How do SF&Fwriters build worlds? Often they use things that are common to us all, but with a little twist. How do some of the great SF&F writers fit in a religion in one of their worlds? Observe
10. The Catholic Church as a cult. Fritz Leiber describes this turn of events in his book, Gather, Darkness!
9. The world that Stephen Donaldson describes in his Thomas Covenant series. The beginning book Lord Foul’s Bane begins a long, harrowing quest that extends nine books. The religion is part of a rich history and excellent world-building.
8. The Church of Scientology as founded by science fiction writer L. Ron Hubbard. The Mr. Hubbard’s ideas were supported and encouraged by John W. Campbell, Jr. of Astounding Stories, one of the great magazines in the Science Fiction genre.
7. Nordic religion revisited and updated in Norse Code by Gregg Van Eehout.
6. One of the best all-time science fiction stories of all times “The Nine Billion Names of God” by Arthur C. Clarke. It’s a meeting of an ancient religion with modern technology.
5. Is the “Seldom Plan” a religion? Is something that is followed a religion? Ask Isaac Asimov.
4. J. R. R. Tolkien’s world in the Lord of the Rings trilogy is not an in-your-face religious experience. Yet one can almost understand that goblins, trolls and wraiths called to serve Saur on as an anti-religion approach. The worship of the floating eye is quite prevalent throughout the books.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sauron
3. The plot of The Fifth Element is about the fruition of a coming “Perfect Being” as a one to save the world.
2. The weird “Weirding Way” religion found in Dune by Frank Herbert.
1. Star Wars, The “Force” is undoubtedly the most quoted SF&F religion ever.
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