Fictive belief systems

 

Hello, friends!

Today I'd like to take you on a journey of creating a belief system for your story. In this post you'll find a bunch of questions to reflect upon and try to answer as you're creating a religion for your story. This will be particularly useful in fantasy genre.

Click HERE to read about philosophies the characters could follow outside of belief systems.

Let's get into it!

The worship figure

• Is it a monotheistic, polytheistic or non-theistic belief system?

• What is the god-like being? Is it an object, a human, a spirit?

• What is the worship figure capable of?

• Why are they worshiped? 

• What are the advantages of worshipping them? Do you gain something by following the religion? Are there any threats if you don't?

• Is it up to you to believe?

Rules

• What rules need to be followed?

• Is there a moral code? Does it have a name?

• How strict is it?

• Who makes sure the rules are followed?

• How does one join the belief system? How can they leave?

Rituals

• What are some typical rituals in this religion?

• How does one celebrate the belief system?

• Are there any special days?

• Are there any holidays?

• Do the believers meet up? Is it systematic?

• What happens to your body after you die?

Values

• What do they believe in?

• What is perceived as right and wrong?

• What is important in deciding their fate?

• What is believed to happen to you after death?

→ reincarnation

→ Hell/Heaven

→ oblivion, nothingness 

→ changing realms, forms,...

History 

• How did the belief system come to be?

• What was there before it?

• Were there any wars or conflicts surrounding the religion?

• What are some important religious figures?

• Are there any conflicts or complicated areas within the belief system?

Routine 

• How does one pray?

Examples: reading religious texts (what kind of are there?), deeds for the community (what kind?), reciting / singing / dancing together, altars, rituals, sacrifices, parades, specific food,...

• How does it influence their day?

• Do they share the routine with others?

• Are there any objects made for praying? Texts?

• How does the religion show in other places in everyday life? How does it influence the culture?

Locations

• Is there a place where the beilievers come together? Is it a building or a place in nature? How often can you stumble across it?

• How does it look like from the outside and from the inside?

• Does someone work there? How does one become such a person? What does it mean to be one?

• Are there any other belief systems present in the world? How do they interact with one another?