tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320269312957801390.post2364974364548128616..comments2024-03-16T11:09:05.148-07:00Comments on TalkToYoUniverse: Elements of Religion, with cautions, for worldbuildersJuliette Wadehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02879627074920760712noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320269312957801390.post-43991195781386284522011-09-16T10:44:32.235-07:002011-09-16T10:44:32.235-07:00authorguy, I agree that tenets and language are cl...authorguy, I agree that tenets and language are closely interrelated, but they can vary independently, which is why I kept them separate. Religious language can be used with no knowledge of the tenets, only with experience of the language use of others.<br /><br />Jaleh, I too enjoy religion in stories when it's handled well, and I remember enjoying the Valdemar books (though I haven't read them in years). I appreciate you writing in to share your thoughts.Juliette Wadehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02879627074920760712noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320269312957801390.post-70955244484890972312011-09-16T10:32:22.594-07:002011-09-16T10:32:22.594-07:00I've mostly left out religion in my stories so...I've mostly left out religion in my stories so far, because my Faith doesn't really fit the settings and societies, and I feel odd putting in one based on a different religion, even Christianity when appropriate, since I'd be writing as an outsider. I do have one story that has a strong Church theme, but I'm co-writing it with my husband and that aspect came from him as an insider. These are some good points for keeping in mind while working on the story, especially in writing the parts with the priest.<br /><br />I do enjoy when religion is handled well in stories. It's part of why I love the Valdemar books so much. Lackey has many religions, and Valdemaran law states that there is no one way. Freedom of religion there. Other countries and regions vary, but she doesn't make them evil. Individual practitioners and leaders on the other hand...<br /><br />I shouldn't be afraid to include religion when it's hard for me to realistically imagine a world without anyone believing in something greater than themselves. Even if it's just Fate. That's still a sort of belief system. Some people will take offense regardless of what I write, and I'm not bound to put mine into a story, even if I do feel vaguely guilty about that. Though whenever I get around to my colonization story seed idea, it will be there.Jaleh Dhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04942272578488986874noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320269312957801390.post-13407546688504908022011-09-16T07:52:58.375-07:002011-09-16T07:52:58.375-07:00A very interesting article. I hadn't thought m...A very interesting article. I hadn't thought much about the practices side. I think the distinction between tenets and language is not as great as all that, tenets being framed in a language, and being used to define some of the terms of that language. My fantasy series is in many respects a work of theology written in the form of a fantasy novel. The difference between faith and religion is quite basic.<br />I have long been annoyed by fantasy novels where the only apparent purpose of religious orders is to have an Inquisition that tortures the heroic magic-users. Several books that have a much more balanced approach to religions in fantasy societies are the Deryni books by Katherine Kurtz, and the Yurt books by C. Dale Brittain.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320269312957801390.post-70723554717764549832011-09-15T16:35:42.503-07:002011-09-15T16:35:42.503-07:00Thanks for your comment, Kristin! I like your reas...Thanks for your comment, Kristin! I like your reasoning, and the disease concept sounds cool. Good luck with the project!Juliette Wadehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02879627074920760712noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320269312957801390.post-16650342578495080662011-09-15T16:16:48.387-07:002011-09-15T16:16:48.387-07:00Like Heidi, I've written a novel where a demon...Like Heidi, I've written a novel where a demon sickness is taking over, although I come from the opposite end of the religious spectrum and my disease has both spiritual and biological aspects within the story. I find the presence of religion, especially in science fiction and fantasy, to be fascinating, and many of my stories have religious content. The trick is to keep the narrative from getting preachy, to make clear that this is what the character(s) believe/practice or how their world works, without infusing the book with too much moralism unless your explicit goal is to convert people, or you're writing for a religious audience.Kristin Laughtinhttp://kristinlaughtin.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320269312957801390.post-44910428629941105772011-09-15T08:32:09.973-07:002011-09-15T08:32:09.973-07:00Heidi, interesting approach - I can imagine that i...Heidi, interesting approach - I can imagine that it would be successful. Certainly we can rely on readers to infer quite a lot, so I think you've hit on something very useful. Thanks for telling us about it (and it sounds like an interesting story!).Juliette Wadehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02879627074920760712noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320269312957801390.post-21964174131726216352011-09-14T23:09:01.405-07:002011-09-14T23:09:01.405-07:00That sounds like a very helpful way to break it al...That sounds like a very helpful way to break it all down! I've often thought about how religion manifests itself in our lives, particularly when I say "oh my god" despite being an atheist. <br /><br />Maybe because of that, I left the religion a bit nebulous in my fantasy novel Remedy. The most specific instances are when characters tell each other fables as part of their oral culture. A reviewer pointed out that because of the magical setting, the reader can choose how to interpret those fables. When a character tells the story of a god or a demon, it might be a factual account of beings who really exist in that world. Or it might be allegory and moral guidance. Or some combination of the two. I meant the plot-driving "demon" sickness to be a contagious bacterial disease, but it would also work to take the characters at their word and interpret the demon as a literal evil spirit that requires the goddess's teachings to overcome. I thought I was just glossing over the religious elements, but I guess I was also making it possible for the reader to infer as much religious presence as they would like to see.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11865524260060421873noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320269312957801390.post-78801254499655156672011-09-14T13:12:48.219-07:002011-09-14T13:12:48.219-07:00Thanks so much, Fabio! Your story sounds fascinati...Thanks so much, Fabio! Your story sounds fascinating, as does your experience at the temple. I would love to hear more about that, but I suppose I'll have to wait for your story!Juliette Wadehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02879627074920760712noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320269312957801390.post-9408165051013742942011-09-14T13:05:03.952-07:002011-09-14T13:05:03.952-07:00I loved it, Juliette. I'm currently writing a ...I loved it, Juliette. I'm currently writing a far future story whose protagonist is a Buddhist monk dealing with the anxiety of a humanity who senses its end as a species coming - and I'm trying very hard to write a story without stereotypes, based on my past experience living in a Buddhist temple in my youth.Fabio Fernandeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15069657285755566125noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320269312957801390.post-48941639389838100982011-09-14T12:57:20.232-07:002011-09-14T12:57:20.232-07:00Thanks for your comment, Bryan. I'm glad you e...Thanks for your comment, Bryan. I'm glad you enjoyed it, particularly given your interest in this topic.Juliette Wadehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02879627074920760712noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320269312957801390.post-49236792305990005802011-09-14T12:51:58.865-07:002011-09-14T12:51:58.865-07:00Very interesting. A topic after my own heart, actu...Very interesting. A topic after my own heart, actually.Bryan Thomashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03942472363470824138noreply@blogger.com