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 Posted: Mon Aug 31, 2009 1:05 am
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I'm outlining a novel of some sort and I've come to a point where I need to flesh out the religious aspect of things. This is very important since the enmity between almost every country in my world has sprung from the fact that they each have their own take on the SAME religion and that they'd never admit that they all worship the same gods.
They have the SAME orders the SAME priesthoods and all that good stuff the difference is just subtlety, names of things and their attitude towards it all.
The gods themselves don't like each other much either (not the major players anywho)
So how do you, or would you incorporate a religion (pantheistic or no) into a world or country?
♦
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Posted: Mon Aug 31, 2009 8:46 pm
Well, depending upon the economic status of your characters, they will have different interactions between the religious orders.
A wealthy character might visit a holy site for rituals or to honor the ancestors in a personal family shrine. They would donate money and take part in rituals out of duty or political designs, rather than actual fatih. You could expand upon the economic consequences of the religions in that a peasant might interact with the religion in a more folksy or devout manner, but focusing on the deities that directly affect them, like nature, weather, smithery, etc.
Another take on religion will be on the culture of the worshipers. If more warlike, than sacrifice and a warriors code/oaths for the god(s) might help and they would be mor inclined to ask the gods to instill power within the worshipers than to have the gods directly interfere. If they are peaceful, they pray that the gods protect them, rather than actually taking the steps to arm themselves.
Gender also makes a difference. If the society is fiercly patriarchal, than the focus needs to be on the male gods, and the female gods only get involved with the aspects of society that directly involve the men. In conntrast, a matriarchal society will focus on the female deity or on the duality of men and women and so the deities will be worshipped with greater or lesser fervor, depending upon their roles in society.
You also might consider how the religions have played roles in politics or in any wars or disasters, if they hav ocurred in your story.
Hope that I have at least been a little helpful smile
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Posted: Mon Aug 31, 2009 9:42 pm
hawkmoon93 Well, depending upon the economic status of your characters, they will have different interactions between the religious orders. A wealthy character might visit a holy site for rituals or to honor the ancestors in a personal family shrine. They would donate money and take part in rituals out of duty or political designs, rather than actual fatih. You could expand upon the economic consequences of the religions in that a peasant might interact with the religion in a more folksy or devout manner, but focusing on the deities that directly affect them, like nature, weather, smithery, etc. Another take on religion will be on the culture of the worshipers. If more warlike, than sacrifice and a warriors code/oaths for the god(s) might help and they would be mor inclined to ask the gods to instill power within the worshipers than to have the gods directly interfere. If they are peaceful, they pray that the gods protect them, rather than actually taking the steps to arm themselves. Gender also makes a difference. If the society is fiercly patriarchal, than the focus needs to be on the male gods, and the female gods only get involved with the aspects of society that directly involve the men. In conntrast, a matriarchal society will focus on the female deity or on the duality of men and women and so the deities will be worshipped with greater or lesser fervor, depending upon their roles in society. You also might consider how the religions have played roles in politics or in any wars or disasters, if they hav ocurred in your story. Hope that I have at least been a little helpful smile ♦
That was quite helpful actually. This view makes it a tad easier to make three to four different religions that are at the same time the same religion. sweatdrop Yeah... 'cause that last statement made sense....
♦
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Posted: Thu Sep 10, 2009 2:08 pm
I couldn't have put it better myself, thanks Hawkmoon!
I got something to add however, if the people also vary in races, then they might have more than just different names for the same Gods, they may also see them completely different as well. Just think of the Egyptians and their Gods, most of them were half men and half animals so, a race that was dog like could have dog-like Gods or Goddesses. Just as an example... wink
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Posted: Fri Sep 11, 2009 9:13 am
hypnocrown I couldn't have put it better myself, thanks Hawkmoon! I got something to add however, if the people also vary in races, then they might have more than just different names for the same Gods, they may also see them completely different as well. Just think of the Egyptians and their Gods, most of them were half men and half animals so, a race that was dog like could have dog-like Gods or Goddesses. Just as an example... wink ♦
I've certainly got different names for them. While the main character uses the gods own preferred names most everyone else uses their countries name for the gods and goddesses. So for example while one of the goddesses prefers to refer to herself as Nysl One particularly stuck up country calls her the lady of healing (or love, preggo women and a few other things, depending on whats goin' on.) while another country, one that differs to her before most other gods, will refer to Nysl as their holy mother or Sapphire Queen.
Does this seem to complicated or unclear? This information (and that of the other three gods) of course will be leaked in here and there in the story but in and of itself is it... um-- Do you guys think it's too involved?
♦
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Posted: Tue Sep 22, 2009 2:25 pm
That sounds good! I don't think it's too involved really, it's just part of life and the more accurate you make a story to reflect what it would be like if it was real then all the better, right? After all, I believe the Romans and the Greeks worshiped the exact same gods with different names so, it's why our biggest planet is called Jupiter instead of Zeus but, I suppose you could call it Zeus if you liked, he-he. I mean really, while the Greeks had Aphrodite as the goddess of love, the Romans had Venus so, it's the exact same job but the name of the deity was completely different. I suppose you also need to think of other things for the religion like, what kind of jobs do people need to fill for the church, if it has one. For example, The highest position any man of the cloth in the Catholic religion (I think) can reach is the one known as "Pope", yes? Well, if you don't have many others along the way then you have to think of some. If you don't know much about clergy jobs you can always make up yer own or just modify how they are actually lined up as in the following example: * Pope * Arch Bishop * Bishop * Templar * Monk * Friar You see? A small chain of clergy men in a fictitious religion, he-he. wink
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Posted: Wed Oct 07, 2009 10:22 pm
hypnocrown That sounds good! I don't think it's too involved really, it's just part of life and the more accurate you make a story to reflect what it would be like if it was real then all the better, right? After all, I believe the Romans and the Greeks worshiped the exact same gods with different names so, it's why our biggest planet is called Jupiter instead of Zeus but, I suppose you could call it Zeus if you liked, he-he. I mean really, while the Greeks had Aphrodite as the goddess of love, the Romans had Venus so, it's the exact same job but the name of the deity was completely different. I suppose you also need to think of other things for the religion like, what kind of jobs do people need to fill for the church, if it has one. For example, The highest position any man of the cloth in the Catholic religion (I think) can reach is the one known as "Pope", yes? Well, if you don't have many others along the way then you have to think of some. If you don't know much about clergy jobs you can always make up yer own or just modify how they are actually lined up as in the following example: * Pope * Arch Bishop * Bishop * Templar * Monk * Friar You see? A small chain of clergy men in a fictitious religion, he-he. wink Hah.Ever have one of those moments where you picture a character of yours with a title, nickname or in a situation that swings so far away from their general path in life that you can do naught but curl up on the floor in near hysterical laughter? I just had one of those moments. May I have the distinct honor of introducing to you the Onyx Dragon, mortal hand of Nemeus, dread god of death and punishment! Ladies and gentlemen...! The Lord friar Dae'Rynath of Eone! ..... Oh dear. A helpful suggestion truly but I fear I shall have to cross Friar off of that list.
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Posted: Wed Oct 21, 2009 10:59 am
Ha-ha-ha! Well, it was just a suggestion and I'm glad mine made you laugh for a bit.
I suppose that if you have a neat imagination you can come up with your own names for those clergymen instead of the ones I listed. I've been known to come up with names for new races of either people or animals myself so I suppose it won't be tough for you to do something similar, right? wink
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