The Cult of the Rain God

The Cult of the Rain God is a group of students created by CTYers in the Intro to Philosophy course from LAN.23.1. Since then, it has expanded to become a central part of both 2024 sessions at Carlisle. The cult has over forty members, and—when CTY is in session—choruses chanting "Praise the rain!" can be heard from almost anywhere on the Dickinson College campus. Between CAR.24.2 and CAR.25.1, Disciples of the Cult began to affix "I lost the game" to their signature chant; this longer version is abbreviated as "PTRILTG" (or "Praise the rain, I lost the game"). Read “Cult of the Rain God” at Memories:LAN for more on its origins.

The Cult has two fundamental principles:

1. PRAISE THE RAIN
2. SACRIFICE HERETICS

Hierarchy

The Cult follows a basic hierarchy which functions as so:

1. Grand Priest: GP is the highest attainable rank within the Cult and is exclusive to LAN (temporarily CAR, read here). Grand Priests are the seniormost leaders of the Cult and carry major responsibilities for initiation/recruitment, retention, and ralying. There are four Grand Priests and, although they are all equal in seniority, each has their own title with its own ceremonial responsibility. These are:
   • Lamplighter:
   • Cloakbearer:
   • Urnkeeper:
   • Shadegiver:

To become a Grand Priest, a Priest must be selected and promoted to High Priest and inherited to one of the Grand Priesthood's titles. All High Priests are nominees to succeed one of the current Grand Priests, however the decision is not made official until the "Passing of the Names" ceremony.

1. High Priest: HP is second highest rank within the Cult and is attainable at all sites. Depending on whether they are at Carlisle or another site, the High Priesthood of a site can fill two different roles:
   • At Carlisle: The High Priests serve as the nominated successors and inheritors to any Grand Priests who cannot or will not return the following year. They are selected from the Priesthood and serve in their role until the Grand Priest who promoted them becomes a Forevermore.
   • At other sites: The High Priests fill in for the Grand Priests at CAR, and fulfill all of the ceremonial duties of the Grand Priesthood

High Priests are expected to take on a similarly active role in retention, recruitment, and rallying as Grand Priests in order to demonstrate their fitness as leaders.

1. Priest: When a Disciple has demonstrated loyalty and conviction, as well as having played an important role in initiating non-members, they may be recognized with the position of Priest. This role allows them to be eligible for High Priesthood and requires continued active participation in rituals (i.e. chants) and ceremonies.
   
2. Disciple: Disciple is the former of the two entry-level positions. It requires that someone has answered all three question in the Knowledge Trial (which must be administered by someone at least as high ranking as a Priest) correctly. Only Disciples are eligible for promotion to the role of Priest.
   
3. Initiate: Initiate is the latter of the two entry-level positions. This rank simply requires that someone participates in the annual Rain Day ceremony (traditionally on the first day of rain during the session, but must be done no later than First Friday). All Initiates are eligible to become Disciples, however it is not a prerequisite.

Other Ranks

There exist some ranks which exist for ceremonial or for honorary purposes. Currently, there are three such ranks.

1. Heretic: The Heretic is an important ceremonial role which any Disciple can volunteer to fill. They serve as the object of the Sacrifice ceremony during the second week.
   
2. Bards: Bard is the rank awarded to any of the traditional American Pie position-holders. This rank does not serve any functional role. Bards may or may not be members of the Cult.
   
3. Honors: An Honor is a modification to ones current rank in order to recognize special contributions and demonstrated long-term commitment and participation within the Cult. Receiving an Honor changes the recipient's title to Honored (i.e. Initiate to Honored Initiate, Disciple to Honored Disciple, Priest to Honored Priest), however this change does not apply to High Priests or the Grand Priests.
   
4. Fallen: Another way to refer to Cult members who have moved on from CTY and become Forevermores. The title, Fallen Priest, is given to former Grand Priests who have aged out of the program and is taken to have higher seniority than current Grand Priests, though they can only really advise the Grand Priesthood.

Rituals

The members of the Cult observe many rituals which range from shibboleths to full ceremonies.

The Knowledge Trial

The Knowledge Trial is a prerequisite for becoming a Disciple and the way most members were initiated into the Cult. Historically it had five questions, but was at simplified down to three at CAR.25.1 to aid recruitment. The questions (and answers) are:

1. Who do we praise?
   The Rain God
2. What is the holiest site?
   Lancaster (or Franklin & Marshall)
3. What fate awaits heretics?
   Sacrifice

Grand Ceremonies

The Grand Ceremonies are the most important traditions in the Cult, often performed by the Grand Priests and spectated by other CTYers and Cult members. There are four, each one is lead by a different Grand Priest with the participation of the other three. Some happen once per session while others occur regularly.

1. Rain Day: The rain day ceremony is a celebration of the first rain in a session, in which interested CTYers are initiated into the first stage of the Cult. This ceremony is led by the Urnkeeper, who fills the jar relic with the rainwater as priests of all ranks lead initiates in a chant of "Praise the rain". The Shadegiver documents the names of all the new initiates during the ceremony, and a High Priest films the event. All Grand Priests must be present, but High Priests can act in their stead if needed. If this ceremony cannot be completed by the end of the first week of a session, all members of the Cult must repent for their sins by praying every time they go outside. If this ceremony cannot be completed by the end of the session, the Urnkeeper must lead a funeral on the very last day for the Rain God.
2. The Ritual Sacrifice: The ritual sacrifice occurs in the second dance of a session and is led by the Cloakbearer. This involves sacrificing the Heretic (see above), and is typically a ceremony that cements participants into the Cult. Only the Grand Priests and the Heretic perform the ceremony, while all other participants watch.
3. Passing of the Names: At the very end of Passionfruit, the Shadegiver officiates the passing of Grand Priest titles from nevermores to their High Priest.
4. Grand Processional & Recessional: This ceremony is conducted at the beginning and end of each CTY dance. The Grand Processional, led by the Lamplighter, marks the entry of the Cult into the dance. The Grand Recessional, also led by the Lamplighter, marks the departure of the Cult from the dance. The Grand Priests lead the Cult in a single file line while chanting "Praise the rain".

The Chant

The most recognizable hallmark of the Cult is their signature chant of "Praise the rain!" This exclamation is used as a rallying cry and shibboleth for Cult members. Beginning after CAR.24.1, The Game started to become associated with the chant and "I lost the game" became commonly appended to the original exclamation. The two combined, "Praise the rain, I lost the game," is commonly shortened to just "PTRILTG."

Notable Members

Grand Priests

Sydney Schirripa (Urnkeeper), Judah "Spriet" Gilbert (Shadegiver), Vivian Perry (Cloakbearer), Walter Strouse (Lamplighter), Edmund "Ned" Gerrick* (Cloakbearer), Liam* (Lamplighter)

High Priests

Emery Oppenheim (Urnkeeper Presumptive)

Priests

Cameron Brenner, Zuri, Zara, Akhil "Kiki" Chawla, Strawberry

Disciples

Leo*, Alyssa*, Cerentha, Hazel, Divna, Sam, Ryan, Eli*, Quinn, Finn, Emmy, Heath, Felix, Bruce, Oscar, Domna, Addie, Marceline*, Aster*, Michelle*, Sarah*, Nathan Hyde*, Katie*, Ray*, Aurora*, Harper*, Ellie*, Anya*, Annie*, Alex Gonzalez*, Noa, Evan R, Evan S, Lux, Julian, Yael

Honored Initiates

Aaron Cushman*

Initiates

Eli Soldatenkob*

Heretics

Alex Zhao, Sam

*The Fallen