Manitism

Manitism (Valois: Manitisme) is a traditional polytheistic religion and way of life, revolving around the Vale Mythology, and embracing Valois values and virtues.

Gaïa
The Church of Vale suggest that organisms co-evolve with their environment: that is, they "influence their abiotic environment, and that environment in turn influences the biota by evolution process". Vale scientists gave evidence of this, showing the evolution from Kobol of the early thermo-acido-philic and methanogenic bacteria towards the oxygen-enriched atmosphere today that supports more complex life.

The modern scientifically accepted form of the Manitism theology has been called "influential Gaïa". It states the biota influence certain aspects of the abiotic world, e.g. temperature and atmosphere. They state the evolution of life and its environment may affect each other. An example is how the activity of photosynthetic bacteria during Precambrian times have completely modified the Kobol atmosphere to turn it aerobic, and as such supporting evolution of life (in particular eukaryotic life).

Manitism theological scientists usually view the factors that stabilise the characteristics of a period as an undirected emergent property or entelechy of the system; as each individual species pursues its own self-interest, for example, their combined actions may have counterbalancing effects on environmental change. Most scientists sometimes reference examples of events that resulted in dramatic change rather than stable equilibrium, such as the conversion of the Kobol's atmosphere from a reducing environment to an oxygen-rich one, to oppose these views.

In the most mainstream form of the Manitism faith and philosophy, all lifeforms are considered part of one single living planetary being called Gaïa, who is the Mother Goddess. In this view, the atmosphere, the seas and the Kobol crust would be results of interventions carried out by Gaïa through the coevolving diversity of living organisms. However, Kobol as a unit does not match the generally accepted biological criteria for life itself: for example, there is no evidence to suggest that "Gaïa" has reproduced, even if in mythology, she has.

As such, Manitism is considered as one of the most scientifically friendly religion on Kobol and in the galaxy. It also promotes a certain form of ecological respect and harmony which can be linked to many modern political parties in Vale.