I'm working on a high-fantasy, so to speak, and the only thing I don't have is a religion worked out.
I'm thinking of some vague mythology and spiritual concept, but what precisely, I haven't the faintest.
The civilization is somewhat organized, with urban centers, a written language, and numerous tribal groups that wage war, but I don't have their religion worked out...which is a problem, as a character of mine is about to die, and I need to have some afterlife-views dreamed up by that time...
Thanks!
Fantastical Spirituality and Religions: How to Invent One?
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I'm not good when it comes to making up imaginary worlds and the such, but my advice is look at different mythologies (Greek, Norse, etc) and look for similar themes in each one. Then use those themes in making up your own. Greek religion/mythology, for example, was made up to explain why things happened in nature the way that they did. As for the afterlife thing, I really don't know.
Sorry. I hope this helps. -
Ok, well, I'm not really sure what you have in mind, but if I were to go about doing this, it'd probably look something like this:
1) Is there a higher power? More than one? Are these gods/godesses, nature based powers, ancestors, or animal deities? Do these higher beings control the fates of your world, or do they just observe? Did they create the world, or come after?
These questions are the most important, because they will change what your answers to the next ones will be.
2) What is the afterlife like?
This is one of the most fundamental questions with all religions, and I can see how it would be hard to figure this out. So, before you answer it, consider the following:
a)What matters most to your culture? Are they farming, mining, fishing, weaving, trading or logging as their main source of income? What makes them different from other peoples?
b)Do you want the afterlife to change based on what the person's life was like? (A heaven/hell situation)
c) Will people be coming back? (You may have a reincarnation system)
Mostly I think you just need to spend some time thinking about it, playing around with the details until you come up with something you like. The other questions can be decided later:
3) Who are the religious leaders?
4) What are the places of worship like?
5) Do different peoples have different religions as a conflict? (Maybe not if they are all geographically close together)
6)Are there religious laws/customs that must be obeyed?
7)How devout are most people?
Ok, I think that's about it. I hope this helps a little bit.
If you have questions, pm me!
Lupis
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