The Order

Beliefs
Genesis [With Claudia Narration]
1. Origin: In the beginning, people had nothing. Their bodies ached, and their hearts held nothing but hatred. They fought endlessly, but death never came. They despaired, stuck in the eternal quagmire.
2. Birth: A man offered a serpent to the sun and prayed for salvation. A woman offered a reed to the sun and asked for joy. Feeling pity for the sadness that had overrun the earth, God was born from those two people.
3. Salvation: God made time and divided it into day and night. God outlined the road to salvation and gave people joy. And God took endless time away from the people.
4. Creation: God created beings to lead people in obedience to Her. The red god, Xuchilbara; the yellow god, Lobsel Vith; many gods and angels. Finally, God set out to create Paradise, where people would be happy just by being there.
5. Promise: But there God's strength ran out, and She collapsed. All the world's people grieved this unfortunate event, yet God breathed Her last. She returned to the dust, promising to come again.
6. Faith: So God hasn't been lost. We must offer our prayers and not forget our faith. We wait in hope for the day when the path to Paradise will be opened.

The Order
Tarot Card: The Tower
"A long-standing religious tradition native to the region is twisted by history. The town of Silent Hill is where Claudia and Dahlia took steps to bring about the revival of God, and where in the second game James attempted to resurrect his deceased wife. It is a town that has an indigenous belief system that has been passed down over the years. With the appearance of nothing but unearthly rituals and fanatical priests over the course of the series, players have never clearly seen the true essence of the town's religion. Exactly what is the nature of the faith that originates from the town's former inhabitants? Concerning the history of this area which was revered as sacred ground and the doctrine which became the foundation for this faith, let us arrange a delineation of the relevant documents and dialogue from the series."

Creator's Commentary: "The religion of Silent Hill references various elements of different religions such as the origins of Christianity, Japanese folklore, and Aztec rituals. Original Native American beliefs have to do with animals and spirits that dwell in places, and borrowing their power to make oneself stronger. The names of the gods have Mayan and Aztec motifs. As for the strange pronunciations, they are completely original."

History: "Before settlers first came to Silent Hill, the future site of the town had come to be valued as a holy place. The ceremonies that were conducted on this land became the model for the belief system of the present-day cult. It is important to note, however, that the native religion is not the same thing as the cult. It should be easy to understand if one considers the likeness to the situation with Shinto shrines and Jizo in Japan. The altar under the antique shop from the first game. Doesn't it seem to bear a striking resemblance to a household Shinto shrine in Japan? It seems that when the town's former inhabitants still lived here, strange rituals were conducted on this holy ground."

Dogma: "The basis for what the cult believes is derived from a myth that has been passed down over the years. In summary, "Once, God set out to create paradise and Her power ran out, but someday God would be resurrected once again. The doors to paradise would be opened, and everyone would be saved." One detail unique to this religion is the idea that during the dawn of humanity, there was only suffering and hatred. It would seem that this has become a foundation for this unique belief system. The voice of a believer that suggests self-sacrifice. One imagines that there were many such fanatical devotees. The six paintings displayed in the chapel are a depiction of the myth that is the basis of the cult's doctrine.

System: "The popular beliefs native to the region began to take shape as a religion several decades ago. A rapid expansion took place over the course of a few years that was the result of Vincent's achievements. It can be surmised that Alessa, who was born around thirty years ago, was established as a saint in the cult and thus the structure of the organization was only recently put in order. It seems that shaping the indigenous faith into a religion was the work of Vincent.

Saint Paintings: The three saints were probably established fairly recently, sometime after the Civil War.

Creation Paintings: This structure in which many lesser gods appear under the chief deity differs greatly from Christianity."

"The otherworld's church sheds light on the history and true image of the religious organization: Although the church that appeared in the first game was Christian, the design of the church in the third game is unique to the cult. It can be surmised that the cult's influence grew over a period of seventeen years before the church was constructed. Furthermore, it is established that the underground area of the otherworld's church is in fact a ruin where the town's former residents once conducted rituals. If one examines the walls in detail, it becomes apparent that there are new discoveries to be made."

"The final room of the church: What appear to be murals on the walls in the church's otherworld indicate that this place is a ruin. Unlike an ordinary church, the followers' seats are constructed to face each other. It appears that the underground chapel is a ruin that was sealed up until now."

Creator's Commentary: In a church in the real world the adherents normally sit opposite the priest, however in the otherworld's final church the priest is encircled by the adherents. The purpose of this is not to pray while facing God; it is so that everyone in attendance can watch the ceremony taking place in the central area. The design has a motif inspired by British Parliament." - Lost Memories

Beings

God - "Creator of Paradise" or "Lord of Serpents and Reeds" - The Order believes that in the beginning, humans were nothing more than flesh and hatred (like Freud, who believed man was generally bad, sexual, violent, and animalistic). A man (like Adam) offered a serpent to the sun and prayed for salvation. A woman (like Eve) offered a reed to the sun and asked for joy. Feeling pity for the humans suffering, God was birthed from these two people (like Jesus being born unto Mary and Joseph) and took the form of a woman. She divided time into day and night, while also taking time away from the people. She gave them joy and outlined how to reach salvation. She then created beings who would show the people right and wrong: the red god Xuchilbara, the yellow god Lobsel Vith, and many other gods and angels. Then She created Paradise (like Heaven), where humans could live happily. But there, Her strength gave out and She died, promising to come again (like Jesus). The Order is waiting for the day when God returns to take them to Paradise (like the The Rapture and the Second Coming).

The God
Tarot Card: The Eye of Night
"The being that sleeps inside the holy mother... is this truly God? At the end of the game, the creature called "God" appears. However, the form that it assumes seems too sinister for it to be the same being that is supposed to bring paradise to this world. One possible explanation for this is that if the town of Silent Hill holds the power to materialize delusions and innermost thoughts from one's subconscious, "God" is the result of someone's delusions just like the other creatures. And did the seed of God that was growing inside Heather truly disappear? That is left to the player to interpret. The fetus that Heather vomited up may have been actualized by the human subconscious as well."

"In the original tarot, there is no Eye of Night card. The idea is that this card is added corresponding to a Hebrew vowel, even though tarot originates from the Hebrew alphabet which has only letters that are consonants. The card suggests God." - Hiroyuki Owaku [Lost Memories]

"The form of God that is born to the earth changes depending on those who summon it. The God that sleeps inside Alessa has appeared in various forms throughout the series. The fact is that there is no one form of God because the form that it takes is projected by the minds of those who summon it. A book in the church regarding the form of God. It notes that the form and name of God have come to change. Incubus: With the influence of the red liquid, Dahlia's delusion is projected. Incubator: A manifestation of the image of God that Alessa personally believed in. the God: God vaguely resembles Alessa because Claudia's thoughts are projected."- Lost Memories


Mother of God, Daughter of God - “Flame Purifies All. By these remains may a person find the road to paradise.”

"There is no religion that has remained unchanged from the moment it was founded. This one is no exception. when this religion fell into the hands of immigrants, it was deeply influenced by their own original Christian beliefs. For example, the traditional representatives of these primal gods may be given the names and descriptions of Christian angels. Thus shared characteritics begin to appear. (There is alos one rare example of the chief deity, "Creator of Paradise" or "Lord of Serpents and Reeds", being dubbed with a demon's name. Of course, this was not done by believers, but by their opponents.)"
-- from the Chapel Library


Samael - Opponents of the church called the cult's god Samael, In biblical reference, he is the Archangel of Destruction, the "Severity of God" (Archangel) and the "Spirit of Treachery" (Archdemon). Chief of the seraphim (the highest order of angels), he is the leader of 12,000 angels of destruction. Samael is the Kabbalistic title of the Prince of those evil spirits who represent incarnations of human vices. He is also the angel of Death, which the idea of Satan evolved from. NurseryCryme mentions that it resembles the Baphomet, the same idol that the Knight Templars were accused of worshiping. But this is not the Order's God.

* * *
Valtiel - the Watcher and Messenger of God
Tarot Card: The Magician
Right hand of the Order's god, Valtiel (considered an angel of rebirth and the otherworld) is a being who protects the unborn deity and watches over whoever plays the role of God's left hand, the Mother of God. Valtiel's name comes from the English word "valet", meaning "attendant" and the suffix "-el.", used for angels.

Lost Memories: "In the long-standing religious tradition of Silent Hill [The Order], Valtiel is worshipped as a being that is close to The God. And so even in the previous works of the series, Valtiel has appeared in different forms. In other words this is why Valtiel ties together various events that have taken place in Silent Hill. In the case that any events transpire in Silent Hill in the future, Valtiel may again appear before players in another form."
Ceremonial robes: "In the school's otherworld, a number of body-shaped figures can be seen. If one looks closely, it becomes clear that there is something familiar about what the figure is wearing. What looks like a body bag is actually the ceremonial robe of the town's religion [The Order]. This robe is modeled after the appearance of an angel from Silent Hill's traditions, namely Valtiel.
Pyramid Head: "One notable connection between Pyramid Head and Valtiel is the fact that they both stalk the protagonist persistently. If the helmet that conceals Pyramid Head's face were to be removed, it would become apparent that the designs of the two are surprisingly similar. When the executioner's outfit that is Pyramid Head was designed, it was modeled after Valtiel, an angel from the indigenous religion."
Creator's Commentary: "The connection to the first game is quite clear, but the relationship with the second isn't so obvious. I wanted to give relevance to the creatures of the series because it motivates me to continue the creative process. In the religion of Silent Hill, those who are close to God through Valtiel borrow his form as Pyramid Head. That is to say, Pyramid Head was born from the townspeoples' ideas about showing devotion to God. In the first game, the ceremonial robes were an homage to Valtiel."

Olympian Spirits - Angels who rule the Provinces of Heaven. Known as stewards or electors of Heaven.

Aratron - Ruler of the Saturn Province and the Alchemist who commanded 17,640,000 spirits. In magic, Aratron is ruler of the affairs of of Saturn. It is a spirit which can be invoked on the 1st hour of saturday.
Bethor - Ruler of the Jupiter Province and commanded 29,000 legions of spirits.
Phaleg - Ruler of the Mars Province and Warlord.
Och - Ruler of the Sun Province, alchemist, physician, and magician.
Hagith - Ruler of the Venus Province, transmuter of metals, and comander of 4,000 legions of spirits
Ophiel - Ruler of the Mercury Province, commanded 100,000 legions of Spirits
Phul - Ruler of the Moon Province and supreme Lord of the Waters.

Saints
To be cannonization (becoming a Saint) by the Order, one must either plung a copper dagger into a man's chest as he lies on the altar to let his blood spill into the chamber below- or to burn the person alive, which symbolised the cleansing one undergoes to enter paradise. Burning was reserved for more important members.

"One characteristic, mentioned only in rare documents and dying out in the modern age, is that of the ritual sacrifice. "Offering prayers, pierce a man's chest with a copper stake. Drench the altar in the blood which spouts red from the heart, to praise and to show loyalty unto God." In another sacrificial rite mentioned in the same book, the victim is burned alive. This was a more dignified ceremony in which prisoners and sinners were not allowed to participate. Only the clergy could be sacrificed. Similar to burning at the stake, no comparable rite can be found in religions practiced nearby. It may have some connection with the main deity being a sun god. Even though this religion extols redemption, it brings to mind a dark and cultish history." - Lost Memories


St. Alessa: Mother of God, Daughter of God


St. Nicholas: Miraculous Hands, a Doctor of God


St. Jennifer: Unwavering Faith Under Death's Blade.

Symbols and Artifacts
- Seal of Metatron - Hiroyuki Owaku states that "To the town's religious organization, the Seal of Metatron is an ordinary talisman with no particular significance. As Alessa was unable to spread this crest throught he entire town in the first game, its power was never demonstrated. In spite of this, both Vincent and Leonard misunderstood its abilities." [Lost Memories]

What with the deaths of Alessa, Vincent, and Leonard, the secret behind the Seal's power are momentarily a secret - but why would a fourteen year old girl, a Priest, and a deciple believe in its power so strongly? There is a possiblity that the being behind the Seal's name might be a clue to what power it holds.

The Metatron is an Angel in Judaism and some branches of Christianity. The being is referenced in the Old Testament and New Testament. According to Book of Enoch, he is said to have a "Name like his Master", because he is identified as the term, "lesser YHVH" (Lesser Tetragrammaton) in Talmudic, and numerically, the word 'Metatron' is the equivalent to (according to Hebrew gematria) Shaddai. In the Talmud, Elisha ben Abuya (Aher) is said to have entered Paradise and saw Metatron sitting down (in heaven only God is allowed this action) and took him as a Deity, saying "There are indeed two powers in heaven!". Metatron was allowed to sit, Rabbis explain, because he acts as Heavenly Scribe. According to some, Metatron is the transform, Enoch, but this idea is not shared by all Talmudic community. There seems also be two Metatrons: one spelled with six letters that could be the transformed Enoch and the other one spelled with seven letters that could be Primordial Metatron. In the Zohar (a group of books in the Kabbalah), Metatron is called "the Youth" and is identified as an angel in the form of a heavenly priest that led led the people of Israel through the wilderness after their exodus from Egypt. In Johann Eisenmenger translations, Metatron is the one who receives God's daily orders, which are to be given to angels Gabriel and Samael. He is also identified as being Sandalphon's twin brother and the prophet Elijah.

The Halo of the Sun - It represents the deity known as "The Halo of the Sun". In heraldry, symbolizes a religious group. The two outer circles are charity and resurrection; the three inner circles are present, past, and future. Usually drawn in red. Occasionally drawn in black or other colors, but blue reverses the meaning into a curse on God and is therefore forbidden. This symbol was used by Alessa to represent herself, her other self Cheryl, and the combination of selves, Heather. Walter Sullivan used it to represent his and his mother's rebirth, after performing the The 21 Sacraments.

Amulet of Solomon - Or the "Seal of Solomon, is also known as the “Star of David”. This a powerful symbol with magical qualities (it is also a seal against evil, in early Celtic magic). As an amulet, the Seal of Solomon is believed to offer protection against both evil and enemies. It also brings good luck in all aspects of life.

King Solomon (970-928 BC) Before David died, he appointed his son Solomon, only 12 years old, as king. After Solomon was anointed king, God appeared to him in a dream, inviting him to make a request for himself. Pleased that Solomon requested not riches and honor, God granted AKing Solomon great wisdom. He is known as chacham mi'kol ha'adam, "wisest of all the men." The bible states, that that kings from all over the world traveled to Israel to hear his wisdom - which not only was from the Torah wisdom, but secular knowledge and science. He composed 3,000 parables and 1,005 poems. His crowning achievement was building The Temple, which his father, King David, envisioned. It took seven years to build and the Bible devotes several chapters its construction.

Ankh - This symbol represents both Physical and Eternal life. It is also known as the original cross, a powerful symbol that was first created by Africans in Ancient Egypt. It also represents the power to give and sustain life. When worn or carried, the ankh brings good health, promotes fertility, and strengthens the psychic powers.

Crest of Mercury - In Roman mythology, Mercury is the god of commerce, travel and thievery. The Roman counterpart is Hermes, the messenger of the Gods.

Dagger of Melchior - The ancient dagger named after the Magi, Melchior of Persian. Melchior, the oldest of the three Magi (wise men), a priest of Zarathustra (Zoroaster), was the "King of the South". He offers myrrh to as gift to Jesus. Myrrh is a fragrant gum that the ancient Israelites believed to strengthen children. This symbol of Christ's mortality was blended with wine and offered to him on the cross, and also mixed with aloes to wrap his body for the tomb. Melchior received the gifts of humility and truth.

Disc of Ouroboros - Ouroboros is the Gnostic name for the great world serpent, who encircled earth when people thought it to be flat. The idea was that this female, a mother-serpent, embraced the mystic World Egg, protecting it. It is thought that, after patriarchy was established, the serpent was changed into a male, but others have said the Ouroboros is androgynous, or a pair of mated serpents swallowing each other' tails. The swallowing of the tail, to make a continuing circle, is thought to be based on the primative notion notion that the female serpent swallows the male in order to fertilize herself. This idea was reported by Pilny and believed throughout Christian Europe.

Ouroboros is followed with great devotion. It symbolizes natures entire life, and bears the saying: Hen to Pan - "The One, the All."

Flauros - One of the seventy-two demons that appears in the Lemegeton, a book of magic said to have been compiled from the writings of King Solomon of Israel. It has the ability to break the continuity of the boundary that surrounds Alessa.

Aglaophotis - A medicinal herb that appears in the Kabbalah. It is used to expel demons from the possessed and can also be used for a magical array. A red liquid that appears in the first and third games. Made from a medicinal herb, it seems to have the effect of repelling evil spirits.

The Book of Lost Memories An original book written about the history of the town.

White Chrism and Obsidian Goblet - Items used in rituals required to see the "rebirth" ending in the second game. Supposedly, they are used to resurrect the dead. Details concerning the ritual to bring the dead back to life are written in the book of Crimson Ceremony.

The book of Crimson Ceremony - The roots of the Crimson Ceremony lie in Mayan and Aztec rituals. At one time, the ritual of human sacrifice was quite prevalent.

Channeling Stone - The symbol on this sapphire stone represents the planet Uranus. It also believe it represents the planet Ummo, a planet in another solar system that has been in contact with our planet since the 1950s.

Practices
- Human Sacrifice
- Gyromancy