Klingon faith

• Nontheistic, believing that creator deities were killed by the first Klingons
• Two major afterlifes
  • Honored afterlife known as Sto-Vo-Kor (Various)
  • Dishonored known as Gre'thor (VAN Novel: Harbinger; TNG: "Devil's Due"; DS9: "Sons of Mogh"; VOY: "Barge of the Dead")
  • The Barge of the Dead transports spirits of the dead to their final destination (ENT Novel: Kobayashi Maru)
• Corpses seen as meaningless empty shells after death
  • The individual's spirit departs immediately to its afterlife
  • Honored warriors are to have their arrival to Sto-Vo-Kor heralded by the Heghtay cry (TOS Novel: Errand of Vengeance: Killing Blow; TNG: "Heart of Glory", et al.)
• Kahless, the historical figure who united the disparate Klingon nations in the 9th century CE, is a revered figure in Klingon culture, often treated as a Messianic prophet
  • Not worshiped per se, but honored as an icon and role model
  • Teachings are spread via the qeS'a'; guide to honorable behavior (Klingon Art of War; ENT Novel: Live by the Code)
    • Largely focused on behavior in combat, but often applied to behavior generally (Klingon Art of War; ENT Novel: Live by the Code)
    • First Precept: "Choose your enemies well." (Klingon Art of War; ENT Novel: Live by the Code)
    • Third Precept: "Always face your enemy." (Klingon Art of War; ENT Novel: Live by the Code)
    • Sixth Precept: "All Klingons have weaknesses. Warriors know how to hunt their weaknesses and cut them out." (Klingon Art of War; ENT Novel: Live by the Code)
    • Tenth Precept: "Guard honor above all." (Klingon Art of War; ENT Novel: Live by the Code)
    • Many sayings claimed as from Kahless of lesser importance also recurring in veneration
      • "It is better to have strong friends than strong enemies" (TOS Novel: Errand of Vengeance: Killing Blow)
      • "The enemy of my enemy is my friend" (TOS Novel: Errand of Vengeance: Killing Blow)
      • "The warrior who seeks favor over victory will usually find neither." (TOS Novel: Errand of Vengeance: Killing Blow)
  • Veneration of Kahless in decline from late 22nd through early 24th century, showed resurgence in mid-24th century (TOS Novel: Errand of Vengeance: The Edge of the Sword, Errand of Vengeance: Killing Blow)
    • Implied in part by presentation of Klingon culture throughout ENT, TOS, and early TNG-era works
    • Decline driven in part through general rejection of the qeS'a' by QuchHa' (ENT Novel: Live by the Code)