| Author |
 Topic  |
|
|
Buzzcutter
Acolyte
16 Posts |
 Posted - 03 Jan 2007 : 23:30:21
|
Just lettin my mind wander....noticing how in our world demographics often draws lines through religions - nations, towns, communities - and how alot of those communities are very comfortable with that seporation, and im wondering how (if at all) this would be affected in a world where multiple deities dwelt.
Is there any wide-spread divide among the populations in regard to worship? Are there any towns, communities, nations that are wholey devoted to a particular deity, or further still, outlaw the worship of other deities? If not, why? Has any thought been given to this as far as an "official policy" by the powers that be with these settings?
Obviously to read these books, a suspension of reality is needed to some degree. However, with a dozen or two novels now under my belt, it seems pretty obvious that freedom of worship and religious tolerance is pretty common place in most of the major settings, so is there some established standard for this, is it an 'unwritten rule' of the authors', am i imagining things, or is it just not really a major issue...
|
|
|
Kuje
Great Reader
USA
7915 Posts |
Posted - 03 Jan 2007 : 23:42:40
|
Well,
Faiths & Avatars from 2e has the map on geographic borders amongst the different faiths. Also, yes some nations, cities, etc, make it illegal to worship certain deities, mostly evil deities in neutral and good cities and good deities in evil cities. Of course, that doesn't mean those faiths aren't worshipped in those cities, it just happens in secret.
And you are right, FR is more open about religion, but I don't think you need to suspend reality unless you look at this from a modern Earth point of view. However, if you know much of Earth's history, ya'll realize that, like FR, Earth, at one time, had thousands of deities being worshipped at once throughout many different nations, cities, countries, etc.
Also, much like ancient Earth, the people of FR worship as many of the deities as they can or the deities that relate to what they do. A farmer would worship Chauntea because she is the planet, Talos because they don't want his storms, Auril, and the other season deities, because of the seasons, Talona, so that no one gets diseased, Kelemvor, or whomever is the current deity of the dead/death, so they could have comfort knowing those that have passed on are taken care of, or enjoying their afterlife in the lower planes, etc. |
For some of us, books are as important as almost anything else on earth. What a miracle it is that out of these small, flat, rigid squares of paper unfolds world after world, worlds that sing to you, comfort and quiet and excite you... Books are full of the things that you don't get in real life - wonderful, lyrical language, for instance, right off the bat. - Anne Lamott, Bird by Bird
Scribe for the Candlekeep Compendium |
Edited by - Kuje on 03 Jan 2007 23:56:45 |
 |
|
|
Rinonalyrna Fathomlin
Great Reader
USA
7106 Posts |
Posted - 03 Jan 2007 : 23:47:51
|
| Yeah, while there are some cities that seem to be "all about" a certain deity, that doesn't seem to be the case in most places. Devotion to one deity while excluding the rest is henotheism, whereas most of the Realms is polytheistic, with most people worshipping many gods and not elevating one above all the rest. |
"Instead of asking why we sleep, it might make sense to ask why we wake. Perchance we live to dream. From that perspective, the sea of troubles we navigate in the workaday world might be the price we pay for admission to another night in the world of dreams."
--Richard Greene (letter to Time) |
|
|
|
The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31799 Posts |
Posted - 03 Jan 2007 : 23:58:14
|
Ed has covered a lot of this type of discussion in his replies here at Candlekeep over the years.
Buzzcutter, I'd recommend you download the compiled files and take a look. You'll find some rather intriguing thoughts from Ed regarding the religious framework of the Realms...
|
Candlekeep Forums Moderator
Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
http://www.candlekeep.com -- Candlekeep Forum Code of Conduct
Scribe for the Candlekeep Compendium -- Volume IX now available (Oct 2007)
"So Saith Ed" -- the collected Candlekeep replies of Ed Greenwood
Zhoth'ilam Folio -- The Electronic Misadventures of a Rambling Sage |
Edited by - The Sage on 03 Jan 2007 23:59:46 |
|
|
|
ShadezofDis
Senior Scribe
402 Posts |
Posted - 04 Jan 2007 : 17:33:48
|
| Another key aspect of it in my mind (haven't read ed's thoughts on realmsian religion yet) is that you really don't want to anger ANY of the faiths. These people have magic from their gods, not the sort of people you take lightly :) |
|
|
|
Sian
Senior Scribe
Denmark
596 Posts |
Posted - 04 Jan 2007 : 20:53:20
|
| In Halruaa you are first warned then more or less auto-teleported out of the land if your trying to convert anyone from Mystran, Azuthian or Servasian faiths to another ... only reason Shar have a small hidden group of worshippers is that they have come to her to gain exstra powers |
what happened to the queen? she's much more hysterical than usual
She's a women, it happens once a month |
|
|
|
Buzzcutter
Acolyte
16 Posts |
Posted - 05 Jan 2007 : 04:28:45
|
quote:
Also, much like ancient Earth, the people of FR worship as many of the deities as they can or the deities that relate to what they do. A farmer would worship Chauntea because she is the planet, Talos because they don't want his storms, Auril, and the other season deities, because of the seasons, Talona, so that no one gets diseased, Kelemvor, or whomever is the current deity of the dead/death, so they could have comfort knowing those that have passed on are taken care of, or enjoying their afterlife in the lower planes, etc quote:
wow - so does taht mean that some individuals may worship multilpe gods...hmm, never really gave it much thought...wonder if similar examples where found in ancient greekegyptian civilizations.... |
|
|
|
Kuje
Great Reader
USA
7915 Posts |
Posted - 05 Jan 2007 : 04:37:15
|
quote:
Originally posted by Buzzcutter
wow - so does taht mean that some individuals may worship multilpe gods...hmm, never really gave it much thought...wonder if similar examples where found in ancient greekegyptian civilizations....
Not some, most. Almost everyone in the Realms worships multiple deities because FR, like ancient Earth, is polytheistic and not monotheistic.
|
For some of us, books are as important as almost anything else on earth. What a miracle it is that out of these small, flat, rigid squares of paper unfolds world after world, worlds that sing to you, comfort and quiet and excite you... Books are full of the things that you don't get in real life - wonderful, lyrical language, for instance, right off the bat. - Anne Lamott, Bird by Bird
Scribe for the Candlekeep Compendium |
|
|
|
The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31799 Posts |
Posted - 05 Jan 2007 : 04:46:51
|
quote:
Originally posted by Buzzcutter
quote:
Also, much like ancient Earth, the people of FR worship as many of the deities as they can or the deities that relate to what they do. A farmer would worship Chauntea because she is the planet, Talos because they don't want his storms, Auril, and the other season deities, because of the seasons, Talona, so that no one gets diseased, Kelemvor, or whomever is the current deity of the dead/death, so they could have comfort knowing those that have passed on are taken care of, or enjoying their afterlife in the lower planes, etc quote:
wow - so does taht mean that some individuals may worship multilpe gods...hmm, never really gave it much thought...wonder if similar examples where found in ancient greekegyptian civilizations....
FR isn't monotheistic, it's polytheistic. And, as Ed has said, on any given day lay worshippers and/or divine casters have the option of being able to send prayers to a varied number of deities, entirely dependent upon the situation.
|
Candlekeep Forums Moderator
Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
http://www.candlekeep.com -- Candlekeep Forum Code of Conduct
Scribe for the Candlekeep Compendium -- Volume IX now available (Oct 2007)
"So Saith Ed" -- the collected Candlekeep replies of Ed Greenwood
Zhoth'ilam Folio -- The Electronic Misadventures of a Rambling Sage |
Edited by - The Sage on 05 Jan 2007 04:47:55 |
|
|
|
Kentinal
Great Reader
4692 Posts |
Posted - 05 Jan 2007 : 04:50:11
|
As far as it goes Ed has indicated that even the few dedicated to a single deity do not deny the existance of other deities, excepting a very few people (that the vast majority consider deluded at best) that believe in only one deity.
I have been requested not to discuss RW religions so will not comment on that aspect. |
"Small beings can have small wisdom," the dragon said. "And small wise beings are better than small fools. Listen: Wisdom is caring for afterwards."
"Caring for afterwards ...? Ker repeated this without understanding.
"After action, afterwards," the dragon said. "Choose the afterwards first, then the action. Fools choose action first."
"Judgement" copyright 2003 by Elizabeth Moon |
|
|
|
RodOdom
Senior Scribe
USA
509 Posts |
Posted - 05 Jan 2007 : 05:03:05
|
quote:
Originally posted by Sian
In Halruaa you are first warned then more or less auto-teleported out of the land if your trying to convert anyone from Mystran, Azuthian or Servasian faiths to another ... only reason Shar have a small hidden group of worshippers is that they have come to her to gain exstra powers
That's really interesting. Where can I find the original source for this info? |
|
|
|
Sian
Senior Scribe
Denmark
596 Posts |
Posted - 05 Jan 2007 : 05:36:53
|
| Magehound series and Shining south |
what happened to the queen? she's much more hysterical than usual
She's a women, it happens once a month |
|
|
|
Rinonalyrna Fathomlin
Great Reader
USA
7106 Posts |
Posted - 05 Jan 2007 : 22:33:13
|
quote:
Originally posted by Kentinal
I have been requested not to discuss RW religions so will not comment on that aspect.
I find that subject interesting myself--too bad this isn't the proper venue for such a discussion. :)
It's also important to remember that no one deity in the Faerunian pantheon can offer everything. |
"Instead of asking why we sleep, it might make sense to ask why we wake. Perchance we live to dream. From that perspective, the sea of troubles we navigate in the workaday world might be the price we pay for admission to another night in the world of dreams."
--Richard Greene (letter to Time) |
|
|
|
Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36865 Posts |
Posted - 05 Jan 2007 : 23:36:24
|
quote:
Originally posted by Rinonalyrna Fathomlin
It's also important to remember that no one deity in the Faerunian pantheon can offer everything.
That depends on what you want.   |
Candlekeep Forums Moderator
Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
http://www.candlekeep.com -- Candlekeep Forum Code of Conduct
I am the Giant Space Hamster of Ill Omen! |
|
|
| |
Topic |
|
|
|
Religion in the Realms
