Racist Religion
The planet Kingston (Clement, Hub 0106) is ruled by a religious dictatorship based on a local religion called Caxtonism. This religion is based on the teachings of Ian Caxton.
Ian was a popular religious figure on Earth in the late 22nd century who said that God had spoken to him in the form of an angel of light called Tralixi. In 2172, Caxton had been working outside the lunar city of Huang when he was approached by the angel. Tralixi is said to have touched Caxton’s space suit and transferred a “Book of the Final Testament” into the memory of his suit.
This “Book of the Final Testament” was then copied by Ian and given away free across Earth, Luna and Mars. By 2210 and the opening of the Conduit, Caxtonism had gained millions of followers.
The “Final Testament” was a call for humans to reject all other philosophies and live by the “true laws of God”. The “Final Testament” essentially repeated the laws given in the book of Leviticus and added a few more that Tralixi said were “important to the modern age”.
Among these were a call for polygamy, a call for increased use of cyberware, a rejection of the false prophets (specifically mentioned are Christ, Muhammad, Joseph Smith, Elvis, Zorka and Murphy), a rejection of genetic engineering (with the exception of treatments with the aim of increasing longevity) a rejection of all animal uplift projects, and a ban of holography as type of graven image.
The Caxtonists spread their message across the solar system and, as the Zimm Drive allowed the colonization of other worlds, into the stars as well. Fourteen of the original German colonists who crossed the Conduit to Hub were Caxtonists.
Ian Caxton himself, at the age of 85, in 2225 crossed the Conduit to Hub with a colony ship full of followers. These followers were not met with enthusiasm by the German colony and the Caxtonists soon felt the need to leave.
A group of Britons had founded an independent colony at Kingston and several among the government were either followers or sympathetic to the Caxtonists. The government invited the Caxtonists to come from Hub to Kingston (Clement, Hub 0106) in 2227.
Kingston was soon overrun by Caxtonists coming to the “New Holy Land”. Soon, Kingston was commonly referred to as “the Caxtonist colony”.
The government of Kingston was a representative democracy. By 2239, the Caxtonists controlled a majority of the government. That same year, Ian Caxton was installed as the permanent leader of the colony. Caxton remained the leader of the world until his death in 2342. His trusted lieutenant Calvin Richmond assumed command and continued all of Caxton’s policies.
Most Caxtonists believe that Caxton was “taken by God” into heaven and that he speaks to them and influences their lives. This is also the official history as told by the Caxtonist religion. Richmond often refers to Caxton in speeches which are sent out over the worldnet and Caxton is always referred to as if he were still alive.
Most outsiders believe that this is a euphemism for his death. However, there are some who believe that that Caxton’s consciousness merged with the Kingston worldnet. They say that he is now an immortal presence that will continue to guide them each day.
Many are concerned that the Caxtonists will attempt to spread their religion and their government beyond the borders of the Kingston system. This fear is especially prevalent within The Hub Federation and on Harrison (Clement, Sequoyah 0805).
Locations
Headquarters
- Kingston (Clement, Hub 0106)
Important Bases / Facilities