|
Server : Apache/2.4.62 System : FreeBSD fbsdweb2.web.rcn.net 14.1-RELEASE FreeBSD 14.1-RELEASE releng/14.1-n267679-10e31f0946d8 GENERIC amd64 User : www ( 80) PHP Version : 8.3.8 Disable Function : NONE Directory : /domains/markrose/board/messages/ |
Upload File : |
<html><head><title>creating religions</title></head>
<body bgcolor="#FFFFFF">
<center><h1><!--title-->creating religions
</h1></center>
<hr size=7 width=75%>
<p>Posted by <b><!--poster-->CavemanBOK</b>
on <!--date-->13:33 9/1/02
<p>In reply to: (none)
<!-- PUT MESSAGE HERE -->
<p>
aside from winging it and just coming up with ideas that seem good, what
organized way is there to come up with religions for a fantasy setting? i
hate the name-the-gods, give-them-a-job, create-a-mythology route most
everyone goes, it always seems to lead to stereotypes (not just archetypes).
and on religious diversity-- for a 14ish million pop, 500 mile coastal
valley
plain, is there a certain amount of religions/cultures that could develop
plausibly, a limit based on any kind of anthropological guidelines? in other
words is, say, 5 different religions too much for such a region, or is it
basically, anything goes?
<hr><i>Mark responds:
<p>I share your feeling about quick-n-easy pantheons, which will basically
result in an imitation of Greek mythology. As in other aspects of
world creation, my advice is not to read fantasy but about our own
world. Marvin Harris's <b>Cows, Pigs, Wars, and Witches</b> is
eye-opening on what makes religions work.
<p>There's no fixed answer to "how many religions"; it depends on
your culture and its neighbors. In classical conditions, each
ethnic group is likely to develop its own religion, and not share.
Universalist religions like Christianity, Islam, and Buddhism
are likely only to appear once you have large empires, and
people start to have the idea that a religion could work for everyone.
<p>What happens when a few religions start to mix is up to you.
In Europe, Christianity absorbed a few pagan practices and a large
dose of Greek philosophy, but effectively eliminated its rivals.
In China and Japan, Buddhism complemented the native traditions.
In Latin America, the Spanish converted everyone to Christianity,
but the people to a large extent retained their gods under the
guise of saints.
</i>
<hr><center>
<i>To make a reply, or see replies, see <a href="../">the index page</a>.</i>
</center>
<hr>
<!-- For index page:
<li><a href="messages/491.html">creating religions</a> -
<b>CavemanBOK</b>
<i>13:33 9/1/02</i>
-->
</body></html>