The Dark Voice

The Religion of the Yuuzhan Vong

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Throughout history, various societies and cultures have developed religious mythos. The sheer variety of ideas and reasons are far too numerous to list, though other works on those concepts may be found elsewhere. This brief focuses on the religion of the Yuuzhan Vong, an extragalactic race. The Yuuzhan Vong’s history plays an important part of their religion. Because of their subjugation by an unknown technologically advanced race, whom they subsequently overthrew, the Yuuzhan Vong view mechanical technology as blasphemy. Another unique feature about the Yuuzhan Vong is that they are cut off from the Force. They cannot be perceived by the Force, nor are they able to touch the Force. Because of this, they perceive Force users to be the greatest of infidels. This article will seek to explain, as much as possible, the Yuuzhan Vong religion, including its origin, their perceptions of the universe, the concept of pain, how they conformed their society to fit within their religion, and the pantheon of gods worshipped by the Yuuzhan Vong.

The Origin
The Yuuzhan Vong appear to have always believe in deities. This is reflected by the fact that they come from a living planet, whose name, Yuuzhan'tar, can be translated into “Crèche of the Gods.” At the time existing within the Force, the Yuuzhan Vong appear to have interpreted the voice of the living planet as the voice (or voices) of their numerous gods. Deities appear to have existed for thousands of years (the Yuuzhan Vong are even uncertain about their origin), though the current pantheon is a far newer construction.

Sometime ago, the Yuuzhan Vong were invaded by two droid races who were engaged in their own war. Calling upon their gods, the Yuuzhan Vong eventually drove the invaders from their world. Having always used organic technology, the invasion of the two droid races ingrained in the minds of the Yuuzhan Vong that mechanical technology was blasphemous. Inspired by their success against the invaders, and with religious zeal, the now warlike Yuuzhan Vong set out to destroy all mechanical technology and the infidels who used it.

However, the modern interpretation of the deities came about when the Yuuzhan Vong were cut off from their living planet. After conquering much of their home galaxy, the Yuuzhan Vong fell into what is best described as a civil war, ultimately destroying their galaxy, and their homeworld. The living planet cut the Yuuzhan Vong off from the Force. This caused the Yuuzhan Vong a great deal of pain, so the Yuuzhan Vong adopted the idea that the only way to restore their connection was to experience pain.

Pain
As previously noted, the Yuuzhan Vong experienced a great deal of pain when their once living planet, in a final act, cut them off from the Force. It is hard for Force users to understand this, though history has several examples of Force users being stripped of their connection to the Force. The Jedi Exile comes to the mind of many. Because of the pain they suffered, the Yuuzhan Vong made pain a central part of their religious dogma. The word “masochist” is perhaps the best description of the race.

The cutting off from the Force was certainly the psychological factor that made pain a part of the Yuuzhan Vong way of life. However, physiologically, the Yuuzhan Vong possess very sensitive nervous systems, which means that they feel external stimuli of any kind much more so than most other sentient races. Psychology and physiology were thus melded together by the Yuuzhan Vong, resulting in their lust for pain.

The Yuuzhan Vong engage in organ grafting as a major part of their religious experience of pain. Not only do they believe that feeling the physical pain will bring them closer to reestablishing their connection, but they use the organ grafts to augment and improve their physical bodies. Thus, they are capable of dealing greater pain to their enemies.

Perceptions of the Universe
It is common practice for societies and cultures to take their beliefs and apply them to the universe at large. The Yuuzhan Vong are no exception and they carry their message through the sword. They believe that they are on a holy crusade to rid the universe of mechanical technology and those infidels who use and create it. Those beings that can feel and wield the Force are seen as the most blasphemous of all infidels. This undoubtedly results from the fact that the Yuuzhan Vong are cut off from the Force.

The Pantheon
The Yuuzhan Vong have several deities, to which they are highly devoted. As with many polytheistic religions, each god has his or her own role to play in making society whole. They are as follows:

  • Yun-Yuuzhan: the Creator; only the Supreme Overlord has direct contact
  • Yun-Harla: the Trickster; the Cloaked Goddess; the Goddess of deception and aggression, she represents the political caste.
  • Yun-Yammka: the Slayer; the God of War, he is worshipped by the warrior caste. He was created by the priest caste as the Yuuzhan Vong became warlike.
  • Yun-Ne'Shel: the Modeler; she oversees natural life cycles and is worshipped by the Shaper caste.
  • Yun-Txiin and Yun-Q'aah: The Lovers and twins; these two ensure that relationships remain within one’s own caste. Twins are also revered in Yuuzhan Vong society, as they are born rarely.
  • Yun-Shuno: With 1000 eyes, this deity watches over and speaks for the Shamed Ones, as no other deity will.
Conclusion
The Yuuzhan Vong are a very religious race, driven by a unique combination of history, psychology, and even physiology. They are, in every definition of the word, zealous religious fundamentalists. Their entire society is predicated upon the precepts of their religion. While this in and of itself is not necessarily a bad thing, their exporting of this religion is the main concern to those outside Yuuzhan Vong society. The Great Doctrine of the Yuuzhan Vong states that they are superior to the other races. They seek to eliminate mechanical technology, and those who use it. They make no distinction between those who use mechanical technology “a lot” versus “a little.”

The Yuuzhan Vong are warlike, fanatical, and willing to withstand a great deal of physical pain, or inflict that pain on others.