Legit Worldbuilding Tip #3
or -Ā āCrafting Religions for Fictional Worldsā
Whether youāre religious or not, thereās no denying the cultural, political, and social impact that religion has had on the world around us.Ā
So when crafting a brand new world, whether itās high fantasy, science fiction, science fantasy, etc., religion can play a big part of the world that youāre building. And because of its relative importance, there are a lot of things to think about re: crafted religions.Ā
Religions Shape Morals and Virtues
Morals are a strange thing. People arenāt born with an innate knowledge of what to do in life, or how to act. It only makes sense, then, that people would turn to religion as a guide for how they should behave.Ā Thatās easy enough to see with the world we live in.Ā
The Golden Rule. Nearly everybody learns this one growing up. For Christians, it comes in the form of a Biblical quote -Ā āDo unto others as you would have them do unto you.ā But the concept isnāt unique to Christianity. Nearly every religion has this same rule, in some form or another.Ā
But when you get further into the details of differing religions, you see that each has its own set of morals and what it feels isĀ āright.ā This can range from Evangelicals who feel that same-sex love is a sin because of an archaic passage from the old testament to vegetarianism as a way to avoid hurting other living creatures, commonly found among Hindus.Ā
Well, this means that when youāre crafting a religion, one of the things to think about is what morals you want in your world.Ā
Donāt want a world with a bunch of homophobic assholes? Iāve got good news for you! A same-sex couple amongst your pantheon of Gods and you can have a world where people donāt just accept same-sex love, but celebrate it!
But thatās not the only thing to think about. Different taboos are often religion-centric as well.Ā
These taboos can have minor consequences on your world-building in some ways. For example, maybe you just want to make things more interesting by adding details such as characters who avoid certain kinds of metals or stones because theyāre strictly forbidden in their religious texts.Ā
These taboos can also have major consequences on your story. For example, even in the modern day and age there are a lot of prejudices against albinism in some African countries. You can imagine the consequences for such a character.
Religions Shape Cultural Practices and Thoughts
In the West, pretty much everybody celebrates the holidays, even if they arenāt Christian. They may adapt their practices depending on their beliefs, but regardless, if you live in a country like America youāll experience a lot of religious influence around the holiday season.Ā Christmas, a day that celebrates the birth of a religious figure, has a tremendous cultural impact even on those that arenāt Christian.Ā
When crafting a religion, it only makes sense to think about the cultural impact said religion will have. Holidays, prayer, rituals, religious pilgrimages, the way that people keep track of time (as in our AD system), taboos (as already mentioned), fasting, celibacy, religious bathing/cleansingā¦Ā
These are just a few practices that exist within different religions. Many are so ingrained in our culture that people donāt even think of them asĀ āreligiousā any more.Ā
For example, the practice of abstaining from sex before marriage. This single religious belief has created a culture that is very prohibitive regarding sexuality. A lot of people still think that fewer sex partners = a better person, even those who arenāt adherents of any religious philosophy. Itās just something thatās ingrained in our culture.Ā
All this to say - the best starting point for creating a religion in a fictional world is knowing what kind of world you want to write.Ā
With all that out of the way, letās get on to the actual creation process. There are a few things to think about, but I want to start with something I feel is very important.Ā
There are a lot of religions out there. I suggest you research them and learn about them.
But please donāt just take an existing religion, especially one from another culture, slap a new name on it, give it an air of mysticism, and then be done with it. Itās disrespectful to those who actually practice these religions.
*Ahem* Okay, Iāve said my piece and now Iāll move on.Ā
Remember - Multiple Religions Can and Usually Do Exist in a Culture
This is the first and most important thing I want to point out. Most of the stories Iāve seen where creators do religion right is when they remember that not everybody practices the same religion.Ā
George R. R. Martin does this incredibly well with the different religions in ASOIAF. They are all different, they are all unique, they are very much shaped by the part of the world that those characters live in.Ā
Also remember that the same religion can have many different interpretations, leading to different branches and sects. They can be quite different and they may not get along that well. This is another thing that is often forgotten.Ā
Different Types of Religions
Throughout history there have been many different types of religions. Some have a single god. Some have an entire pantheon. Some see gods as people. Some see gods as animals. Some gods are both people and animals, depending on the story thatās being told. Some religions see gods as having no form. Some religions teach that god is the universe. Some say that there are no gods, but there is power in everything.
Letās Talk Prophets and Stuff
Another thing to remember is that religions are often centered on a prophet, or a personās teachings. While a god or pantheon of gods may be central to that religion, the prophet/guru/etc. is also very important. Jesus, Muhammed, the Buddhaā¦ just a few real world examples.Ā
This is where I take the time to point out something important. Your religion doesnāt have to have a male prophet/teacher. A prophet can be a woman. Or nonbinary. There can be six prophets who worked together, all of different gender identities. In fact, this can be a really good way to get rid of gross stuff like sexism in your worldās culture, or just plain avoid stereotypical high fantasy with Manly Men and Damsels in Distress.
Leave Some Stuff Unexplained
Another thing I want to point out is that religions donāt usually have explanations for everything. I mean, the whole point of religion is faith most of the time.Ā
I was talking with @more-legit-gr8er-writing-tips earlier about this. Because I still get mad about the midichlorian thing in Star Wars. The Force was an awesome (if a little underdeveloped) religion. It was focused on the power that exists in all things rather than the idea of a god. Certain people could access the Force. All was good.Ā Then they made the Force the result of little critters that live inside people.Ā
No. No no no. Okay, Iāll stop. Just suffice it to say, whatever genre youāre writing in, donāt feel the need to explain everything. Even if magic exists, even if thereās science, just embrace the mystery and the wonder of the religion youāve created.
Iāll keep this one short. But just remember that where thereās religion, thereās inevitably going to be some sort of religious institution. It may be that in your world every town has its own religious leader and group of scholars. Or you could have a vast system of temples. Or you could have the fantasy equivalent of the Catholic Church.Ā
(Remember also - the bigger a religious institution is, and the more influence it has on the people, the more likely it is going to be a power in its own right in your world - a.k.a. the Catholic Church basically being a governing power in our own history.)
Religion in Science Fiction
Apart from some science fantasy, Iām hard pressed to find many science fiction stories that include religion. I think thereās a general assumption that people will move away from religion, especially as we learn more about the world we live in.
Butā¦ people are people. And Iām 100% sure that there will always be some people who believe in something. Your dystopian government may not like it, but somebody somewhere will discover the last unburned copy of the Torah and a brand new religion with elements of Judaism will spring up around it.Ā
And that starship flying through space in the year 3277? Probably going to have Buddhists, Hindus, Christians, Muslims, and who knows what else on board. Though they may not practice religion the same way we do now. And who the crap knows what the aliens are going to believe in.
Common Themes in Religion
One of the final things I have to say is that, for as many differences there are in religions, there are a lot of commonalities. Things like prophets, and trickster gods, and miraculous births (such as children being found in rivers or born to virgins). I suggest you do some research on the commonalities in religions and use them if you need a bit of inspiration for crafting your own.Ā
Anyway, Iāve rambled long enough. I just want you to consider some of these things. This is just one way to build a little more complexity into a world youāve created, and it can do a lot for everything from plot to making the reader really believe that your world exists. So have at it! Enjoy playing god(s).Ā
jacobvanloon
gummygunk
stormborns
