Religious Influences?

Discussion in 'Setting Development' started by Lord Malum, May 6, 2011.

  1. Zaphodb2002

    Zaphodb2002 New Member

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    Interesting question, I'm actually a Jewish atheist, but the story I'm writing now found it's beginnings with Christian mythology and paranormal folklore. I'm sure some of my opinions come through, and my MC's reactions are largely based on my own, but I think I just stumbled on something interesting and ran with it.
     
  2. Phunt555

    Phunt555 New Member

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    Lord Malum, you are by far the first person to have religion impose itself on your writing. One of amy favorite authors is Philip Pullman, and he wrote a series called His Dark Materials. Its about a girl who travel through the Mverse in order to stop the reign of the evil dictator Metatron who was trying to impose the rule of the Kingdom of Heaven in all of the realms. Since I read this series I've been obsessed with the idea of sacreligious literature. I guess my lack of, or disdain for religion has inspired a lot of the things I've written. I particularly like the idea of theocratic christian dictatorships. I hope one day to write a novel about one.
     
  3. Islander

    Islander Contributor Contributor

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    The early Christians were accused of being atheist because they didn't believe in any of the Roman gods.
     
  4. heyitsmary

    heyitsmary New Member

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    Really interesting discussion. It's not uncommon or bad for a writer to put a little piece of themselves into their stories and characters. Religious beliefs (or lack thereof) are extremely important to a lot of people, and they shape how we view the world. So I don't see it as an imposition at all to have your stories reflect your own personal worldview, even if all of your characters don't. A lot of my characters don't share my religious beliefs and even though I'm a Christian, I don't consider myself a "Christian writer" in the sense that I end up overtly stating a Christian theme at the end of my stories. But I couldn't imagine writing a story where I purposely left out any trace of my beliefs.
     
  5. andrewjeddy

    andrewjeddy New Member

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    I am a strong Christian (a baptist to be more specific) As such I purposely incorporate my beliefs into my books. In the first book which I am writing I have done this through making my MCs strong Christians and the Villian an Atheist. This allows me to give my beliefs through the dialogue. In future novels I may switch the two roles and provide a different aspect. My goal is that while dealing with religion which is a sensitive topic, my book will still be readable by both those who agree and those who disagree with my worldveiw.
     
  6. Mr Grumpy

    Mr Grumpy New Member

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    I'm a Roman Catholic and consider myself Chrstian-lite. I have my beliefs and I don't impose them on anyone and I don't expect anyone to impose theirs on me. Live and let live etc.

    Religion is one of the central themes in my story; one character is incredibly religious and another is a complete aethiest and their opposing views and beliefs are central to the ways their characters bounce off one another.

    The fact that I'm not a hardcore Christian in regards to spreading a message but I am secure in my own beliefs means I've no problem in approaching subjects in my story that would probably make hardcore Christians balk and reach for the holy water.
     
  7. AveryWhite

    AveryWhite Active Member

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    im holistic, but have never written about my beliefs in my stories; but in the future i would certianly like to create a piece with the intent of my beliefs in an eye-opening and insightful way :)
     
  8. Rassidan

    Rassidan New Member

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    I am Hindu and still mostly use christian influences in my writing. The only exception is this post apocalyptic piece I am writing that I funneled both hindu and christian beliefs into one.
     
  9. JSLCampbell

    JSLCampbell New Member

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    I'm an Agnostic, so that if there does turn out to be a Heaven I can jump on the Agnostic queue and say I wasn't sure... but that I am now.

    But I don't have to do any of the boring stuff like go to Church or be a good citizen...




    Anyway, I actually find religions incredibly dynamic and interesting, even if I don't believe in them. Everything from the beautiful side to the darker side of religions I find makes for good storytelling. I'm not afraid to implement them into a story, especially one where I have to establish some kind of society and culture, like more of a political novel or epic. Religion, or a lack of one for a very particular complicated reason, feels more enriching than "and they shall all be atheists for... no particular reason other than that I'm one".

    So yeah, I find it creeping in to my stories. It doesn't always have to be present-day religion though. Mentioning old religions who did very particular things can be interesting (think Indiana Jones)
     
  10. StrangerWithNoName

    StrangerWithNoName Longobard duke

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    Yes I'm also a humanist and I put religious themes into my writing with a clear target: to give a sort of moral and cosmogonic message to the reader. Of course, to do that I couldn't use any "real" religion but I made some research on the kabbalah, some old Tao and Buddhist texts. They served me well.
     
  11. thewordsmith

    thewordsmith Contributor Contributor

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    I never deliberately try to impose or refrain from imposing religious significance in my stories, unless, of course, it has a religious theme of some sort. Sometimes characters may impose their own belief systems on themselves in a work and I'll just let them develop as they will unless I determine the development in question is detrimental to the story overall. For me, religion is something like preferring jeans over sweat pants or baggies. What works for one, may not work for another.

    But I do love a good theological debate. Once had door knockers come to my house and one of their first questions (the answer presumed and intended to lead to the next question and the overall discussion) was, "Do you believe in the devil?" Knowing the expected answer, I simply said, "No." Poor folks didn't know where to go with that one!


    But ... doesn't agnostic simply mean one does not know? Ergo, being agnostic, one simply confesses to not knowing if there is or is not a god. Something like - the whole concept is too much for my mere mortal brain to comprehend the whole thing. The possibilities are truly endless so, I don't know if there is a god or not.
     
  12. Radrook

    Radrook Banned Contributor

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    I have a Sci-fi space-opera type novel that has a moral or religious lesson, if you will, as its basis. However, this is done in a subtle non-religious manner so that the message doesn't distract from the plot and the drama. As others here have pointed out, a writer can't divest himself of his beliefs. He has to remain true to himself via respecting his own moral principles. If a writer tries to do otherwise he sets up a psychological dissonance or inner struggle that will distract him from his work.
     
  13. HorusEye

    HorusEye Contributor Contributor

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    It's always there, somewhere, on some level. Even in little things, like how I abhor Deus Ex Machina plot devices saving the 'pure hero's butt -- that ties in well with my disbelief in miracles fixing proplems for people if they're just being virtuous enough.

    What you find plausible and acceptable in a story very much correlates with what you find plausible in reality, and similarly in reverse when it comes to writing your stories. As a result, I tend to write stories where no one is safe, and taking personal responsibility is key to prevailing. Aside from that, which mostly reflects a view in regard to the material world, I try my very hardest to avoid any kind of preaching, i.e. having an agenda apart from entertaining. I absolutely loathe C.S.Lewis for it and wouldn't want to sink to his level.
     
  14. CH878

    CH878 Active Member

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    I find that my character's religious beliefs tend to shape the style of my writing, rather than my own. (I write in 3rd person, not 1st btw). For example, in my current novel my character is a strong atheist, whereas in a previous story my MC was much more sympathetic of other people's religious views, and in my opinion you can tell when you put them side by side. It wasn't a conscious decision, just sort of happened.
     
  15. Hope2321

    Hope2321 New Member

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    Hey yeah and its interesting topic. There are many religions out there in the world, and many different spiritual paths and faiths that somehow end up in our writing, not so much with authors forcing their beliefs but more or less sharing their faith or what not.

    I like writing spiritual stories because i find the characters are more happier about the adeventure involved and human growth through it. I do my best not to incorporate or enforce beliefs on others through my work... and that is hard.

    Whether athiest or christian or another believer of faith, I do think it helps give the story more meaning, and if it is based on real life then by all means the same feeling of realism can create a good bases for a story too.

    I do like to incoprate angels and spirits, and Yes i do like to leave behind a meaning or theme based on experience or even someones advice in a story, whether used as realism or fantasy.
     
  16. Radrook

    Radrook Banned Contributor

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    In one way or another our values, be they amoral or morally, religiously or non-religiously guided will be reflected in what we are willing to write and the manner in which we write. One need not set out to teach or be didactic in order to have a teaching or didactic effect. All audiences draw inferences from what they choose as entertainment. Some are changed for the better and some for the worse either on an intellectual level or on an emotional one. That's the effect that a morally responsible writer will consider before offering up his thoughts for public consumption.

    BTW

    This reminds me of a certain article that appeared in one very popular porn magazine some years ago. It described how to meticulously set up an arrangement for maintaining a sex slave. True, the guy who read the article was already screwed up. However, he hadn't the imagination necessary to work out the details of his lunacy until the article assisted him. Result? A woman's life was ruined when this fella made her a sex slave using the techniques that the article described. Sure, the writer said it had been written for entertainment purposes only. But not everyone reads to only be entertained. Some are on the lookout to use any twisted but "good" idea that might be useful in furthering their sick plans.


    Another example that comes to mind is a writer who always portrays evil overcoming good and good people always at the mercy of evil ones as the films about Damian do. Obviously there is a message there that says "If you are on God's side you are screwed!" So this can be perceived as either satanic or atheistic propaganda. To say that this type of film doesn't carry a forceful anti-God message or a forceful pro evil message is to say that this film functions in a mindless, social vacuum. It doesn't. It functions within a social context where behavior is evaluated results compared ands lessons ate learned. Where either our convictions are strengthened or are weakened by what we are shown be it via entertainment or otherwise.
     
  17. mugen shiyo

    mugen shiyo New Member

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    Religion in stories tend to be about as influential as religion in real life. Except for that character who seems to be a walking, nagging ad for their religion, even though religion is present it hardly seems to effect the characters general motives unless they are fighting for or against religious organizations.
     
  18. VM80

    VM80 Contributor Contributor

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    If it's not relevant to the plot, I don't really mention it. That goes for more than just religion.
     
  19. Radrook

    Radrook Banned Contributor

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    In real life religion has been the cause of intense human suffering via fanatical persecutions and religiously-motivated wars. Even today there are those who offer their lives in jihads based on the strong, unshakable belief that they will be rewarded with a life in paradise and a retinue of virgins.
     
  20. LostBreakingDevelopment

    LostBreakingDevelopment New Member

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    I'm a Christian and I purposely put religion in most of my works. Not the traditional "finding God" or anything like that, but I try to put Messianic values in almost everything I write.
     
  21. mugen shiyo

    mugen shiyo New Member

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    Yeah, but were those people really religious or where they fighting in a time dominated by religious themes. In the Crusades, poor, rich, and powerful people fought for land, power, and wealth or just a plain salary that could help them and their families. There definitely were some truly religious people, but I don't think people back then were any less intelligent than now and they would have known the whole Holy War thing was bull from the beginning, if they didn't figure that out during the fighting. The same with Jihad's. They're not fighting for God. They're fighting because they feel their way of life is being threatened or they want a better life. Those suicide bombers are more often tricked into doing what they do than not. There are...unsteady...people on every part of the world who would be wlling to do what those guys did and because the terrorists are outnumbered immensely, it's one of the few effective means they have.
     
  22. Blue Night

    Blue Night Active Member

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    I do use religion as a major underlying theme in my story. Good against evil doesn’t always mean God against Satan. But in my story, there is a heavy dose of the word God. But I don’t think anyone takes offense at it. Star Wars and Star Trek imply other worlds with mystical beings. I’m not offended. So I doubt anyone would be offended by my mystical being. But yes, I use religion as a backdrop.
     
  23. AveryWhite

    AveryWhite Active Member

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    i agree with mugen shiyo. its not the religion that causes this but some people behind it who use it as a power to carry out there own desires, often changing the true nature of the religion too suit them. for example the crusades in medieval times, killing the people in the name of God, when what he teaches is love, forgivness and no killing.
    and to be honest i beleive most of the modern teachings of any religion have been changed from there original truthful form by many priests or religios people who have power in the relgion, and not nescessarily in a good way or right way. but thats just me :p
     
  24. Radrook

    Radrook Banned Contributor

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    I disagree. Whether the motive is misguided or not is irrelevant. If the motive is religiously-based, then it is religion or religiosity that is causing it as opposed to atheism. If a person is flayed alive because of the religious belief that suffering cleanses the soul, the agony experienced is the same whether the perpetrators are accurate in their doctrinal understanding or not. The motive remains the same-a religious one. Were there hypocrites? Of course there were. But much of the frenzy of the crusades was religiously motivated.


    Sure, religion was used to support avarice. But it served to calm the conscience and justify the means to attain what avarice desired. It made sadists and murderers feel saintly and in doing so it has to bear the burden being a motivator. Again, whether the perpetrators understood or mangled the original doctrines is irrelevant.

    In any case, there were religions that did require human sacrifice such as the Aztec one and the religion of the Canaanites. The gods of Greece were all immoral providing the Greeks with an excuse to imitate while feeling OK about it. There was no misunderstanding there. Immorality was OK since the gods themselves were were immoral.

    Some religions of the Pacific Islanders required head hunting. In fact, the universe was said to have come into existence as a byproduct of head hunting. So headhunters were imitating their god. No misunderstanding there.

    The Vikings believed they would go to Valhalla if they died fighting. No misunderstanding there as well.

    Religion has been one of the most powerful forces in human history. Islam's conquest of northern Africa and a large part of the Middle East would never have been possible without it. The Kamikaze die-for-the emperor mentality of the Japanese during WWII would have been impossible without it. The willingness to ram two airplanes into the Twin Towers which required the men involved to believe that they were doing God's will is a modern example of how the power of religion is still at work. So to say that religion in fiction is really of no real import, IMHO, is to have a world-view totally out of kilter with both historical reality and present reality and can only result in the writer conveying a false image of the world as most people know it.
     
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  25. DBock

    DBock New Member

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    Wow that's tough. Even though I am a strong Christian I try to get my writing ideas for a non-biased point of view. It's fiction --- anything in it is safe to write. If I decided that my novel needed a strong athiest character hell bent on proving the existence of God wrong and having the writer be happy about it then that's what would need to happen. of course this is an extreme point of view here but you get the idea. Sure i might have some themes and ideas but I find that it comes across as very obvious when a writer is trying to preach to us --- i.e. the Golden Compass --- and I like it better when we have a character who is genuine because it's who they are, not because the writer is trying to tell the world something. It's okay to feel one way or another but what matters is what your character feels and what the story needs. Hope that makes sense. :)
     

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