Cubism was a religion that flourished in the 400s IE. It was based on the teachings of Frederick Ansel, a native of Belsham and a one-time resident of Aphrodite. He considered Suicide one of his greatest disciples.
Cubism was a pantheistic religion stating that “God is everything, and everything is God.” Ansel’s teachings were peaceful, sometimes in the extreme. A radical faction, however, became violent, with suicide bombings on Aphrodite, Earth, and The Caliphate.
The religion (he preferred the term “philosophy”) began around 408 IE with something he admitted might have been a hallucination. While stranded on an asteroid and waiting for pick up, a man with no vacuum suit or breathing gear, dressed casually in Belshamite clothing, appear and began speaking to him. Despite being in a pressure suit, Ansel could hear him. The man claimed to be God. When Ansel said he was hallucinating, “God” said, “What if you are? Half the prophets I’ve talked to were hallucinating.” He said he chose to speak with Ansel because Ansel looked bored. He then outlined what became Cubism: God is the universe and everything in it, and everything in the universe is God. God talking to Ansel was just a manifestation of himself used to talk with him. If it was a hallucination, God said he would wake up from hypoxia and have an interesting story for his medical providers. If not, he could make the universe a better place. “God” wore a Mars-New Vegas ballcap, which one of Ansel’s rescuers found showing little sign of exposure to extreme temperatures or radiation. Ansel began thinking and writing on his new creed.
John Farno speculated that Cubists may have blown up three of the domes on Farigha when he discovered Musk, his home, had been destroyed.
Cubists had blown up a mosque in Rashidun, the capital of The Caliphate not long before the attack. Another notable bombing took place in New York City, on Earth. This radical faction also destroyed the Marcus Aurelius and seized the Queen Maria Sophia in an attempt to kidnap King Edward of Bonaparte.
Cubists tended to be peaceful in the extreme. However, a man named Gerard Kurz coopted the religion on Aphrodite to exploit the violent tendencies from centuries of ethnic conflict. On the other hand, those closer to Ansel’s beliefs, built a commune on Amargosa. Suicide frequented the commune.
Though the radical faction of the religion caused considerable chaos, most were considered peaceful.They maintained a commune on Amargosa that Suicide visited occasionally. However, the events surrounding the destruction of the Marcus Aurelius, hijacking of the Queen Maria Sophia, and two subsequent assassination attempts on King Edward I of Bonaparte brought the entire faith under heavy scrutiny.
Appearances: No Marigolds in the Promised Land, Gimme Shelter, Checkmate, Royal Orders