Building My Religion

From Tolkien to Martin and Lewis each great world, built upon stunning maps and intricate peoples and cultures, had a defining set of beliefs. A religion in the foreground that tied everything together. Sometimes it had a larger influence in the world and sometimes it went unspoken. These religions and beliefs, these stories, myths even though they were forgotten they were all too real. From Balrogs in the mines of Moria to the resurrection of Aslan we see the influence not only the stories have, but how their real presence shapes worlds and in turn it shapes world-building.

This is why a strong set of superstitions and beliefs can make the world feel unique, the strength of these made-up worlds is held up by the myth and legends that exist within them. Making a world feel real is a daunting endeavor and one should not take the journey lightly. This is what I did and what I learned when starting, I hope these tips help you out a bit and if you like the article please subscribe to the blog. 

Taking a note from the past

History is a great way to get started when creating your world, learning about different cultures and their myths can and will inspire you to either borrow or create creatures and cultures of your own. Borrowing from ancient myths and works of fiction shouldn’t be frowned upon, all of the great world-builders before us using the same method. Fantasy can be a mirror of our society so that we can better see the flaws. It can also be used as a mirror of ourselves so that through our stories, we and our readers learn about what and who we are. Long ago, it was the stories of Perseus and Hercules that inspired heroes, who's to say we cannot use the same figures to inspire new stories for a new time. 

Choosing the nature of gods

The function of gods in a religion cannot be overstated, their nature, their acts are what define the world you are creating. If the gods are selfish and brutal such will be the world you should be creating. This can also help build up the feel of your world. In Ancient Greece, the gods were as flawed as the humans they looked down upon, and this gave the Greeks freedom to take their lives and try and do as much as possible. The gods of ancient Greece were not impossibly perfect, they were like you and me, and people could find solace and inspiration in them. The great Nordic gods were mysterious and brutal, and they birthed a brutal warrior culture, or is it vice versa? 

Whatever you choose to do first in your world-building, whether it be the peoples or the pantheon of gods, you will see instantly what fits to which peoples. 

Building a dynamic 

Choosing how your fictional gods will interact with the world and with each other will be crucial. Will the gods be merciful and mindful of their creation or will they be punishing tyrants. Their feuds could turn to wars between celestial beings that only use their creation for conquest. Like Morgoth, some gods may choose to go a different way and defy their father's wishes. Leading to countless centuries of war. Figuring out a dynamic for these immortal beings will help you a lot with the story and what the world you are creating can feel like. 

Each of these small tips is something I learned when starting to create my world. I’m far from finished with the world, however, these steps have proven vital since I didn't really take into account several things in the beginning. I just drew a map and started writing, only to figure out that there was far more to it. Hope the tips help, and if they did please subscribe to the blog.