ADVENT | Organizations
The Special Affairs Division
"Build a better box."
- Motto of the Special Affairs Division
Proposal 1028
Latest Revision: 3/22/2017
Designation: The Special Affairs Division
Program Type: Peacekeeping; Specialized Monitoring; Internal Management
Authors: Keith Watkins, Chief Overseer of the Oversight Division; Ian Powell, Director of ADVENT Intelligence; Chancellor Saudia Vyandar; Kyong Suk-Chul, Minister of ADVENT Public Relations; Amalda Stein, Chief of Peacekeeper Operations; Pin Seong, High Overseer of the Special Observation Division; Peter Andrews, Branch Director; Migisi Burns, Branch Director; Mustafa Abadi, Branch Director
INITIAL PROPOSAL: ADVENT has worked diligently to establish multiple cohesive vehicles for oversight throughout ADVENT, geared towards holding each and every one of our institutions accountable to ADVENT law. This has primarily been accomplished by the Oversight Division, in conjunction with ADVENT Intelligence and the Peacekeepers who work diligently to ensure the integrity of ADVENT.
Over recent months, we have determined that while the existing infrastructure and systems are theoretically scalable to different groups and institutions within ADVENT, this is not necessarily the most effective way of ensuring compliance with ADVENT law. ADVENT is composed of a significant amount of different cultures, ethnic groups, customs, and nations. While a majority of these fall under a standard oversight umbrella, there are several exceptions where refinement is necessary to best achieve ADVENT's objectives.
This has been the foundation of the Special Affairs Division, which has been derived from successes in ADVENT's Middle East policy that has seen a significant surge in regional and religious cohesion due to a refinement of existing policy and working with various regional groups and figures. We are interested in taking this philosophy and applying it throughout ADVENT.
While there has been pushback against this proposal, it is misguided and improperly informed. There is a belief that this proposal will result in ADVENT granting 'exceptions' from oversight or ADVENT law for various communities or groups. This is completely incorrect, and in fact, the opposite is true.
The Special Affairs Division is designed to enhance oversight and compliance of groups which may or may not be effectively covered under existing programs. This is an enhancement to ADVENT policy, not a downgrade.
OBJECTIVES AND MISSION: The Special Affairs Division seeks to accomplish or put into practice a series of objectives. The chief mission is stated above, and each of these objectives contributes to this mission.
ADAPTIVE MONITORING: This simply refers to the ability to successfully adapt oversight and enforcement measures to any institution or entity in a way that is effective. This requires changing structures, making intra-department adjustments, and expanding or retracting as the situation develops. There may come a point where a group or institution develops or transitions to a point where more conventional oversight can suffice, in which case the monitoring Branch will cease to function. Alternatively, it could develop in such a way as to require expansion or restructuring. The point being – no matter what happens, the Special Affairs Division will adapt to it.
FOCUSED PUBLIC RELATIONS: As seen in our success in the Middle East, a focused and streamlined dialogue with entities, organizations, and groups can lead to significantly more engagement and cooperation. A significant number of these groups are more than willing to comply with ADVENT – they just need to know their concerns are being listened to and taken into account.
This does not, as, unfortunately, suggested by some detractors, require any adjustment to ADVENT objectives. ADVENT has acquired the reputation in some circles as an entity which is interested in cultural homogenization and the removal of customs and cultures. This is untrue, as different customs are not illegal unless they directly oppose ADVENT law. However, ADVENT has, in fact, been unwilling to bend and will impose itself regardless of potential risks or objections. While they have weathered the consequences of this approach, as well as have the capability to do so, it has arguably made things more difficult than necessary in some aspects.
ADVENT understands that destroying or suppressing culture and customs is largely futile, which is why most of it has been left untouched, despite criticisms to the contrary. A stronger argument is that ADVENT must become more involved in the various cultures and customs of the world, which the Special Affairs Division seeks to achieve.
Cultural appropriation and assimilation is far more powerful and suited towards ADVENT's goals of unity than simply leaving it alone or suppressing that which contramands ADVENT law. Any culture or custom can be adapted to serve as a vehicle for ADVENT, and it only requires a little bit of creative thought and investment to secure these communities, ethnic groups, and institutions within a generation.
Listening is powerful and cultivates trust. We should utilize this.
REFINEMENT OF EXISTING OBJECTIVES: I believe this point can be best illustrated with a real-world example. A piece of recent history, in fact.
ADVENT's goals for the Middle East were stability and unity. Very simple, very achievable goals. ADVENT had taken control of the nations, and had begun the long and arduous process of transitioning to a region-led government. Problems arose during this point that were both expected and manageable.
These problems involved the distrust of the local populations, who saw them as invaders, the regulations on religion, which were deeply unpopular with vocal minorities of Islam, and the gathering of an insurgency force under the command of the Lion, a Caliphate official, who was supposed to be long dead.
ADVENT could have handled these issues bluntly. They could have cracked down harder against dissent with Peacekeepers, and, had the insurgency begun, suppressed the revolution once and for all, especially if XCOM had also become involved. They could have very easily forced the region to change, and it would have – but very, very slowly, and with a significant amount of hardship.
Instead, ADVENT was approached by individuals who, if not directly supportive of ADVENT, wanted to prevent what they saw as something coming which would be harmful for all involved. While ADVENT was understandably hesitant, they did eventually begin refining their current methods after seeing positive initial results.
The insurgency was disbanded peacefully after a deal was reached with the Lion, who subsequently assisted ADVENT in purging the region of legitimate terrorist threats, an immensely popular and qualified candidate was found to serve as the head of the new Middle Eastern States, and was subsequently elected by popular vote, and the House of Wisdom – a hallmark of the Caliphate at its height – was revived under direct ADVENT oversight.
All of these appear to be compromises to the region, at least on the surface. To some extent, this is even true. ADVENT is going out of its way to adapt and change from our norms, based upon review of the region. It should be strongly disputed, however, that this is a negative development. The results should speak for themselves, and, considering the mission of this division, such compromises are necessary and expected. What is most important is that our compromise is not infinite. We have not, nor ever will, compromise on ADVENT law and regulation, and I am pleased to say that every group which is involved with the Special Affairs Division is wholly compliant with ADVENT law and oversight.
It is this success we wish to replicate.
CULTURAL AND REGIONAL ASSIMILATION: As mentioned above, it is far more advantageous for ADVENT to deliberately pursue and integrate themselves deeply into the region and culture of various groups and organizations. One of the greatest issues ADVENT faces is that we are seen as a ruthless, faceless state power, and nothing more. It is easy to criticize such an entity.
The easiest way to dispel this notion is through face to face interaction. Establish a rapport, take their suggestions to heart, and the confrontation will cease more times than it will escalate. This suspicion may not go away completely, but months or years of constant interaction will have an undeniable effect. The solution may not be something obvious, but as simple as a single ADVENT observer.
While short-term effects may not be immediately beneficial to ADVENT, exposing communities to ADVENT on a daily basis will make their practices commonplace and expected. Exposure to ADVENT individuals, philosophy, and values will seep into their own culture over time, and it will ensure ADVENT maintains indefinite influence.
It is extremely feasible to make every single group which is suspicious or critical of us our friend, it only requires investment and listening. People will change their opinion when they see firsthand what we can do for them – more than enough to accept the strings which come along with it.
ADVENT should not seek cultural homogeneity, as that would be a loss to our species and to the world. Instead, ADVENT should seek cultural dominance. Let the diversity of culture be a staple of the Human race – and let it all serve the greater purpose of ADVENT.
INTERNAL DIVISION: The primary bodies of the Special Affairs Division will be Branches, with each Branch specifically tailored to the requirements of the group, organization, or entity they must handle. Thus, there is no template they are required to follow, though there are a few internal divisions which handle management of the Branches themselves.
BRANCH OVERSIGHT: This is at the top of the hierarchy of the Special Affairs Division. Both committees and all Branches will directly answer to Branch Oversight, which will ensure each group is meeting their objectives, complying with ADVENT law, and reviewing existing policy and goals. It is straightforward, and also directly answers to the Oversight Division proper.
BRANCH JUSTIFICATION COMMITTEE: As of this proposal document, there are three Branches we intend to launch which have been identified as pilots for the division. Future Branches will be determined by the Branch Justification Committee, a rotating group of various ADVENT and civilian officials who will work to determine if there is an entity or organization which is best handled by a Branch of the Special Affairs Division. If the criteria are met, a proposal will be drafted that explains how the criteria are met, and then it will be established. If it does not meet the criteria, then no Branch will be created.
BRANCH CONSOLIDATION COMMITTEE: This group is staffed by the Directors of the various Branches, who will meet to provide updates on their objectives, synchronize goals, and otherwise coordinate as they see fit, as well as provide suggestions or advice to each other. Branch Oversight may also participate in these meetings, though it is not required.
RECRUITMENT AND TRAINING: Recruits will be more specialized than those within other ADVENT departments, agencies, or divisions. Due to the nature of their work, it is highly recommended that recruits for each Branch be very familiar with the group they are to work with, as well as share ethnic or religious backgrounds, as appropriate. Recruits will be properly screened and reviewed to ensure that there exists a smooth relationship between the division and group they are assigned to.
Following their recruitment, it may be necessary for the recruit to undergo brief training with the Oversight Division and ADVENT Intelligence to properly prepare them to perform their roles. They are ultimately ensuring that ADVENT law is followed and gaining the trust of their respective communities. They must be prepared for a variety of situations and difficulties, as regardless of background, they will be viewed as an outsider. It is up to them to change this perception.
Due to the nature of the work, following training with the Oversight Division and ADVENT Intelligence, they will also undergo some cultural assimilation classes where they will be educated about the customs, norms, behaviors, and history of the group they are to work with. Once the initial personnel are assembled, recruits will also spend a portion of their training interning or shadowing with an experienced operative to acquire hands-on experience and interaction with the community in question.
AUTHORITY AND LIMITATIONS: The Special Affairs Division and its Branches have significant authority over their charges, and can order the arrest, observation, and detention of individuals or groups if they are in violation of ADVENT law. This does not apply to groups, organizations, or entities outside of their purview.
The Oversight Division has direct authority over them, and is permitted to alter, remove, or add conditions to their objectives, which must be followed to ensure compliance.
CONCLUSION: ADVENT is faced with a unique opportunity which may not come again. This is a rare time to bring about unity in a way which is natural, subtle, and capable of generating goodwill. While it can be conceded that ADVENT does not need to go to such effort to achieve this, there is a strong argument to be made that ADVENT will lose out both on a significant amount of culture which defines our species, but also additional levers of control and influence which can cement ADVENT as the singular Human power forever.
It is in the best interest of our species and ADVENT that we see the diversity of Human thought, culture, and society, and not simply suppress it, but take control of it, and turn it into ours.
Special Affairs Division | Branch 1
Branch: Butterfly [Indigenous Community Observation]
Branch Director: Migisi Burns
Overview: To say that indigenous populations around the world, especially in North America, have had a turbulent relationship with the government, would be a severe understatement stretching back to the colonial era. Native populations have experienced discrimination, disease, and genocide, and their situation has only begun improving recently.
While the majority of this is aimed at Native American tribes which reside within the United States, there do exist populations of indigenous tribes in Canada, and to a lesser extent there exist more primitive, uncontacted tribes in South America, as well as the Aboriginal population in Australia, though the latter is, unfortunately, not applicable, due to Australia currently being under alien control. While it is currently not the goal of the Branch, this has the potential to expand to indigenous populations in other nations, should the need arise.
Even though there has been something of an attempt to repair relations, such as giving tribes autonomy, establishing reservations, and providing government aid and preferential treatment in academic schooling, the reception has been mixed, which is not improved by governments being more than willing to violate treaties and sovereignty if it serves their national interests.
Indigenous lands or reservations are typically less maintained, supported, and supplied than the rest of the nation. Part of this is due to tribal autonomy, but also due to many officials considering them a headache best left ignored. Indigenous populations are not numerous enough to constitute a valuable voting bloc, and have often had to rely on activists and pro-bono lawyers to address specific issues in their communities.
This is the kind of situation ADVENT must properly address, hence the creation of this Branch.
Justification: As it currently stands, reservations present several legal issues for ADVENT. Tribal land was previously considered autonomous, and the tribes were left to handle law enforcement as they saw fit. This is clearly incompatible with ADVENT, as there cannot be multiple sets of laws, as well as introducing the possibility of legal headaches from criminals moving to operate in tribal land.
ADVENT does not make a legal distinction between previous reservations and ADVENT territory. The tribes are currently residing in ADVENT territory, and are thus bound to its laws. However, they are not well-developed or qualified for enforcing ADVENT law, nor are their communities up to acceptable standards.
The purpose of this Branch is to develop a symbiotic relationship between the various indigenous tribes, regardless of where they reside, in a way which respects their own autonomy while also ensuring that ADVENT legal requirements are satisfied. We do not want to necessarily send Peacekeepers to provide law enforcement or establish our own judges in their territory simply because no one there qualifies. It is important that they enforce ADVENT standards by themselves, and ADVENT must be prepared to supply them with the knowledge and tools to do so.
The final justification is that this will provide ADVENT with a cohesive and comprehensive point of contact for all regulations related to native territory, including as it relates to cultural sites, borders, development, and land exploitation. This will be elaborated on further, but we intend to significantly enhance legal protections as they relate to native territories.
Branch Department | Legal Compliance: This Department will help manage all legal affairs between ADVENT and tribes. This most relates to working with tribes to provide them with guidelines, law enforcement training, modern detective equipment, and finding, selecting, and educating volunteers who wish to become lawyers or judges. It should be noted that all judges in native territories must meet ADVENT legal standards, but, due to ADVENT prioritizing natives themselves holding legal positions, this will be given a grace period of one to two years for preliminary implementation, with ADVENT oversight, which will persist until the Oversight Division is satisfied with the current legal state of tribes. This will be done on a per-tribe basis.
Tribes which have been consulted have asked about the necessity of standard Peacekeeper attire, and, after some discussion, it was determined that tribal Peacekeepers will not necessarily have to equip the full armor. This has been agreed upon reluctantly by Chief Stein, though with the caveat that it will become mandatory if appointed officers die in the line of duty. Training is being provided to volunteers who have requested it.
This Department will also perform vetting of current tribal leadership to ensure they are compliant with ADVENT standards. It is expected that tribes will be consistent with ADVENT election laws, which is not expected to be an issue, due to modern tribal leadership elections already being democratic. In the event that current leadership does not meet ADVENT standards, they will be removed from their position and a replacement chosen. It should also be noted that tribes will have representation within the respective national Congress, as well as being eligible to run for ADVENT-wide positions including the Congress of Nations.
Tribes will also be subject to educational and religious regulations, and this Department will work to ensure that they are properly compliant. They will also be consulted on topics related to native matters and history for ADVENT curriculums. It is STRONGLY recommended that this be done in conjunction with the Public Relations Division, due to actions taken by governments to forcefully assimilate and indoctrinate native populations, particularly in Canada. There is likely to be significant resistance if this is not approached delicately, and working with specialists on implementation is advised.
Branch Department | Development and Management: This is a Department which is dedicated to the modernization and repair of existing native infrastructure to the required specifications codified in ADVENT law. The equipment and materials will be provided directly to the tribes, and installed with ADVENT assistance, should it be required.
This will extend to utilities including water, internet, and electricity. While many tribes have these to various degrees, most are poorly maintained or designed. ADVENT will work to optimize or replace them, if necessary, to ensure that standards are being met and maintained. If tribal engineers are unfamiliar with or require training for various pieces of equipment or technology, ADVENT will provide it.
Ensuring that there is proper medical care and treatment available will also be a priority of this Department, especially as there are instances where care has been minimal, absent, or hostile. There is potential for mistrust of state doctors due to historic sterilization programs, though this can be alleviated by simply supporting known tribal and community doctors and practices, or supporting medical education for those who are interested.
The other major responsibility of this Department is assisting in the development of tribal land, should that be pursued. This is not required, but will be available to the tribes should they wish to pursue it. If ADVENT has any direct requests as they relate to potential harvesting of resources, they will be conveyed through this Department directly to tribal leadership.
It will also include the designation of tribal land as open to development or forbidden. We intend to grant full developmental control of tribal land to tribes themselves, which would prevent ADVENT from developing on land without legal permission. This would prevent resource exploitation or development of trans-territory delivery systems such as pipelines, but this was judged an acceptable cost, as the amount of tribal land is minimal, and we expect the tribes to be reasonable as to what will and will not be permitted.
Military outposts are also prohibited, with the exception of a nearby alien threat. Military outposts must be decommissioned afterwards if the threat is gone, and fully dismantled if five years have passed without justification for maintaining the outpost. It should be noted that tribes may permit military outposts indefinitely.
Branch Department | Cultural Preservation: To prevent the potential loss of knowledge, and for historical value, a Department devoted directly to cultural matters and preservation was put forward, and has been received positively by multiple tribes. This Department is responsible for helping catalogue tribal history, legends, myths, customs, and other pieces of information of note for preservation.
Several tribes explicitly requested that they would only consent if information was not released publicly. As ADVENT will maintain copies regardless, and the information is not needed to be within the public domain, we have given tribes veto power on what can or cannot be released to the public.
This Department will also specifically catalogue cultural sites related to tribes, and work with the Congress of Nations in codifying laws which prevent land exploitation, construction, or other tampering. They will also assist tribes, if they desire, in creating a museum (public or private) to store artifacts or other tribal archeological relics without risk of damage or elemental exposure.
For tribes that are interested in it, this Department will also assist in the reclamation of various tribal artifacts or knowledge, such as languages, which have been lost over time. For this, the Department will coordinate closely with the ADVENT Archeological Division to conduct any investigations on tribal land, or provide advice, should tribes wish to perform excavations or digs of their own for buried or forgotten artifacts or knowledge.
Legally, only tribes have the authority to grant this permission unless it is a written executive order signed approved by the Executive Branch, ADVENT Intelligence, and the Oversight Division.
Special Affairs Division | Branch 2
Branch: Ohio [Amish Observation]
Branch Director: Peter Andrews
Overview: It is likely that a majority of people have never heard of the Amish before, especially if they reside outside of the United States. To provide a brief summary, the Amish are a group of deeply religious communities who reject the usage of almost all advanced technology for religious and cultural reasons.
As a result, they live in extremely backwards conditions by modern standards, though this is a voluntary lifestyle choice and not brought on as the result of poverty or mismanagement. Farming is their primary means of self-subsistence, and they do nearly everything manually, from clothes-washing to harvesting.
The Amish have, surprisingly, resisted a significant amount of technological progress, which has led to their isolation from the world, and instead focused on maintaining their communities. Amish communities are very tight-knit and, comparatively, small. They are extremely traditional, with set gender roles and customs stemming from fundamentalist Christianity.
This is not to say that the Amish do not engage with the outside world to a degree. They sell Amish-made food, clothing, and furniture to visitors, and most Amish sects have at least one telephone for the community. Outside of that, however, there is little technological integration. Some sects are more relaxed than others, but even the most technologically friendly Amish sect is sorely underdeveloped by any modern standard.
It should be noted that this lifestyle is obviously not one which everyone will agree with. Most Amish sects allow young adults or adolescents to experience the world beyond the community, should they desire it. No one is forced to remain Amish, but the familial and community ties are strong enough that more are content with the Amish lifestyle than most people would imagine.
They are largely divorced from the states they reside in, which are primarily within the midwest, with Ohio being the state where the majority are located. There are small pockets that reside in Canada, Germany, and Latin America, but those are a significant minority compared to the American Amish population. They are not seen as problematic, and are largely left alone by every government. It is not in ADVENT's interest to pursue a similar policy.
Justification: This should be a fairly obvious issue. There currently exists no feasible way for ADVENT to effectively monitor Amish communities. We are lucky if they have an old dial-up phone used communally. These people have no digital footprint whatsoever, which poses a significant issue for effective monitoring.
If it also isn't clear, Amish communities are simply not up to standards when it comes to healthcare, infrastructure, food production, and education. This is not necessarily because they don't want to be compliant – they are not self-destructive after all – but because they legitimately can't bring themselves up to safety standards because they reject technology, medicines, or chemicals as too developed.
These are people who actively discourage the pursuit of higher education beyond high school because it isn't useful – a standard which is only taught if a society wants to remain stagnant and not better themselves. This is, simply, an unacceptable mindset. What further requires intervention is that religion dominates Amish life, their education, and how it shapes their mindset. Religion is what led to the founding of the Amish, and it remains the core of their society. This requires moderation. This is, thankfully, not a violent sect of Christianity, but one cannot say that it is not dangerously radical in its rejection of Human advancement.
The Amish are a people who are actively hindering themselves and perpetuating the cycle of stagnation by influencing the minds of their children for years before they know there is something more out there. If such a lifestyle is pursued voluntarily, then that is acceptable.
What is not acceptable is the indoctrination of children into their belief structure and actively hindering them from thinking for themselves. To this end, a number of Departments have been established, which will allow the Amish lifestyle to be maintained, while also bringing it up to ADVENT standards.
Branch Department | Educational Review: This is a crucial component of our oversight. As of now, there exists no actual structure or qualifications for teachers of Amish youth, and the curriculum utilized is extremely inferior, with a heavy dosage of religion. Educational Review will work with Amish sects in developing curriculum which will be taught to students, though it must meet ADVENT standards.
In the event there are few or no qualified teachers, ADVENT will provide instruction (with teachers of ADVENT or Amish origin being required to undergo cultural training to properly prepare or present to Amish communities) or training for those interested in learning. Due to the population of students being extremely small, and most teaching being done communally, regardless of grade, an effort will be made to tailor the curriculum to account for this situation.
Teachers will be required to inform ADVENT of how students are progressing. This Department will also monitor when students reach a level to graduate, for potentially studying at universities. Teachers will also be required to inform students about the technological advancement of the world and other facts which are currently omitted from Amish curriculum.
Branch Department | Food and Drug Compliance: The Amish produce and refine their own food using manual means. They are actually fairly competent in their food production, as they know that poorly made or stored food is dangerous for their health, and do what they can to make sure their food is healthy.
This department will assist the Amish in making sure that their procedures and methods are sufficient to meet ADVENT food safety standards. We are open to refining or enabling non-technological Amish methods for food production, though, if necessary, a technological solution will need to be legally mandated. Fortunately, the Amish primarily deal with dry foods and meat, with minimal freezing.
Ensuring that facilities are properly cleaned, that food is properly stored at appropriate temperatures, and that standards are being enforced will be a primary responsibility of this Department.
Branch Department | Compliance Observation: There is the potential issue that the regulations established will not necessarily be enforced by the Amish communities in question due to their adherence to tradition and dislike of authority which threatens what they see as their religious freedoms.
The objective of Compliance Oversight will be to ensure that regulations are being followed. This will require monthly or bi-monthly visits, which will consist of documentation collection, inspection, and interviews with various individuals within the community.
Compliance Oversight will also be provided with support from the Peacekeepers and ADVENT Engineering to provide equipment, inspectors, and engineers to ensure that standards are being met. If they are not being met, individuals who are responsible for the lapse may face prosecution.
Branch Department | Medical Services: Each Amish community will require the construction of a modern medical facility to properly treat sickness, wounds, and other ailments using modern medicine and medical technology. This building will be staffed with qualified medical officials, with the option of mentoring or apprenticing interested Amish in medicine, with future study outside for them to return later and assume control of the local medical facility.
All medical and health standards will be directly enforced. Amish children will be appropriately vaccinated and given seasonal shots, or otherwise provided treatment to any medical conditions they have, once they've been diagnosed by a medical professional. Medical Services will also stand by to provide childbirth support, whether or not it takes place at the medical center, though it is recommended.
Special Affairs Division | Branch 3
Branch: Houseguards [House of Wisdom Observation]
Branch Director: Mustafa Abadi
Overview: To explain exactly what the House of Wisdom is requires a short history lesson of the Caliphate at and before its height, in the era of the Inheritor King. The House of Wisdom was created by order of the Inheritor King to serve as the primary hub for all things related to the Islamic faith.
It was composed solely of Islamic scholars, who spent their days debating theology and meaning from the collection of texts, fatwas, and teaching which compose the Islamic language. These debates were not for the faint of heart, and, while the House of Wisdom never achieved any kind of worldwide acclaim, it was seen in a positive light by those who were aware of it.
What is interesting about the House is that it could be considered fairly 'progressive' in the context of Islam. Despite being in the heart of the Caliphate, they often fell upon the side of the Inheritors when it came to the schools of thought that dominated the era. Obviously, when the Successors took control of the Caliphate and executed the Inheritor King, the House was purged of Inheritor loyalists, and it was effectively shuttered years later as the Successor-led Caliphate became more and more radical.
Many of the members who survived the purge mostly did so because they kept their mouths shut during the Caliphate's descent, and, since many of them were scholars, survived the conflict, even as the religion has faded from the rest of the world. Fast forwarding to today, and part of ADVENT's plan to rebuild the Middle East involved the re-establishment of the House of Wisdom.
Justification: ADVENT was hesitant to endorse the creation of a purely religious organization, especially one with such a checkered history. However, the establishment of the House of Wisdom is beneficial for ADVENT for several reasons. There does not currently exist a hub for Islamic knowledge or doctrine, which is a potential concern if disparate sects ever develop outside of mainstream Islamic theology.
The House of Wisdom, should it be established, will almost certainly become the standard for Islamic theology, which will be continually refined and debated. This presents ADVENT with a unique opportunity to directly participate in the refinement of Islamic theology, as well as monitor the doctrine directly.
The House will also do for Islam what the Vatican has done for Catholicism – it will tie itself to ADVENT and see us as an ally and not opponent. Catholics have an overall higher opinion of ADVENT than other religious groups, in no small part due to the endorsement of the Pope himself. While the House of Wisdom is not the Vatican, it would, nonetheless, have significant pull within the Islamic world, and their support would be invaluable in ensuring that Muslims view ADVENT favorably.
The next point is directly tied to the above, but worth separating – namely, it would give ADVENT a much needed positive publicity boost in the region, where ADVENT is still not fully trusted or accepted. Steps have been taken to heal the wounds caused by Deus Vult, but this would show the region that ADVENT is not their enemy.
Internally, as stated earlier, the House of Wisdom, overseen and supported by this Branch, will have a profound level of influence and oversight over the heart of a religion, and we would, frankly, be fools to pass this up. If handled correctly, ADVENT could secure the loyalty of the region and religion for generations to come.
Branch Department | House Security: A component of the House of Wisdom was that they also provided their own protection, which was, subsequently, used to curate their own members and ideas. This Department would fulfill this role, in lieu of the House handling itself, as it would be in violation of ADVENT law for a religious entity to have that kind of authority or paramilitary organisation.
This is an agreed-upon compromise by the House, and this Branch will provide security for both the establishment itself and its members. The House recommended that House Security use the colors of the old Inheritors of the Caliphate, which were white and green. This was agreed upon by ADVENT. House Security will primarily be staffed by regional volunteers, who will be trained to provide security and oversight.
This oversight and security will extend to all major locations under the influence of the House of Wisdom, including significant Islamic sites, such as large and historical mosques, the Two Holy Mosques, and the regional offices and headquarters of the House of Wisdom.
All minor locations will not be affected, and will follow normal procedure.
Branch Department | Doctrine Review: The second major component of this Branch is Doctrine Review, which is fairly self-explanatory. Islam, like all major religions, has its share of controversial teachings, and Doctrine Review will help guide the House of Wisdom in determining what is and is not acceptable under ADVENT law.
There is room for leniency, as already exists, and Doctrine Review will not necessarily bar a certain verse or text from being spoken aloud, as there is historical context which can be applied. They will primarily work to ensure that problematic views and teachings are not being actively promoted by the House.
The House has been surprisingly open to this kind of curation, which has been welcoming, and they have taken the initiative several times prior to speaking of or debating a certain topic. I believe they can be trusted to not abuse the trust we are putting into them and this endeavor. A healthy working relationship between this Branch and the House of Wisdom will, I suspect, not only benefit the region, but ADVENT as well.