#Council

A religious council is a solemn ritual purportedly for discussing sacred ideals, but in practice devolves into a theater of power struggles. Participants brandish holy texts as weapons while quietly advancing their own sectarian interests. The only outcome is not a unified creed, but a proliferation of statements and fresh fuel for future disputes.

A synod is a stage where, under the guise of discussing sacred matters, participants perform a charade of power struggles and tradition preservation. Countless great doctrines and decrees are said to be born here, yet value is often placed more on the heft of documents than on the soul. While called a search for truth, attendees are chiefly concerned with defending their own factions and unwritten rules. Outcomes are usually decided beforehand, and the only thing growing is the minutes—history's grandest irony.