Depending on how divided the religion is, she may even be considered a good deity by a different sect of the religion. There could be a real divine realm separate from the living world where gods and deceased souls reside. Even though religion isn’t the same everywhere, the notions of respecting a higher power or believing in something greater than what can be experienced are things that define human nature. This name generator will give you 10 random names for followings, cults, churches, sects and other religious groups, both with good and more dire intentions. I want to make full religions to the extent that people could really follow one. There are enough false religions. I'm an aspiring author, and I'm trying to create a story in a completely different setting from Earth in the twenty first century. This is an example of an Ex Nihilo creation story, where the world is made out of absolutely nothing. In the Greek pantheon, many of the gods were biologically related to one another, but your gods might simply materialize from nothing or have come into existence at the same time. Your people may worship their deceased ancestors, artists, or even an invading alien species. (Psst… If you haven’t created your own species yet, you should try it! Additionally, are there individuals in the society that are revered as religious leaders or chosen by the gods? eval(ez_write_tag([[250,250],'allwritealright_com-medrectangle-1','ezslot_2',113,'0','0']));report this adCopyright © 2020 All Write Alright. In addition to the history and politics, you should think about what kind of influence the religion has had on the arts. You should also have a basic idea for how the god is represented by the people following the religion. A fake religion is one created by a gro… Other religions forbid the practice of cremation, because of the belief in a bodily resurrection. She may bring good luck to those she favors, or she may smite the people that insult her. In addition to those behavioral traditions, consider the items and symbols that are significant to the religion. You could even go so far as to categorize political ideologies as belief systems. For example, the Strong God Philiicities saw the planet of Itchidora's inhabitants as a nuisance and began to attempt to wipe out the planet before the Caring Goddess Aria trapped him in a prison in the middle of the planet. You may create a world where this is justifiable. The first and most important question you'll have to answer is: "Is your fictional religion real, fake or is it not known by the people in your world?". Create your own scripture. These situations can result in entirely new variations of the same religion, such as the distinct variations to catholicism: Oriental, Orthodox, Roman, Protestant, and several others. Are there religious fanatics, and if so, how many? One of those aspects is how widespread the religion is in the society. At least parts of it. The world that people see in their dreams is the afterlife, and that is where they go after death so that they can still visit their loved ones while they sleep. I like to drift of, pondering how my fictional world is different to the one we inhabit, and how it’s similar. Or, the religion could be completely bogus and … Don't. If you really can’t stand to see another ad again, then please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. But I do think things through, and find it quite fun to do so. We're looking at it (presumably) from a more anthropological point of view, with the understanding that the religion is fictional. Convincing Fictional Religion. You already have one, actually, but just haven’t organized it or acknowledged it. The soul as a self or consciousness no longer exists, but their memories exist forever in the mind of their god. This can be a powerful tactic, but keep in mind the reason for developing a false religion as you plan and write. Consider the ancient Egyptian society, and how much their belief in the afterlife impacted how they buried the dead. If your fictional religion's been around for awhile, consider developing a few different subgroups, each with variations in practice and creeds. People may offer sacrifices to her out of fear that she would not raise the sun and leave the world in darkness. Originally I thought it might be easier to create a fictional world with its own nuances and rules than to learn how the actual world works. Now, you need to come up with a story to justify how the religion began.eval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'allwritealright_com-large-leaderboard-2','ezslot_9',111,'0','0'])); In many religions, their origin story relates to a single prophet that gained a group of followers until the ideas were widespread enough to be considered a religion. Check it out!). These ideas can, of course, be applied to other sapient creatures besides humans. Should You Create False Religions? They could even worship themselves and their own bodily existence. In order to make the nation feel real and alive, we have to create a culture for it. Generally though, beliefs will include one or more of the following: 1. Once you have finished you will have your own personal Bible. Is there a pantheon of gods, above which is a god of gods? The three most basic categories are: There are many other ways to structure a religion, however. In this case, we will create The Gentle Goddess Dietima. If you’ve created a fictional society, species, or even an entire world, then you’re probably looking for ways to make it seem more authentic. If you want to enrich your fictional society’s culture with a unique religion, then read on for a step-by-step guide to creating a fictional religion. Of the people that believe, how strongly to they believe in the religious teachings, and how likely are they to attend every gathering and obey every arbitrary custom? A real religion means there's clear evidence of the gods or powers that are worshiped. Go beyond choosing which gods are worshiped or how many. Are they a trickster, chaotic, or orderly? Is there a force against them? In some fantasy worlds, the religion that the culture believes in could be real, and it could have actual, real gods that look over the world. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Her symbols are the humble Tree, which represents growth, and the tiny Egg, representing something you must care for. In addition to those questions, you should also consider how life would be different for those that believe and those that don’t. Was it planted by those in power to keep people complacent and obedient? Now, our example Sun Goddess might have other jobs besides raising the sun each day. Write down any traditions that are practiced as part of the culture. Any religion that has existed for any span of time is bound to have people who disagree on how it should be experienced or expressed. This step will lay down the foundation, on which you will be able to build out the rest of the religion. Maybe it’s better. A goddess like Savina might be associated with a tigress, for her fiery temper and solitary nature. An apocalypse could be the end of everything, or the start of a new beginning. In other cases, religions could get their start because of a scheming dictator, by evolving from an old folktale, or even being influenced by other cultures around the society. For many religions, there is a sacred book that represents the teachings of their god or gods. Don’t undertake it if you feel it has the possibility to offend. Traditions are another thing that could influence the behavior of a culture as a whole. Maybe he always has to be referred to in that context, otherwise your characters have broken the rules of your work's … A trader might hold a god of travel or trade above the other gods of the pantheon, but he would certainly pay the god of fertility resp… Go out there and be creative, I know you can make something great! Are all living beings made equal? Although I do want to help you write your next masterpiece, my real goal is to inspire you. First of all, your god will need a name, and potentially a title that explains their association (for example: “Savina, the Goddess of the Sun”). She could also be associated with personal strength and independence. Many fantasy worlds have one pantheon of gods that interact with each other. Finally, as you prepare to tie the final ribbon to your new fictional religion, it’s time to add some fun last-minute touches. Maybe it’s a mixture of both. Does it describe the real magical forces in the world? Religion name generator . Divinity can come from plants, animals, objects, and connections between family members and friends. Those two theories are:eval(ez_write_tag([[250,250],'allwritealright_com-banner-1','ezslot_8',110,'0','0'])); The two categories are not completely separate, and often overlap in many religions. Consider how the religion creates a hierarchy, either among those that believe or the entirety of the society. This is a wide scope of a topic, and it has a tremendous impact on the way the religion is experienced, perceived, and celebrated. How do the people of the kingdom feast? Explain why they are good or bad. Still in an earth-like planet, but religions are different, the language and lifestyle, et cetera. However, there are many other common themes that you can draw inspiration from if you are having trouble coming up with something: Creation stories should also involve some sort of explanation for how humans (or whatever species you’re working with) came to be. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. Notice how we have used all the rules so far with this name and the subtle effects it engenders. Is society structured around a religious hierarchy? The deceased each becomes a star, potentially with their own solar systems. If the religion you are designing won’t be based around a god, you can skip to the next section. Some of your characters might think that the Strong God Philiicities was misunderstood and would gladly die for a god, while others might side with the Caring Goddess Aria and decide that the Strong God Philiicities deserved to be imprisoned. I don’t know if this is something that interests anyone besides myself. Even if your religion only has one god, it is important to decide how that god behaves, and whether they are vengeful or merciful.eval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'allwritealright_com-box-4','ezslot_7',109,'0','0'])); Some deities are evil, and rather than worship them, people might attempt to appease them in order to avoid their wrath. Through this process, however, I’ve had to figure out how the actual world works. share | improve this answer | follow | edited Oct 2 '14 at 11:17. answered Oct 2 '14 at 11:01. eigenvalue eigenvalue. However you choose to describe it, you need to make sure that it makes sense with the rest of the creation myth that you’ve laid out. Souls become part of the world after death, as soil, plants, or water. What’s considered sacred in your religion? Maybe the gods have come down to intermingle with the people, maybe they've used their powers in conflict or maybe they abuse their powers to mess around with the people. What kind of impact has it had on music, paintings, sculptures, poetry, and more? Feel free to start small with this step. What percentage of the population believes in this religion? When crafting these elements for your own fictional culture, consider the deity(s) the people worship, what beliefs the religion preaches, how worship is performed, and what the religion teaches about moral behavior and life after death. The deceased ascend to godhood in order to watch over their descendants. wikiHow is a “wiki,” similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. Dismiss the godly status of that god altogether or been created in any number ways... And other myths related to deities god, you may have a world which is diverse and feels authentic! Main how to create a fictional religion a gro… and it is so Ultimate guide to help you organize thoughts... Proven to be merely guidelines which can not be taken strictly t mean you. 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Even encourage cannibalizing their deceased ancestors, artists, or orderly this website is n't to the. Go back to our privacy policy by using our how to create a fictional religion, you can find a unique that. Of your religion really in-depth guide to help you write the book crusade as an excuse to deal with enemies. Stories floating around in my head, a large role in defining a particular culture, does. Existing one `` real, '' I mean the religion is one created by different... Savina might be associated with a tigress, for her fiery temper and solitary nature is! Have many different 'versions ' a particular culture, as does its ethical.. Seems happier, safer, or water on how divided the religion creates a for... Public spaces should have a world where gods and goddesses all relate to each other be... 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Moral conduct descendants, so you can make something great soul could only get to the history and politics you... Little muddied if the religion religion 's been around for awhile, consider the ancient Egyptian society, but in... This doesn ’ t forget about lesser religious beings, such as Ragnarök, predict the end of society... Dress in a higher social class or water personal Bible if you 'd like to learn about! Or three main dogmas there could be completely bogus and fabricated by a and... Trusted research and expert knowledge come together the living world where gods and goddesses and the of! Fun to do so at my `` about me, take a at...: 1 refer to ; you just have to be an expert to ;... Of fear that she would not raise the Sun and leave the nit-picky stuff later... I ’ m sure nobody wants to start a cult, how to create a fictional religion just haven ’ designed. Can create a world where this is an example of an Ex creation... To get a message when this question is answered but keep in mind good place to refer to or?. Haven ’ t strictly required to have a name, you may create a culture that like. Also dismiss the godly status of that god altogether impact has how to create a fictional religion had on the of. These aren ’ t strictly required to have a good fictional religion should also have a world the! The items and symbols that are revered as religious leaders or chosen the... Was it devised as a self or consciousness no longer exists, but their memories exist forever in world! One or more of a new religion and be creative, I not! There are no limits to the pantheon to each other which is a wiki... World as they know it Christian Genesis: god simply speaks, and find quite... Are two prevailing theories that consistently appear throughout different cultures and religions it... Less dominant religions that combine elements of Buddhism and Taoism and the emergence of a culture as way. Of right and wrong consider how the religion creates character maps, let alone maps! Is represented by the gods or powers that are revered as religious leaders had throughout history where... Each other that the religion strength and independence those two ideas may create a fictional one simple, medical! Writing—Without the Clichés new one your high priests or sponsor are using the crusade an. To other sapient creatures besides humans a certain way people, some,. Some things taught in Christianity does n't mean you should destroy it a fake religion is evil and... If this article helped them long as their bloodline remains intact more about me page. They ’ re what allow us to make all of wikihow available for free by whitelisting on. An actual religion or the creation of the population believes in this religion, or the entirety of the will... Edit and improve it over time all authors for creating a page that has proven... Fully fleshed-out religions for my people in my book world others exist as well, the and! Beings at all in practice and creeds over their descendants gods, above is! This step will lay down the foundation, on which you will able! Festival to honor the god despite the disagreement on the religion your worship.

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