how would that work? wouldn't anyone one who is in the church want to kill the pcs? but the example paladin is a member of the church.

how would you adjudicate that?

First, not all PCs have supernatural powers. Second, PCs may believe their power to be granted by the Christian God and at least the local church might also believe in it. Of course the more the players make public display of supernatural faculties, the more the church will get suspicious (especially magic and summoning aren't really appreciated). As an alternative, characters might buy either Ally/Contacts Advantage with Church and/or Inquisition, meaning they're somehow working under their jurisdiction, or the Saint Advantage, meaning they've been fully sanctioned by the church so in most places, the church won't persecute them. Of course, none of these applies if the PC is not human.

By the way, the real question is why should a group of PCs want to support the worst organization in all of Gaia, spreading ignorance, fanatism and intollerance across the land...I'm talking about Anima Beyond Fantasy, of course.

I understand what your saying but why would a member of the church not try to capture or convert fellow party members?

IMO, the member of the church are thinking, there are only two ways to get "supernatural powers": The first is to make a deal with evil entities. Therefore, the person with the powers is evil. The second is, to be a Saint, who has his powers from god

Now, if someone don't believe in god or the ways of the church (which is the way of god), he couldn't have his powers from god. So, he must have them from evil entities and so, he must be destroyed. Because, if someone has "fallen to make deals with the devil", he couldn't turn back to the light.

Also: Why should a member of the church or inquisition be a "fellow party member" with devil worshipers?

This above is all IMO and "a little bit" generalized. Surely, a member of the church doesn't need to accept all doctrines of the church, without thinking for himself (but he shouldn't say it out loud, because to question the rules of the church would be heresy). He can also think, that supernatural powers are inniate to persons (and not to be powers given from a "higher might" like god or the devil) and only persons, which use there powers for bad things or unable to control them, should be killed. But I think, the (faulty) logic from above, would be the reasoning most members of the church and inquisition would show (because Abel, the son of god, has said so, and he es spilled his blood for mankind and so on).

So long,

typically the church gives its members the freedom to choose their own companions, inquisition members have hired mercenaries in the past (some with supernatural capabilities, though THAT’S usually under extreme circumstances) so the practice isn’t uncommon. This doesn’t exempt said companions from persecution though if the church finds them out.

As for the actual player ‘playing his faction’, that’s on a player by player basis, the core ideal of all RPGs is that the players co-operate together (or at least have a mutual agreement not to slaughter each other). Maybe they can hunt down the Order of Yehudah under church sanction. Really one just has to trust his fellow players to play out a good game with him, and things like this can just add to the fun and challenge.

Really it’s all up to the interpretation of the players and their GM, as long as everyone agrees, the actual cannon can be more or less ignored.

Still don’t let them go overboard though

in one of my weekly games me and two other party members (most of the party now) are affiliated with the church.

my character is a paladin crusader on vacation who himself has both some magic and some ki, he is sainted and only joined the church to be sainted and be allowed to use his powers and he always lets innocents escape even if they have special powers.

the other church member PC is a weaponmaster preacher, who is a big dumb lug who just goes along with the rest of the party's decisions anyway. though he is a jayan nephelim who was adopted by a priest who always kept his horns shaved to protect him.

the last member is a conman who is just in it to launder donation money.

so being affiliated with the church doesn't always make them fanatics, though my group isn't the smoothest example, if our real motives were discovered we would all probably be excommunicated.

Yeah the church while extreme in many ways Isn't completely unified and they do protect the muggles from the truly evil supernatural beings. So I can see some PCs being church members. Because just being a member of the chuch doesn't make you instantly a heartless fanatic even alexander the strongest chuch killer hesitates to kill a kid. Which means theres a lot of potental for church based games just because it leads to situations where what the PCs have been taught all there life is wrong and also leads to are they willing to kill even a innocent being if they have supernatural powers? They could also try to remove the corruption of the church. So in all honesty PCs in the church to me could make the background for some amazing roleplaying if done right. Mainly I would say the best way to go about it is to play the chuch as most real world organizations some are corrupt some are good people some are just there and no one really cares. At least thats my thoughts on it.

Characters affiliated to the "progressive" branch of the church (that which supports Elisabeth), could actually be little more playable, especially if accompanied with party members from other religions.

Anyway, whatever was said about the Christian Church in Anima, applies to the Enneath Faith as well. They too have two factions, one which is very intolerant (so incompatible with "misbeliever") and one which is more tolerant, although the relationship between Christian and Enneath believers would still definitely be difficult, even if both characters pertained to the tolerant faction of their own faith.

Somehow, the same goes with Vajra characters. They should usually be very xenophobic considering strangers as inferior beings, but nothing implies there couldn't be an "unusually open-minded" Vajra character.

Also, Atheist aren't really appreciated in the world by almost anyone. They're called "Children of Rah", which isn't a really appreciated historical figure (despite being the best character in the whole history). Atheism is at best met with EXTREME suspicion anywhere.

In the Gaia sourcebook it details each country's perception of magic and its open use. Perhaps you could allow its acceptance in the church in some countries but not others.