold different concepts and practices, primarily due to differences in translation and meaning, but their classification stills remains as part of The Philosophy of Millettism despite their dissociation with the terms of Astronism and Millettarian. Crucially, denominations of Astronism still remain under the direct jurisdiction of The Institution of The Philosophy of Millettism which is also defining factor between the Millettarian definition of a denomination and the non-Millettarian definition.

Terminology

Vicinality

Main article: Vicinality

Vicinality is a term that originated in the Omnidoxy and it has been used ever since to denote when something, especially a denomination, is in direct relations and cooperation with the Astronist Institution. A vicinal entity is therefore one that is in mutual relations with The Institution and is also recognised by The Institution for it claims to be.

The opposite of the state of vicinality is that which is known as avicinality. An avicinal entity is one which does not hold relations or is in anyway in cooperation with the Astronist Institution and is therefore not recognised by The Institution for whatever it claims to be. Often, avicinality is associated with being a sect of Astronism, but to be avicinal is not just to disagree with The Institution, but that it is to disregard its proprietorship over Astronism as vested by Cometan in the Omnidoxy.

Denomination

In the context of Astronism, the term denomination holds a different meaning than it does in wider religious study. A denomination is a form of Astronism that exists as a collection of beliefs and practices distinct from Institutional Astronism often by differences in language, but is not institutionally or organisationally separate from the Astronist Institution and is therefore still considered as being part of Astronism.

Essentially, a denomination may hold different terms, practices, and beliefs different from those espoused by Institutional Astronism, but organisationally, the denomination maintains the proprietorship of the Astronist Institution over Astronism. Astronist denominations often comprise of a number of subdenominations which are most often associated with particular countries and ethnic groups.

Subdenomination

Main article: Subdenomination

A subdenomination in Astronism is a collectivity of beliefs and practices associated with a particular group that are classified as being part of a wider denomination by Astronist scholarship and also maintain the proprietorship of the Astronist Institution over Astronism.

Sect

Main article: Sect of Astronism

A sect of Astronism differs from a denomination in that a sect is an established organisation separate from the Astronist Institution and does not maintain that the proprietorship of the Astronist Institution is true often coupled with claims that its own organisation is the true proprietor over Astronism. Often, sects also hold fundamentally different beliefs and understandings of Astronism from those upheld by the Astronist Institution, especially when such differences stretch beyond differences in terminology.

Approaches

Denominationalism

Main article: Denominationalism

Denominationalism is a person's particular adherence to an Astronist denomination, particularly a national or ethnic form of Astronism, but especially in such a way that their adherence to that denomination overrides their adherence, identification and affiliation with wider Astronism.

Adenominationalism

Main article: Adenominationalism

Adenominationalism is the belief that no particular denomination of Astronism, including Institutional Astronism itself, holds legitimacy to say that they are the true manifestation or form of Astronism and so disregards all claims of proprietorship and superiority of denominations and sects.

Non-denominationalism

Main article: Non-denominationalism

Non-denominationalism is the belief that all denominations of Astronism and even all Astronist sects hold legitimacy in their claims to represent a true form of Astronism as long as their beliefs are logically justified and they respect every other group's legitimacy as their beliefs are also logically justified and are open to rational challenge. Adenominationalism is a manifestation of the Philosophical Spirit and can be considered as a form of placation to minimise differences between denominations and sects in order to attain unity amongst all forms and approaches to Astronism.

Transnational denominations

Main article: Taxonomy of Astronism, List of Astronist denominations

Another aspect of importance to note is that the terms below are used only for internally by the Astronist Institution to refer to different regions of the worldwide. These denominational terms are not used by the people to refer to Astronism.

Astronism denomination

In the context of the study of Astronism according to its denominations, the term Astronism itself denotes only the English version of the religion. The denomination of Astronism largely refers to the English-speaking world, but it remains important to note that the term Astronism is used in all tiritive and promulgative materials produced by the Astronist Institution no matter the difference in terminology used in a particular country as an alternative to the word Astronism.

• (United States, American Samoa, Antigua, Australia, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Botswana, United Kingdom, Bermuda, Anguilla, Cayman Islands, Falkland Islands, Isle of Man, Montserrat, Canada, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Grenada, Guam, Guyana, Irish, Jamaica, Kiribati, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Malta, Samoa, France and all French territories, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Monaco, Nauru, New Zealand, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Saint Helena, Saint Lucia, Seychelles, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Haiti, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Wallis and Futuna)

Dà Qǐshì

Main article: Dà Qǐshì

• (Mongolia, China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macau and Chinese diaspora)

Illuminazionism

Main article: Illuminazionism

• (Italy, San Marino, Vatican City)

Iluminacism

Main article: Iluminacism

• (Spain, Andorra, Portugal, as well as Angola, Mozambique, Peru, Brazil, Bolivia, Uruguay, Paraguay, Argentina, Chile, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, Cuba, Panama, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico, Cuba, Puerto Rico, Cape Verde, and São Tomé and Príncipe)

Panafrism

Main article: Panafrism

• All sub-saharan Africa

Prosvecism

Main article: Prosvecism

• (Russia, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Abkhazia, Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Serbia, Croatia, Slovenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Macedonia, Kosovo, Bulgaria, Albania, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania)

Saamism

Main article: Saamism

• South Asian Astronism –– (Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, and all forms of Indian Astronism)

Setarism

Main article: Setarism

• (Iranian Astronism, Afghan Astronism, and all forms of Pakistani Astronism)

Tanwirism

Main article: Tanwirism

• the Arab world

Verlinism

Main article: Verlinism

• (Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Denmark, Greenland, Netherlands, Belgium, Finland, Sweden, Norway, South Africa, Namibia, Lesotho, Faroe Islands, Aubra, Bonaire, Curaçao, Suriname and Iceland)

Vũism

Main article: Vũism

• South East Asian Astronism (Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Philippines, Indonesia, Brunei)

National denominations

Main article: Astronism by country

• Evrenism – Turkey
• Astérismós - Greece and Cyprus
• Hanazavaism - Madagascar
• Cheonmungyo - Korea
• אסטרוניזם – Israel
• Asutoronkyō - Japan
• Astronîzm - Kurdistan