Religion in An Alternate World in a Fantasy Novel? - Writers Forum

RebelGoddess · 04-15-2008, 06:30 AM

I'm having trouble figuring out whether or not to include, or at least mention the aspect of religion in the alternate world in my novel.

There obviously has to be some kind of religion whether I mention it or not (because religion, which ever one, is part of the foundations of society).

But my question is, should I broach the subject? Should I use an already established religion? Should I create my own?

I'd love to hear all of your opinions and find our what you all have done/plan to do in your novels.

Thanks!!!

Racheal

Gilles · 04-15-2008, 07:33 AM

It depends.
In one of my stories, the story has alot to do with the setting I created, so I made my own religion.
In another, I just made the religion a type of Christianity but with the belief that magic powers were given by god, instead of it being a sin.
But in one, where the setting was modern, I barely mention religion, just making the reader assume what the religion is.
It would probably help us if you stated some important facts of the story.

Erdhexe · 04-15-2008, 08:14 AM

To question whether to create a religion in an alternate world or not isn't really a question of "should I do it this way or that." The only thing you should do is to follow your gut feeling. Does the religion match the mentality of the society you have created? Does it match the time era? Will it enhance the story's plot? If you ask yourself these questions, you'll know what to do and how.

Good luck!

Claudia

Mike C · 04-15-2008, 12:09 PM

You probably have to mention it at some point, as you say, religion is part of society, but please, please, don't describe it, and don't complicate it. Write it as if it's as common as christianity, assume that every aspect of your pseudo-religion is already known to your reader; it'll appear far more realistic and natural than if you bog down half a chapter with descriptions of rituals that have no bearing on the story.

lin · 04-15-2008, 12:33 PM

It doesn't take much.

Conan, for instance, evidentally worships something called "Crom". I'm not really aware of much in the way of details in that faith, but assume it's not one of the kinder, gentler Friends Service kind of religions.

So if somebody says, "Slaughter them all in the name of Rastubus" we get the idea.

seigfried007 · 04-15-2008, 12:38 PM

Good point, Mike.

I've written fantasy without mentioning religion at all--matter of fact, I rarely do in my short fiction. Even my long fiction only made mention of a few religions and sparingly then--say, the characters are passing the temple of a Lyra, the Goddess of Retribution and one thinks about joining, or notices how the various clerics are dressed.

Bottom line is if your charcters don't care, you shouldn't mention it--kind of like the other things they don't notice (say, navel lint in the troll's bellybutton when they're looting its cave). You only need to describe the things they notice.

CroZ · 04-15-2008, 03:06 PM

Just rename a bunch of pagan style deities or stick with the god of this or that.

Crom was a mountain god, or something to do with rocks anyway.

Shawn · 04-15-2008, 04:05 PM

Take a look at Richard Adams. That's the best example I can find of how to use religion in fantasy.

RebelGoddess · 04-15-2008, 09:40 PM

Thanks for the great tips!

I'm pretty sure I want to mention some for of religion, but I'm positive that if I do I won't go into insane detail or make it a major story/plot point.

What I'm most concerned about is how to approach it; basically, how do I mention religion in terms of characters' reactions/preferences/beliefs?

I don't want to just randomly throw it in, but I also don't want to turn it into a big deal.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike C

You probably have to mention it at some point, as you say, religion is part of society, but please, please, don't describe it, and don't complicate it. Write it as if it's as common as Christianity, assume that every aspect of your pseudo-religion is already known to your reader; it'll appear far more realistic and natural than if you bog down half a chapter with descriptions of rituals that have no bearing on the story.

I really like your idea, Mike: approaching it as if it's as common and ubiquitous a thing as Christianity.

My only problem is that I'm not a religious person and I don't know much about popular/well known religion in society/everyday life.

Any ideas on how to slip it into one (or more) of my characters' daily lives?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gilles

It would probably help us if you stated some important facts of the story.

Here are some basic facts:

(Please excuse the clichés; I tried to condense people/events/etc. in the most concise, clear way)

-The protagonist is a young woman from our world/the real world and she goes to another world/dimension.

-The protagonist has been brought to this new dimension because there is a prophecy that (for lack of a better, concise word) says that the protagonist is the person who is going to "save" this other dimension; I.E. she's supposed to stop the extirpation of the dimension's government at the hands of a power-hungry woman.

-The dissolution in the government was caused when an ambitious woman climbed through the social and political ranks and (to make a long description/back-story short) has now gained almost complete control over the government

-She has become almost like a tyrant, molding the laws and the structure of their society to fit her desires.

-Her "big plan" is to rule over and control all of their dimension/world and then to go into the Protagonist's world (the "real" world) and conquer it as well.

-Through her rise to power the woman has killed many people (purposely and unintentionally) and thrust many more into poverty/hiding.

-The protagonist has been brought to this new dimension because there is a prophecy that (for lack of a better, concise word) says that the protagonist is the person who is going to "save" the other dimension; i.e. she's supposed to stop the woman before she attacks the protagonist's world and also to restore proper balance/power to this other dimension.

-To put it simply, the protagonist is supposed to:
A: Stop the woman before she attacks the protagonist's world
B: Restore proper balance/power to this other dimension.

-The protagonist is receiving help from those who oppose the woman’s rule; she spends the majority of the novel working with 7 people, all of whom want to stop the tyrant and restore the old government/structure (and also for their own personal reasons).

-Every character except the protagonist (and the character that brought her to the other dimension) has lived their entire life in this dimension, so they would be entirely familiar with its customs/religion/etc.

That’s the basic (VERY basic) description of the major plot (though looking back, it’s not all that short of a description, LOL!).

So, does anyone have ideas about how/where to try and mention or discuss religion?

Any and all comments are greatly appreciated!!

I finished my novel a while ago and now I’m re-editing (for something like the 8th time LOL) and trying to make it as interesting and multidimensional as possible.

Thanks again!!!

Racheal

Shawn · 04-16-2008, 06:40 AM

What's the internal conflict? I can't see any great struggle for change in the character.

seigfried007 · 04-16-2008, 09:50 AM

And I'm seeing a tired plot

Seriously, you may wnt to rethink it. I'm not going to bother counting the pieces that use this plot line. Almost all fantasy seems to use it or a variation thereof. One more magical plebe girl, one more dark overlord to overthrow, one more world to save *yawn*.

Naturally, we'll expect her big character transformation to be something like getting the courage enough to kill the dark overloard--who's evil to begin with and spoiling the countryside and a tyrant so who's going to care if anyone removes her from power in the most pointed way possible?

All beside the point of religion, but hey...

Simple then. She's from our world so she's undoubtedly been inundated with the daily manifestations of this-world religions and has something to compare them to when she goes there.

Christmas, Easter--great examples. The presense of signs and steeples and parades of ladies in big hats and pastel dresses on Sunday mornings. The hordes of people in Golden Corrals and other buffets on Sunday afternoons. Televangelists taking over the airwaves on early morning tv. Light-up nativities. Christmas trees. The presense of the word Christ inside Christmas. The presense of "In God We Trust" on currency and the 10 Commandments at or near courthouses. Laying your hand on a Bible when you're sworn in as a witness. The phrase "Oh my God!" and it's many internet-speak incarnations like OMG and OMFG. Jehovah's Witness and Mormons going door-to-door with 'literature'. The squads of Presbyterian ladies doing bakesales at the local Kroger or Albertson's. Food drives and other charites. People wearing Christian (or anti-Christian) t-shirts. The crucifix and cross--on clothing, on wristbands, on chains, in beads, it's friggin everywhere. The ocassional spot of Christian graffiti. Saying "Bless you! when someone sneezes. Burying somoene on 'blessed' or 'holy' ground. Kosher foods. Rosaries.

All of those signs find you whether you know anythng about the religion or not. You don't have to know anything about scriptures and you certainly don't have to have gone to seminary to know all of those things.

Your fantasy people may have a saying or other small ritual (like when Catholics cross themselves or when Muslims pray toward Mecca). Something they don't think about but may strike your new girl as odd. They may have holy sites and buildings. They may have specific ways of interring the dead (all cultures do). The holy people may have a specific style of dress (like the penguin suits and collars in Catholicism) or may mandate the citizenry or followers wear something (say, veils and/or turbans everyday or big hats only on Sundays).

They may have a day set aside for holy rites and rituals and holidays at key points in the year (think lunar phases, equinox and solstices for those). They may have holy words, colors, symbols that may be worn, inscribed, tattooed, etc (or not--look at Islam for the particularly cool aspect of geometric patterns and refusing to illustrate with pictures of actual people). Holy sites may be particulalry wealthy or not but are usually defensible from bad weather and built to last. They might have artwork peculiar to holy sites (say only this god may have sculpture or stained glass, while that one has lots of vaulted ceilings and particularly tall buildings).

Either way, I hope I gave you something to think about.

lin · 04-16-2008, 10:04 AM

Quote:

Take a look at Richard Adams. That's the best example I can find of how to use religion in fantasy.

Sure you're not thinking of Douglas Adams?

lin · 04-16-2008, 10:08 AM

Here's a passage from the last book I finished.

Quote:

Tullio took a globe the size of a grapefruit from his backpack and shook it. It lit up, a soft golden glow that looked perfect in this sanctum of elaborately carven walls and pillars. Monke motioned him closer to some of the carvings, marveling at the intricate interplay of figures. It looked like a plate of intestines, was his impression. Then a nest of eels. Then you started to see it was some kind of winged snakes, copulating and swallowing each other. Often simultaneously. The serpent penises were as big around as their bodies, long and barbed. He turned to the others. “Are we sure we want to continue our tour of this place?”
“Ritual symbolism,” Tullio replied offhand, examining the dark hardwood planks that had been fastened over the ceiling-height doorway. “Probably a cult created by the clan who seeded here.”
He held his globe overhead, faintly illuminating the ceiling. “See, there’s the messenger from the heavens, with his Sun emblem.”

Shawn · 04-16-2008, 05:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lin

Sure you're not thinking of Douglas Adams?

No, I'm thinking of the Great Frith from Watership Down.

But Douglas Adams was an extremely talented writer.

RebelGoddess · 04-17-2008, 10:36 PM

Seigfried, thanks for the tip!

I think that's a great idea, mentioning the idea of religion through a holiday or ritual.

As for the plot, yes, I know it sounds very, very cliche and tired there.

But I promise, that is just the very basic outline of one aspect of my novel; I didn't go into much detail because I just wanted to provide enough info so as to give you all an idea of what I'm trying to "mention" religion in.

I'm very aware of how overused my basic plot is, which is why I'm trying to work in a lot of new stuff and different ideas (or twists) and make it original.

But thank you for the criticism! I'm always on the look out for spots in the story that come off as/are cliche.

Thanks again!

Racheal