Radiated Religion

[Ozrat]

What is the status of religion in a post nuclear world?

Sure, we had the Children of the Cathedral, but are there any other examples from the Fallout Universe?

I honestly doubt that there could be any widespread faith in the wastelands without a strong inter-regional connection. I can only imagine the Enclave and possibly the BrotherHood of Steel or the NCR having enough manpower and influence to pull something like that off.

Another alternative would be that of having only localized beliefs, such as what was found among the tribals in Fallout 2. More than one area may share a common idea, but ultimately there are differences between the faiths.

Thoughts?

 

[welsh]

Could be that you had a flood of different beliefs. Think about Palestine around the time of Christ- the place had many prophets. Even in places in Africa, religion still is good business.

Harsh times lead to harsh faiths.

The chart is interesting- I think it's mostly a reflection of what faiths are urban. With Jews and Catholics concentrated in the urban Northeast or major cities, while most of the country remains Protestant- perhaps the chart is more accurate than not.

 

[Ozrat]

FYI, that chart was made in the 1960's...

I can't decide on whether the religions would be more strict in order to keep tabs on its followers or if they would be more relaxed in order to attract more believers.

Are there any prime factors that would influence this?

 

[OnTheBounce]

I can't decide on whether the religions would be more strict in order to keep tabs on its followers or if they would be more relaxed in order to attract more believers.

Long range trade is a thing of the past in FO, so that would knock a lot of the competition between faiths out. This would also limit a faith's growth and would keep them from establishing a powerful and widespread bureaucracy.

However, I think it would be -- like Welsh said -- a case of tough times breading tough faiths, much less than any sort based on peace or something along those lines. Blighted landscapes would make for perfect guilt-trip fodder, ripe pickings for people willing to lay blame in the laps of the people. (Think of the procession of flaggelants in The Seventh Seal.) While most of the religions emerging would probably have a Protestant bent (Calvinistic, even) there would probably be some very eclectic movements as well. (The spiritual equivalent of Junktown, I suppose.)

OTB

 

[Silencer]

Harsh times lead to harsh faiths.

Again, let me endorse "Deus Irae" By P.K. Dick and R. Zelazny

I'd imagine that some very extreme movements could develop. For example, a religion preaching rigorous moral code and physical routine, based off on the assumption that the devastation was a sign of God's fury at the weakness and decadence of Humanity. They would follow a set of their own harsh commandments and exterminate all who would dissent.

Some Christians, for example, may would have been led to believe that the world was caught in some "prolonged apocalypse" and that this is the final test to separate the chaff from the wheat - those that would remain true to the commandments and deem themselves worthy of entering the New Heaven.

Some may start a primitive pagan cult of the God of Nuclear Fire. Some may have come to the conclusion that evil has finally won the last battle and only darkness awaits them. Some may return to the most basic forms of religion based on belief in spirits and fetishes.