HANDLING RELIGION IN YOUR WORLD

Never at a loss for inspiration, this is a subject breached at one of my writer’s forums the other day. One of the participants asked how others handle religion in their fantasy world.

This brought up the bigger question: How do you handle religion in your world, regardless of genre?

TOUCHY SUBJECT

For many, religion is a touchy subject. There are many with deep-seated core faith values and beliefs. On the other hand, there’s a growing population that considers religion pure fantasy or something that’s downright destructive.

How do you find the balance of addressing religion without alienating either side?

Well…that can be tricky to impossible, depending on how radical or extreme the belief system. With some people, you just can’t win. I’m talking about both sides, the believers and non-believers.

All you can do is write on and try not to be flagrantly stupid about it.

REAL-WORLD RELIGIONS

First off, there’s the option of whether to address religion at all in your novel. You can play Switzerland and save yourself a lot of grief. That neutralizes the subject entirely. On the other hand, who says something, or maybe lots of somethings the characters may do don’t offend some religion out of ignorance? More than likely they do, but you can’t please everyone, nor should you try. You’d end up with a book with nothing but a period on page one.

Come to think of it, that would probably offend someone, as well.

On the other hand, if you’re going to plunge right in and use real-world religions, are they an integral part or just peripheral to the story? If so, have you done the research to get the details right?

Don’t forget that!

Now here’s the clincher. If religion is a major part of the story, is said religion the bad or good guy in the story? Is the story a condemnation of that religion?

Once again, did you do your research?

One way or another, this is going to alienate a good proportion of your readers, making your novel either propaganda, anti-religious bigotry, preaching to the choir, or gaining an audience. The one thing you don’t want to do is end up looking stupid because you didn’t get your facts straight.

On the other hand, some would argue that facts and religion is a contradiction. By facts, I mean, facts as pertaining to the tenets of said religion, nothing to do with science or reality.

Come on, folks, I’m not trying to start a crusade here!

All I’m saying is that if you’re going to use real religions in your work, whether in a positive light or not, get your facts straight before you write. Otherwise, your setting yourself up to be just another pariah and will lose half (or more) of your potential audience.

Remember, loaded subject.

MADE UP RELIGIONS SUCH AS IN FANTASY WORLDS

You have a lot more freedom in fantasy worlds to make up and use religion to your advantage. Once again, that’s if you decide to use it at all. Religion adds dynamics and realism to your world. It can also add complications.

The difference between real and fantasy religions is that you make up your own rules and names.

The way you treat these religions is the same. It still reflects who you are and how you probably feel about real religion. The red flag is that your treatment of religion in your fantasy world can do just as much to bias readers toward you of you’re not careful.

Then again, if you don’t care…

On the other hand, one doesn’t necessarily go with the other. Some, who are deeply religious, may use an entirely different view of religion in a fantasy world to reflect the issues they have with their real religion, but not necessarily a condemnation of that real religion.

Ever think of that?

In this increasingly agnostic and atheistic world, religion is becoming more and more dismissive and derided as a normal course of action. Yet there are still those that seek faith. Both sides shouldn’t be ignored in the world you create if you wish to grow your audience.

Happy writing!