The Philosophy of Religion in D&D/Faerûn

[Decamber]

The Philosophy of Religion in D&D/Faerûn

Hello!

I've always wondered about how a thing works in Forgotten Realms, and I thought I can get some answers here.

As you read the FRCS book, you get the picture that all people in Faerûn are religious and polytheistic. All people seem to have it obvious the fact that there does exist Gods, and there does exist many Gods - there doesn't seem to be any non-religious our monotheistic person at all.

Think of our world. There are several kinds of religions. The most of them (at least as far as I know) depends on some holy text; for example, Christianity has the Bible. Going on with Christiany as the example, this book is written in a way which makes it hard to really understand the meaning - the meaning is a matter of your interpretation; that is, the religion is dynamical depending on the way you interpret it. There are several branches (for example Protestantism) in the religion all with different views on the world.

Going back to D&D, I wonder how people in Faerûn look at the deities (say, in your campaign). Does all have the same view on the same God, i.e. the information in the FRCS book? Or do they have different views, like in our world? Is there one TRUE outlook, and only the stupid people may believe otherwise? If two characters both have Knowledge (Religion) 6 ranks and the same INT score, do the believe the same thing?

Personally I think it's better and obviously more realistic if you have the same philosophy of religion in the D&D world as in the real world. But what do you think?

My character, a human paladin of Ilmater, looks at the world in a different way than his God does. He views his God in another way than the "stereotype view". Would you, if you were my DM, let me do that? Also, would you let your players play a non-religious or monotheistic character?

Well, I guess that's about everything. I'm curious on what you'll reply. So - thank you in advance!

 

[LostSoul]

My gut reaction: Each god is worshipped by three different alignment groups (correct?), so there should be three distinct groups of theological thought per god.

Then there's the "divine ideals", which 3e clerics can call power from. You could play that up as a monotheistic power.

A particularily strong divine power might claim that he is the only true god.

 

[Joker]

A particularily strong divine power might claim that he is the only true god.

Like Cyric. But he's insane. Sometimes. Always.

 

[Tsyr]

Apples and Oranges.

In the real world, religions are based purely on faith... no one has seen god walk the earth, no one can get on the phone and call up god, etc. So people either believe in god, or they dont, but either way, no one can prove the other wrong (At least in this world )

In DND, and in Faerun more than most DnD worlds, gods walk the earth. Gods talk to people. Gods come down and shake hands and kiss babies (Well, ok, maybe not that). People can visit the gods in their home planes. The reason there aren't any real athiests or monotheists is that it's easy to be proved wrong. Many people know what the other planes and afterlike is like.

So, yes, I think that, with the same wisdom, most people probably have a fairly similar view of the same god in a place like FR. And a paladin most of all... remember, paladins, by the book, hear the calling of their god... A paladin is probably as connected to a god as any mortal can be, possibly even exceeding a cleric (Who chooses his god, not the other way around). No, a paldin would probably not have a "strange" view of a god.

 

[LostSoul]

And a paladin most of all... remember, paladins, by the book, hear the calling of their god... A paladin is probably as connected to a god as any mortal can be, possibly even exceeding a cleric (Who chooses his god, not the other way around). No, a paldin would probably not have a "strange" view of a god.

Paladins need not devote themselves to a single diety. Devotion to righteousness is enough for most.

A Lawful Good Paladin in the realm of Neutral Good clerics might seem off.

 

[Randolpho]

Decamber -- if you don't already have it, I highly suggest you pick up Dieties and Demigods. Stuff like this is dealt with in that book. It's well worth the cash, IMO.

In D&D in general (Faerun as well), the gods form what the book terms a "loose pantheon". Here are some interesting exerpts that may help most of your questions:

Individuals--both clerics and laity--generally follow one deith of a loose pantheon above all others, choosing one as a patron deity. Because each deity is the undisputed master of all things related to his or her portfolio, however, lay believers often devote prayers and sacrifices to other gods than their patrons, as long as those other gods are not enemies of their patrons.

...

In some ways, a loose pantheon is like a number of small, distinct religions, one devoted to each deity. Each religion teaches a distinct code of ethics, practices certain unique rites, and retells certain myths about its deity, usually without reference to any other deity. Of course, even devoted followers of a single deity recognize the existence and power of other deities and occaisonally offer sacrifice to them as well, but they worship only one god at a time.

Decamber said:
My character, a human paladin of Ilmater, looks at the world in a different way than his God does. He views his God in another way than the "stereotype view". Would you, if you were my DM, let me do that?

Actually, yes. Paladins and clerics are often considered to be chosen of their gods, but what if they don't *want* to be? What if they fight the choice? That could make for an interesting struggle between the desires of the chosen, and the desires of the chooser.

Also, would you let your players play a non-religious or monotheistic character?

Yes to both. Non-religious could be someone who doesn't give a damn, or it could be someone who actively dislikes the concept of the divine. Perfectly acceptable.

Monotheistic religions are even more fun. Under normal circumstances, a monotheistic religion might simply forbid the offering of sacrifices and prayers to other deities, but in a campaign setting where deities gain their power through the worship of mortals, monotheistic religions can be particularly deadly to the rest of the gods. Imagine if the worshippers who not only refused to worship the other gods started denying the existence of the other gods. Imagine if they managed to successfully convert others to their religion (perhaps through jihad? Ooooh, even more fun!). The other gods would start to loose power. Perhaps even cease to exist entirely.

Oh, yeah, I'd allow it.

 

[Decamber]

First of all, thanks for the replies!

Second of all, Randolpho - I'll check out Deities and Demigods, it seems quite useful.

Said by Tsyr:
In the real world, religions are based purely on faith... no one has seen god walk the earth, no one can get on the phone and call up god, etc. So people either believe in god, or they dont, but either way, no one can prove the other wrong (At least in this world )

In DND, and in Faerun more than most DnD worlds, gods walk the earth. Gods talk to people. Gods come down and shake hands and kiss babies (Well, ok, maybe not that). People can visit the gods in their home planes. The reason there aren't any real athiests or monotheists is that it's easy to be proved wrong. Many people know what the other planes and afterlike is like.

So... The difference between religion and Forgotten Realms-religion is that in religion, you have faith in a divine power; and in Faerûn you have an idol?

 

[Aaron L]

Kind of. When direct evidence of divinity is available, you don't need faith. All you do is pick sides.

 

[Nightfall]

Course that's FAERUN. It's a little different else where Decamaber. But generally it's all the same in most D&D worlds.