Religion in Fan Fictions

[Avenger Angel]

This has always been a tough one for me, since there’s absolutely no trace of any kind of religion in the anime or games, but for very good reasons. However, that doesn’t make things easy with a fan fiction and you run into a situation where you’d like for some kind of deity or belief that there is some kind of all powerful “creator” or God to be in your story.

Typically, I usually just settle with the fact the situation is similar to what we have on Earth, but the more I think about it, the more I realize that might not be the case in the world of Pokémon. In the fan fiction I created, there is a Heaven and Hell for humans, and a kind of “Heaven” and “Hell” for Pokémon, “Heaven” being called “Utopia” and “Hell” being called “The Abyss.” Sounds fine and fair at first but now I’m running into the problem of determining how they came about and if there is in fact a “God” behind it. That pushes the thought that… should I make a kind of religion behind it or not? And should it be modeled after a real life religion or be made of a completely new one?

I’m wondering if anyone else has come across this kind of problem…

 

[Negrek]

I don't see any reason why you shouldn't include a sort of religion in your 'fics if you feel that it's appropriate to the story. After all, there are very few places on earth where cultures don't have a belief system of some sort, and while the pokemon world is not necessarily on earth, it seems there's precedent for it. Unless you're one of the people that sets the pokemon world somewhere in ours, I'd say that the least based off current religions the belief system you come up with, the better. After all, you're talking about a very different world here, especially if dealing with the belief systems of pokemon. They're liable to have totally different religious beliefs and outlooks, and I think that just making a new religion "like the ones we have here, but with pokemon!" is sort of a cop-out. My opinion only, of course; I have seen it work with religions close to what we're used to around here, and that would probably be the easiest route.

Up to you, but I see no reason not to come up with a sort of religion to explain the way things are, if you think it would fit the story well.

 

[cyndaquil_dratini]

Yeah, religions a tricky one, specially since a lot fo people on these forums are christian and you don't wanna offend anyone. In my fic, i decided that in the pokemon world, the pokemon would be gods- I always saw mew as a kind of God for pokemon, if hes supposed to be the origin of all other pokemon, isnt he? I dunno, but with all the kyogre/groudon/rayquaza thing, it just seems reasonable to take that as religion and not have to worry bout offending any christians (funny, I'm not worried about offending any Muslims or Buddhists or anything). I know you're problem though, I've got the same one. I think try to bypass religion as an important factor in your story, if you can.

 

[Evanji Axu]

Although not a fanfiction writer, my head is swarmed with ideas that I'm too lazy to write out

Something was mentioned about Pokemon having their own gods in the Mature Thematics thread.

 

[IceKing]

Yeah, religions a tricky one, specially since a lot fo people on these forums are christian and you don't wanna offend anyone.

Really? o.o I always thought most of the people here were atheist. And some of them definetely don't mind too much about offending Christians XD


Most people I have seen use Mew as a God/Goddess though personally I think a Trinity of Mew-Celebi-Jirachi works best, and all the legendaries underneath. But feel free to use whatever you want for their religion. Religion can be a tad touchy, I think I plan on making two of my charachters Catholic to poke fun at some of the tradition (my family is Catholic), but either way, don't worry about the PC of it, just do it! PsiUmbreon's fic has a well drawn out religion as well, though it's an obvious metaphor for "crazy christians"

 

[indigestible_wad]

I remember that LilyPichu made something about religious fundamentalists killed mew because mew violated their god's believability. It all depends on your way of viewing it. Psiumbreon makes a pokemon story about religion, and he does wonders with it. In that as well mew contradicts god. Really, it's up to you, make a god if you want to, but try and find some other stories if you need help.

 

[PDL]

I've been thinking about adding a strange cult into Sabrina's Story, probably just poking at cults with very silly basis to them...

should I go ahead with it though? I don't want it to change the tone of my fic...

 

[Evanji Axu]

Make it a spoofy kinda cult, akin the the Loyal Order of the Water Buffalo from Flinstones (although that's not a cult really)

 

[Kthleen]

I remember that LilyPichu made something about religious fundamentalists killed mew because mew violated their god's believability.

I don't know about LilyPichu, but that certainly sounds to me like Scrap's "Resumption". It was really sad but rocked nonetheless... if you hate überfundamentalist Christians.

 

[Smile Guy]

You're not discerning the difference between religion and truth.

Is this Abyss and Utopia the belief of your world or is it like the actual truth?

 

[Avenger Angel]

You're not discerning the difference between religion and truth.

Is this Abyss and Utopia the belief of your world or is it like the actual truth?

It's actually the truth. The main character ends up having to cross through both to accomplish his objectives.

 

[Evanji Axu]

I myself thought up a rather complicated myth based on Bakuna, the green-eyed Typhlosion goddess, and the Zangoose deity, Zansa. I'll post it if you like.

 

[Eternal Daydreamer]

Religion? I really don't touch much on that subject... I do however made some religious type legends and references..

The first one was a spoofy Pokemon called Teligion, he's something like a Porygon and he's the "god of telivision". He of course is mentioned in The Chocolate Factory. This Porygon doesn't really exist and is worshipped by a group of TV addicted children. This is as cultish as I get.

Then the other is something I would rather keep hush-hush for now.

 

[katiekitten]

I think a Trinity of Mew-Celebi-Jirachi works best

He he he... In my fic, Jirachi is quite different... I consider Mew as a sort of god, with Hoho. Hoho the creator, Mew the beginning of everything. I quite like Zerodius idea of Celebi being the grim reaper, it would make sense as she does travel through time; although as it is her idea I won't be using it in my story. I need to ask her about that, actually... Anyways, Jirachi is a self-made diety, with quite a history. Which I am not about to post, because it would ruin the story. The other legendaries minaiture gods of their own element type. Just how I see it...

Well, with the religion thing, just create your own. Have the Silver Appex people believe in something, the Dictator guy's group -sorry, I forgot the name- believe something else, maybe one that the guy made up himself to assure his wariors they were doing the right thing. Pretending he is a god, and to reassure his troops that they will go to utopia if they fight well and kill many of the enemy, ectra. Being on the other side doesn't neccessarily mean you are evil, just unlucky and brought up the wrong way.

I intend on creating my own religion, for my story. It most probably wil be a mish mash of modern beliefs, (RE is useful some times) But I think it will go with the angel/demon route. I haven't given it much thought, perhaps I will... Just the villagers understanding of what is going on, how they got to where they are. It is set way in the past, which gives me a lot to play with...

 

[Ledian_X]

Religion in fanfics, huh? I think it's okay to do if handled well and if you make your own. Make a Cult of the Articuno based on that guy from the 2snd movie's headress. You can do anything in Pokemon to make a religion. Just make it believable.

Or, if it's a non pokemon story, you could always just do what I did. I made one up. It's the religion of an alien people and it's polythestic in nature. There are many Gods and Goddesses. But, on the human side of the equation, I have several people in the fic that are of various religions. You use them to make things realistic. If you're afraid of stepping on toes, do research into them.

No need to veer away from it, just use it as it's realistic in our world. It adds something people can relate to. And if you're making an all new society, you can have loads of fun making up a new one.

LX

 

[indigestible_wad]

I don't know about LilyPichu, but that certainly sounds to me like Scrap's "Resumption". It was really sad but rocked nonetheless... if you hate überfundamentalist Christians.

You'e right, that's what I was thinking of. My mistake.