The Church of Cheesy Fly is the largest organised institution within the Cheesian religion. It venerates Cheesus Flyst, the first Cheese Fly, and teaches the sacred importance of the Holy Cheese.
The Church is predominantly followed by rats, particularly rats of higher social standing. Membership has historically been associated with wealth, education and an unreasonable appreciation of expensive cheese.
Cheesus Flyst
Cheesus Flyst is regarded as the first Cheese Fly and the central figure of Cheesian religion.
According to Church doctrine, Flyst began life as a maggot before becoming something considerably more important. His teachings established cheese as a sacred substance and flies as agents of divine transformation.
The Holy Cheese
The Holy Cheese is the central object of Cheesian devotion.
Cheese is considered sacred, transformative and fundamentally connected to the natural order. The exact theological significance varies considerably between denominations.
Rat Following
Although humans are permitted to observe the Church, rats constitute the dominant religious population.
The Church has traditionally attracted higher-class rats: educated rats, wealthy rats, rats with access to cellars, and rats capable of distinguishing one cheese from another.
The Black Flag
The Black Flag is a rebellious branch of the Cheesian religion operating outside the Church of Cheesy Fly.
Black Flag followers reject much of the Church's hierarchy and are generally regarded as troublesome, radical or insufficiently respectful of bishops.
History
The Church's history is closely intertwined with the history of rats and their long-running influence over human civilisation.
Human Population Control
Cheesian historians maintain that rats have played a significant role in controlling the human population throughout history.
The Church cites the Black Plague, hantavirus, various historical infestations and several more recent global events as evidence of continued Cheesian influence.
More controversial interpretations attribute the events of 9/11 and global warming to broader rat population activity, although these claims are not universally accepted even within the Church.
Doctrine
The Church teaches that rats are not merely inhabitants of the world, but its quiet administrators.
Humans build cities. Rats inherit them.
Cheese remains holy.