Many writers use fictional religions to add to their story’s world building. Adding a religion to your story can be a great way to show what’s important in your characters’ culture, and what people in your world value. A fictional religion can be used to explain social and political power structures, such as the source of a king’s power, or the reasoning behind a war. Fictional religions can even be used to explain the typical family structure and common social expectations around gender and sexuality.
Of course, your story’s fictional religions don’t have to be true, correct, or even moral. Your characters might disagree with Moralism, or even be in open rebellion against the octopus-worshiping Tentacle Temple.
How to flesh out your story’s fictional religions:
- Syncretism – How the other religions in your story impact the religion. Do people “mix and match” elements from multiple faiths? When the religion moves into a new area, do the locals adopt all of it or just the parts that fit well with their old faith?
- Moral code – How believers act towards other people, each other, and any divine being(s). Is it a strict set of rules written down in a divine text, or is it more of a general “respect each other, respect nature, and do your best to be kind” idea? Do nonbelievers agree with their moral code, or does it oppose most of society?
- Ritual – The formal practices of the religion. What are the standard practices of the religion? Prayer, meditation, regular gatherings with other believers, summoning a tentacle demon to grab their enemies, etc.
- The Supernatural – Does the religion include a strong supernatural element? Do people believe in gods, demons, angels, or other invisible or intangible beings? Do people believe in heaven, hell, or other realities? Are miracles part of the religion? Do people believe the physical world and nature is all there is?
- Symbols – What symbols do people use in the religion? How do they identify themselves and their religious buildings? What symbols do they use in religious art, writing, music?
- Religious Stories – Are stories used to teach the religion’s rules and beliefs? Do they have a creation story, stories of their founder(s), parables? Did the stories actually occur? Is there any evidence or proof of these stories, or are they myths or non-literal?
- Emotional Experiences – How does practicing the religion make people feel? Do they feel guilty, in awe of their god(s), fearful? Do they have a strong emotional connection to their god(s), or do they feel distant and unknowable? Do they feel giddy at the prospect of their tentacle demon returning to Earth and destroying the nonbelievers?
- Physical Aspect – Are there physical objects needed to practice the religion? Do people wear special clothes, jewelry, religious tattoos? Are there churches, temples, or other religious buildings? Is there merch? Do people buy t-shirts and bumper stickers to advertise their beliefs?
- Lived Aspect – The part that isn’t ritual or doctrine. What do people actually do with their beliefs? Are most believers strict adherents to the religion’s doctrine, or are they believers in name only? Do they try to be kinder, more generous? Do they try to keep out “outsiders”?
When you’re fleshing out the details of your fictional religion, don’t forget nonbelievers. How do nonbelievers feel about the religion? Do they think believers are crazy? Hateful? Evil? Are they worried about what the religion might drive people to do? Are believers free to practice their religion, or do they hide their beliefs in fear?
Do outsiders view the religion more or less correctly, or do they only know it through rumors and gossip? Perhaps they think Peaceful Tree Worship is secretly an apocalypse cult, or those alien monks are secretly hiding a treasure horde under their monastery.
However you use religion in your story, you are sure to open up a world of opportunities to develop your characters, move your plot forward, and deepen your story’s theme. And when you do all three, your story will be meaningful and powerful, to believers and nonbelievers alike.
Did I miss anything? What other details do people need to flesh out a fictional religion? Leave a comment and let me know!
