Do the ktuvoks themselves actually believe the tenets of their humans' religions, or is it just a formality to them, like wearing good clothes at work?
Do they actually have much of a belief system? Religion is fundamentally social after all, and they're not the most social of animals. They also don't seem to be the most psychologically complex creatures in the world, so I don't know if things like existential anxiety actually bother them (they don't have a psychological need for worship any more than farmers have a psychological need to breed cattle - am I right about this) or if they're very prone to self-reflection.
Ktuvok religion
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So Haleza Grise
- Avisaru
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Ktuvok religion
Duxirti petivevoumu tinaya to tiei šuniš muruvax ulivatimi naya to šizeni.
Re: Ktuvok religion
It's hard to say since they don't let their guard down around humans, and so far as we know they don't write books or otherwise reveal their innermost thoughts.
You're right that they're neither very social nor very metaphysical. On the other hand they're low in the primate inquisitiveness which leads humans to be dissatisfied with their own belief systems.
Gelalhát seems to incorporate much of the ktuvoks' point of view— e.g. their attitude toward ‘mammals’, their belief in an ordered society, their disdain for human love. Things like the social hierarchy apply among ktuvoks on the rare occasions more than one meet together. Of course there are other things that are just there for the humans, so to speak, and the ktuvoks didn't really get involved with the Dhekhnami switch to near-monotheism.
Also recall that the Powers are real on Almea; it's not superstition to believe in supernatural beings. Their idea of worship isn't adulation and celebration anyway; it's submission to greater powers in the expectation that they'll help you or at least not destroy you.
You're right that they're neither very social nor very metaphysical. On the other hand they're low in the primate inquisitiveness which leads humans to be dissatisfied with their own belief systems.
Gelalhát seems to incorporate much of the ktuvoks' point of view— e.g. their attitude toward ‘mammals’, their belief in an ordered society, their disdain for human love. Things like the social hierarchy apply among ktuvoks on the rare occasions more than one meet together. Of course there are other things that are just there for the humans, so to speak, and the ktuvoks didn't really get involved with the Dhekhnami switch to near-monotheism.
Also recall that the Powers are real on Almea; it's not superstition to believe in supernatural beings. Their idea of worship isn't adulation and celebration anyway; it's submission to greater powers in the expectation that they'll help you or at least not destroy you.