A decadent religion, characterized by low religious authority and widespread heresy, can be a breeding ground for instability and rebellion. Managing such a faith requires a firm hand and a strategic approach to both spiritual and temporal matters. Your primary objective is to restore the faith's authority and suppress dissenting beliefs.
Restoring Religious Authority
The most direct way to combat decadence is by increasing your faith's religious authority. This can be achieved through several means: winning holy wars, converting counties to your faith, holding religious festivals, and ensuring your religious head is competent and devout. High religious authority makes it harder for heresies to spread and provides bonuses to your realm's stability.
Combating Heresies
Heresies are the most visible symptom of a decadent religion. To combat them, you must actively convert heretical counties and arrest or execute heretical vassals. The 'Convert Religion' council task is essential for this, though it can be slow. For more immediate results, consider using your Spymaster to 'Find Secrets' in heretical counties, which can reveal hooks you can use to force conversion or imprisonment.
Theological Lifestyle
Investing in the 'Theologian' lifestyle can provide significant benefits. The 'Piety' and 'Religious Authority' bonuses from certain perks can be game-changing. Furthermore, the ability to 'Reform Faith' allows you to tailor your religion to better suit your needs, potentially adding tenets that combat decadence or heresy directly.
Dealing with Heretical Rulers
If a powerful ruler or a significant portion of your vassals embrace heresy, direct confrontation may be necessary. This could involve revoking titles, but be prepared for the potential for widespread rebellions. Alternatively, you can use intrigue to sow discord among heretics or to find hooks that force them back into the orthodox fold. Remember that a strong military and a loyal army are crucial for enforcing religious unity.
Personal Piety
Your own piety directly impacts your ability to lead your faith. High piety allows you to excommunicate troublesome vassals, declare holy wars, and generally exert more influence over religious matters. Focus on completing 'Tasks' that grant piety, such as praying, going on pilgrimages, and attending religious services.