[polgara]

I personally am not christian(i follow an older religion) and find religions in fantasy facinating. Does anyone else???

[Zsinj16]

Well I'm a Christian and I absolutely love religions of all kinds being in fantasy and find it very interesting because sometimes, when a person belongs to a certain religion in fantasy, it makes them seem more of a rounded character and gives them reason for the acts that they do. Some characters in fantasy and sci-fi even make not being religious into a religion of its own.
One thing I definitely can't stand,though is when other, narrow-minded Christians say that fantasy is evil because it has different religions and magic and supernatural creatures in it. Yeah, right! C'mon, it's just a book, not some kind of "satanic brain washing device"!

[FitzChivalry]

Like everything else religion in fantasy can be interesting or it can be boring.
For example, a cult of ogres worshipping Buro, the great boar headed god of shamshing is pretty simple and boring.
What i like is complicated religions that have many myths about them and some truths, like Jordan's Creator/Dark One religion.
But religions are usually a good element in fantasy, nothing like a good clash between religions to make people blood thirsty fanatic savages.

[Zsinj16]

Yeah Fitz, I think the "Creator/Dark One" idea is great!! I think also in LOTR there is a relationship like that between the Valar and Melkor and Sauron. I think it's revealed in great detail in "The Silmarillion", which I haven't read yet, but certainly plan to! http://www.sffworld.com/ubb/smile.gif

[Lani]

I actually dislike realigions in fantasy books. Well, it doesn't matter much if a religion is just the part of the world since that is quite natural, but I don't like when authors put accents on a religion or religion being a main theme of the book. I don't find it interesting.

[Eventine]

An interesting use of religion is in Kate Elliots Crown of Stars books. There are definite parallels there between it and christianity, I'm just not sure what message htey are trying to impart yet...

[Kierk Soren]

-Belief in and reverence for a supernatural power or powers regarded as creator and governor of the universe.-
-A cause, a principle, or an activity pursued with zeal or conscientious devotion.- Nothing throughout history has so united and divided us as a species, These books reflect human experiance in all its myriad beauty and ugliness. All of the fantasy I have read as of late is so steeped in a higher power, we have to remember that there is no one system of belief, and as you can see from these definitions, religion has been many things to many people and will always be an influence in our lives. I don't care to turn this in to a theological discussion though....

[Erebus]

I guess some would argue that The Bible is one of the worlds oldest and greatest works of fantasy. Let's face it, it has everything from self combusting vegetation to a prophet who can walk on water; so why not have religion in modern literature as well, I say!

There's few people who can really dispute or confirm the incidents mentioned in The Bible, so I find it fascinating when an author is brave enough to present a new spin on supposed historical events. One that comes to mind immediately is Anne Rice and her Memnoch the Devil novel. That was certainly more than a little controversial!

I myself have even touched on it somewhat with my Erebus Equilibrium series and there will certainly be some thought provoking scenarios to challenge society's popular beliefs with its companion novel, Bortag's Curse, which is still under development.

Religion in fantasy or Sci-Fi - I'm all for it, provided the author is sympathetic to the readers' beliefs!

[Rupert Avery]

It has its place .

[polgara]

One of my best mates is a devote christian and i often have arguements with her about the bible(she thinks im a witch because im a wiccan)(well not quite i can't be a proper one until im 18) Any other none Christians out there!!!!!!!!