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A Chapter cult is a body of beliefs and practices integral to every single Space Marine Chapter, each being unique and specific to the chapter and can often wildly vary between each other.{{fn|66}}{{fn|67}}{{fn|68a}} Indeed, two successor chapters spawned from the same chapter during the very same founding might, after several centuries, present with radically divergent religious practices.{{fn|68a}} Broadly speaking though, every chapter cult in general venerates the Emperor, their Primarch (if known), as well as their own heroes{{fnMain|68b}} and will typically emphasize martial virtues such as honour, strength, and comradeship.{{fn|66}} Every Space Marine belongs to the Chapter's cult, and accordingly, every Marine of a Chapter is a spiritual brother as well as a brother in arms. In many cases these cults pre-date the [[Imperial Cult]], the official religion of the Imperium.{{CME}} Each cult is ministered by an inner priesthood of warriors known as [[Chaplain]]s.{{fn|66}}  ====The Ecclesiarchy and Inquisition====Conflict has always existed between the Adeptus Astartes and the [[Ecclesiarchy| Adeptus Ministorum]], going back all the way to the very start of the [[Imperial Creed]] on Terra. Though rivalry is ever present between and among all the factions within the [[Adeptus Terra]], this friction goes to an even deeper level. Space Marines can rightfully be called the "Sons of the Emperor" - they are the Emperor's direct creation, carrying his blood, as well as being undying loyal defenders of humanity, the Imperium, and the Emperor's honour. Despite all this, conflict arises in that they do not adhere to the Imperial Creed nor (typically) worship the Emperor as a divine god as preached by the Ecclesiarchy, instead venerating him as a gifted, powerful man. Indeed, given the wide variation As part of chapter cults some chapter cult practices are very barbaric - many including blood sacrifices - and some traditions could easily be considered [[Heresy| heretical]]{{Fn|67}} in comparison to the orderly masses of the Ecclesiarchy. Added to this, the sheer differences between baseline humans and these genetically engineered monstrous giants capable of spitting acid or crushing men's skulls, are enough for some consider them as separate race entirely.{{Fn|67}}{{Fn|52f}} Staunch puritans of the Ecclesiarchy preach the adage "suffer not the mutant to live", and in the Imperium the purity of the human form is lauded as much as all other species are reviled. {{Fn|69}} The Ecclesiarchy and the Astartes have reached an uneasy compromise over the millenia, which can generally be thought of as an agreement to differ. In general, the Ecclesiarchy does not send its [[Confessor]]s and [[Missionary|Missionaries]] to Space Marine worlds, and the Chapters of the Adeptus Astartes do not interfer with the Church. Space marine chaplains are given their sacred [[rosarius]] by the Ecclesiarchy, a symbolic link between the Adeptus Astartes and the Adeptus Ministorum, but ultimately the chaplains still preach their own version of the Imperial Creed to their brethren. This uneasey truce has been shattered by particularly zealous Cardinals or Confessors that have roused the wrath of a chapter either through words or deeds.{{Fn|67}}{{Fn|52f}}  In a similar vein, conflict has arisen between the Adeptus Astartes and the [[Inquisition]], particularly the [[Witch Hunter]]s of the [[Ordo Hereticus]], over the nature of Chapter Cults. Should the chapters preachings and interpretations of the Imperial Creed be deemed too heretical, the Witch Hunters may send forces or even an army to fight the space marines and call the chapter for their wayward beliefs.{{fn|70}} Infamous examples of internecine conflict between Space Marines and the Ecclesiarchy/Inquisition include:{{Main|Incursion of Fools}}*The '''Incursion of Fools''' - are also known as the '''Fenris Incident.''' Learning members of the [[Rune Priest|shamanic]] practices of the [[Space Wolves]] and deeming them heretical, [[Cardinal Astra]] [[Leon ­Chirastes]] invaded their [[Adeptus Astartes Homeworld| Homeworld]], [[Fenris]], with a force of his own Ecclesiarchal Warships as well as other ships and forces of the [[Adepta Sororitas]]' Orders of the [[Order of the Wounded Heart|Wounded Heart]], [[Order of the White Rose|White Rose]] and the [[Order of the Fiery Tear|Fiery Tear]]. The Ecclesiarchal force was bloodily repulsed, and detailed records of the battle suppressed and sealed by the Ecclesiarchy while giving the Space Wolves little cause to celebrate. Leon Chariastes officially left in disgrace, but retained his badge of office, vowing revenge.{{Main|War of Flames}}*In the '''War of Flames''' [[Cardinal|Archits Chapter cult -Cardinal]] [[Perigno]] declared the [[Salamanders]] [[Promethean Cult]] heretical and attacked them with a force body of three [[Orders Militant|Orders]] beliefs and a massive [[Frateris Militia|army of faith]]. This was ultimately halted after news of Peringo's death at the hands of the Inquisition.*During the '''[[Kaurava]] Campaign''', the [[Order of the Sacred Rose]] declared a purge of the entire [[Kaurava system]], irreconcilably at odds with the [[Blood Ravens]]' mission practices integral to reclaim the system, resulting in the two forces being hostile to each other throughout the campaign.{{Fn|71}} This incident, along with other notorious actions by the Blood Ravens, would contribute to the [[Ordo Malleus]] declaring an [[Exterminatus]] of them and the entire [[Subsector Aurelia]], which was only halted by the timely intervention of [[every single Space Marine Captain| Captain]] [[Apollo Diomedes]] and [[Inquisitor]] [[Adrastia]] in killing the Blood Ravens turncoat Chapter Master [[Azariah Kyras]].{{Fnfn|7266}}{{Mainfn|Months of Shame67}}*During '''Months of Shame''' the [[Space Wolves]] fought the [[Ordo Malleus]] and [[Grey Knights]] who sought to purge the survivors and veterans of the [[First War for Armageddon]] ====Theist Chapters====While most chapters do not venerate the Emperor as a divine being or a god, there are a handful of chapters which do. Such beliefs are thought of as "fanatical" by chapters with more conventional generation of the Emperor as a man, with such beliefs as being more appropriate for the "deluded masses" they were sworn to protect.{{fn|7368}} Notable theist chapters include:*The [[Black_Templars#Doctrines_and_Codex_Adherence| Black Templars]]*The [[Red_Hunters#Background_.26_Chapter_Cult| Red Hunters]]*The [[Steel_Confessors#Chapter_cult| Steel Confessors]]*The [[Fire_Angels#Chapter_Cult| Fire Angels]]*The [[Red_Scorpions#Beliefs| Red Scorpions]]*The [[Hospitallers#Chapter_Cult| Hospitallers]]*The [[Star_Phantoms#Chapter_Cult| Star Phantoms]]*The [[Novamarines#Chapter_Cult| Novamarines]] - Uniquely, they do not venerate the Emperor nor Roboute as gods but worship the [[Codex Astartes]] as a divine work, though they are silent as to which god inspired it. The following chapters do not explicitly worship the Emperor as a god, but do ascribe him divine or spiritual powers:*The [[Blood Ravens#Beliefs| Blood Ravens]] believe the Emperor to be a man, yet also believe he has the power to save their souls and in the promise of an afterlife*Though the [[Silver_Skulls#Combat_Doctrine| Silver Skulls]] do not explicitly worship the Emperor as divine, their [[Silver_Skulls#Prognosticators| Prognosticators]] consult his [[Emperor's Tarot| Tarot]] in order to divine his will.

*{{Endn|68}}: [[Deathwatch: Rites of Battle]]:**{{Endn|68a}}: pg. 34-45 ''Beliefs''**{{Endn|68b}}: pg. 21*{{Endn|69}}: [[Wrath & Glory: Forsaken System Player's Guide]], pg. 90*{{Endn|70}}: [[Codex: Witch Hunters (3rd Edition)]], pg. 42*{{Endn|71}}: [[Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War - Soulstorm]]*{{Endn|72}}: [[Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II - Retribution]]*{{Endn|73}}: [[The Emperor's Gift (Novel)]] (e-version) Chapter 22, ''The Kneeling King'', Part II