Religion in Fantasy

[lea_hazel]

Supposing you picked up a book (secondary world fantasy, FWIW) and from beginning to end, it didn't have a single mention of religion in it. What would you think? I mean, none of the characters, major or minor, are religious, no places of worship, no names of gods, no forces beyond mortal ken, no epithets or swears or the like. How hard would you roll your eyes?


When I look at all the things I want to add to my story's worldbuilding, religion isn't one of them. Right now the world is very frail and basic, I have to add a lot regarding language, currency, economy, border politics and documentation, even technology. I also want to expand a few things I did address, like food and clothing, arts, and class differences.

Ostensibly religion is too big and too important a part of people's lives, even (sometimes especially) if they are not adherents themselves. Certainly I doubt I'd ever write a contemporary or historical story without addressing religion at least a little. However, building a whole set of religions suitable to four POV characters of four different species frankly sounds like more trouble than it's worth.

I don't really like religion, and don't find it fascinating enough. Then again, I don't find economics very interesting either, but I look at my story and see that it's necessary to address things like trade and craft, currency exchange and the value of certain goods, in order to accomplish the story I'm setting out to tell.


Can I accomplish my story in a world with no religion, or is that just too implausible?

Comments

[ailelie]

As others have said, the lack of religion is not merely the lack of places of worship and the mentions of gods. Belief is part of the fabric of any group. The legends, fears, hopes, understanding, etc.

1. Blessings and curses.
Do your people believe in luck/fate/fortune? (As an idea, not a being) If not, then your 'good lucks' will more likely be 'don't give ups' or 'you can do it.' and so on. A comment above mentions the effect on curses.

2. How do your people explain the world around them? If purely with science, then how are difficult concepts broken down for the less educated? Does the belief in science lead to any reverence for those who seem to understand the secrets of the world?

3. What are people afraid of? Why? How do they protect/comfort themselves?

4. What is the ideal person? Who do people strive to be/be like? Why? Or, if not one person, what are the traits commonly agreed to be good and desirable?

5. Seconding Tyger's comment above

6. Superstitions?

7. How do people explain disease? And how did they before that explanation?

Etc.

These aren't things you'd necessarily need for a story, but since you're world-building, they are some of the things you'd probably want to consider.

To answer your other question-- If I was reading a story that made no reference to religion, I'd think nothing of it. Religion isn't always necessary to a story and shoehorning it in would be silly. (The blatant lack of religion, however, is noticeable and, frankly, silly. It is one thing to leave it out and quite another to constantly draw the reader's attention to the fact that you left it out).

If I was reading world-building notes that made no reference to religion, though, I would definitely comment.

As for having four different species and not wanting to make four different religions...

1. Do any of them have a religion with customs that would be noticeable throughout the average day or week?

2. Are any of their religions opposed in a way that they would bicker or leave the discussion of religion aside in order to preserve peace?

3. Do any of them practice a religion that would require them to abstain or indulge in certain drinks, foods, or practices?

4. Do any of them see religion as the source of their power or understanding?

5. Do any of them wear symbols of their religion? Are they easily seen or would they only appear under certain circumstances?

6. Does religion affect how any of them speak?

And then, to build the religions themselves:

As a single person and not a whole group practicing the religion-- who is the primary recipient of their belief? (A god or goddess (the only option or one of many)? Nature in general or specifically (a mountain, the sun, a star, the ocean, trees, etc)? Ancestors (a patron or in general)? A concept (luck, fate, love, etc)? etc) // Why do they believe? (grew up? chose? converted? part of life and not really thought of as any more special than cooking or sleeping? greatly important? Road to Damascus moment?) // Finally, is their religion typical of their people or not? How so and why?

You don't really need to create a full religion for each of the four characters. You just need to figure out how it would affect the four of them and when it may be visible. Later, you can color in those areas as they become relevant.

[trobadora]

I was going to write a comment, but you already said it all. Great comment!

[lea_hazel]

There is a lot in your comment to consider. One of the main reasons I felt like I didn't really need religion, is because in fantasy it is a force for social conflict, and the conflict in my story arises from differences in species and the type of stratified societies they form. Species is the differentiator that rises above nationality and unites or divides people accordingly. It seems to me that it can give rise to a set of social philosophies that are not really religious, but which have a similar organizing effect on society.

Epithets are tricky, although I am pretty good at spotting turns of phrase that have an underlying religious meaning.

I don't intend to draw attention to the lack of religion. I only recently noticed it myself, so I think I will just continue as I started, and take care that something incongruent doesn't slip in. Writing in limited third person should make that easy.

[ailelie]

Religion as philosophy. Forgot that one. My head was stuck on organized, which is really only part of the picture.

Add 'often' in front of your 'force for social conflict' and I'll agree with you. I'd even go 'usually.' I've seen it otherwise (outside of religious fantasy even) or at such a low degree of conflict that it didn't really register plot-wise.

As for your species differences, I'd simply point out that religion can affect the stratification of a society.

Epithets are also fun b/c they give an idea of what the society's values are.

As for your story, I do hope you share it. Should be interesting if it includes conflict between nation and species.