Because of issues regarding intellectual property, the rules that DGP's
_World Builders' Handbook_ presented for defining religions have gone out
of print and are unavailable for use. The Mongoose _World Builder's
Handbook_ does not address religion at all, except to say that it's not
addressing it. The below (between the lines of ===) represents an attempt
to start from a 'clean sheet' and work up a religious profile, and
ultimately rules for generating and tips for using religions in one's game.

I am interested in comments and suggestions for the entire document,
including things that I might have overlooked and places where I might be
'overspecifying'. If you feel that I may be on a "wrong track" entirely, I
want to hear that, too, along with an explanation of why, and what you
might do instead.

The sections at the end, "Generating Religions", "Examples", and "Using
Religion In Your Game" are as yet unwritten, and your thoughts and ideas
for these sections would be welcome.

========================================================================
Introduction

Although not really addressed in canonical world-building in Traveller,
religion is often an important factor in the "shape" of a culture. Digest
Group Publications (World Builders' Handbook) [p79ff] provided a way of
generating a "profile" for a religion, similar to the various profile
strings for characters and worlds, but the interpretation of the various
choices left something to be desired, and no guidelines were provided for
incorporating that religion into a society. This article is intended to
provide an alternative to that procedure, to provide alternative
interpretations for the various characteristics of the religion, and to
offer suggestions regarding the use of religion in the adventure.

Definitions

    Religion/Philosophy

    There is no single universal agreement on the definition of religion.
    We have chosen to start from the definition provided by Max Lynn
    Stackhouse, "a comprehensive worldview that is accepted as binding
    because it is held to be in itself basically true and just, even if all
    dimensions of it cannot be either fully confirmed or refuted". For the
    purposes of discussion in this article, religion differs from
    philosophy in one principal respect: a religion acknowledges (either
    explicitly or implicitly [see below]) a Deitic Principle (q.v., below).
    For the most part, discussion in this article will apply equally to
    religion and philosophy, and the word religion will be used for both;
    where a distinction is necessary, some reference to the Deitic
    Principle will be included for religions; where the word philosophy is
    used, the Deitic Principle is specifically excluded. Note that if the
    distinction outlined here is applied to real-world religions, some
    (such as Taoism or Confucianism) may be reclassified as philosophies.

    Deitic Principle

    A religion's Deitic Principle is defined as one or more (normally
    metaphysical or nonphysical) entities that are generally viewed as
    self-aware and able (if not necessarily willing) to intervene in the
    affairs of those demonstrating devotion to themselves or to those
    aspects of the social contract believed to be important. While
    omniscience, omnipresence, and/or omnipotence are often attributes of
    Deitic Principles, they do not define a Deitic Principle in the general
    case. It should be noted that the existence of a Deitic Principle may
    be implied by some beliefs (such as acceptance of supernatural
    occurrences and/or reincarnation), even if it is otherwise explicitly
    denied.

    Devotional Activity

    This is a very broad term. It refers generally to activities that are
    viewed as being part of that religion, whether or not they are
    'ordinary' day-to-day activities requiring special note within the
    religion. As an example, eating only kosher food, avoiding pork, and
    not mixing meat and dairy in a meal are all classed as "devotional
    activities" in Judaism; similarly, avoiding beef is a "devotional
    activity" for Hindus, as is carrying the kirpan for Sikhs. (Naturally,'
    specific activities such as prayers, rituals, and so on are also
    "devotional activities".)

    Supernatural [Occurrences/Manifestations]

    Events or actions that [are held to] fall outside natural law (or
    secular science). These are considered to necessarily imply the
    existence of a Deitic Principle; for natural law to be 'violated' would
    require an entity with volition to cause the violation - essentially,
    the definition of the Deitic Principle.

Characteristics of Religions

    Model

    The goal for any religion is to provide a common worldview to bind a
    society into a cohesive whole. Part of that common worldview involves
    the rules for interacting with the religion itself. We call this the
    Model of the religion, and have identified three basic possibilities:

        Propitiatory

        The purpose of devotional activities is to either induce the Deitic
        Principle to favorable action, or to deter the Deitic Principle
        from unfavorable action. This includes devotional activities where
        no specific request is made, such as prayers of thanks or of
        acknowledgement of suzerainty.

        Ethical

        The purpose of devotional activities is to maintain society as a
        whole in a functional mode viewed as positive, or to remind
        devotees of the need to so maintain the society. This includes
        self-focussed activities that are intended to make one a "better
        person" to the extent that the normal behavior of the "better
        person" is favorable to maintaining society as above.

        Transcendental

        The purpose of devotional activities is to bring oneself closer to
        some idealized state, representing a "perfection" of the self, or
        to a state where there is no distinction between the self and the
        Deitic Principle. Occasionally, this is interpreted to focus on
        becoming "more/better than human" or to develop abilities that are
        considered exceptional (for example, psionics). (For individuals
        other than humans, substitute appropriate species identifier, e.g.,
        "more/better than Vargr/Aslan/Virushi/Gurvin/etc.)

        A Note on Hybridization

        It is actually unusual for an "organic" religion (that is, one that
        developed naturally, rather than being specifically 'designed') to
        be purely in one of the three classes; often, a religion will
        change as the society does, and a religion that might be classed as
        'Ethical' may well have 'held over' elements that would suggest a
        'Propitiatory' model (e.g., prayers before and after meals), or one
        that is principally 'Transcendental' may also have elements of an
        'Ethical' model regarding how the Improved self should interact
        with those who are less Improved. Even 'designed' religions may
        have 'mixed' aspects, as the designers will often take acceptable
        aspects of other religions into their own for multiple reasons,
        including increasing the "comfort levels" of the devotees
        (familiarity of ritual) or deception (influence non-devotees and
        prospective devotees toward the belief that the new religion is a
        variation/reinterpretation of an older, more acceptable one).

        It is possible that an evaluation of a model might result in two
        models appearing to be codominant (that is, of equal importance,
        rather than one being vestiges of a historical change). Such cases
        may be religions that are transitioning between the two models, and
        thus the codominance should be considered unstable or transitory.
        It is also possible that such a religion is synthetic (i.e.,
        deliberately created, not naturally developed) or syncretic (the
        result of two dissimilar religions being combined, either
        deliberately or organically).

    Deitic Structure

    The Deitic Structure of a religion describes the "shape" of the Deitic
    Principle. When evaluating a religion for its Deitic Structure, look at
    actual practice, rather than the religion's own doctrinal claims;
    historical syncretism resulting from accommodation of rituals from
    converts answering the call of proselytism may have in practice changed
    the Deitic Structure.

        Omnitheistic

        The Deitic Principle is universal; there is no place where the
        Deitic Principle does not manifest. This may be divided generally
        into two forms:

            Pantheistic

            The Universe and the Deitic Principle are one and the same; the
            Deitic Principle pervades every aspect of the Universe.
            Generally, the belief system does not acknowledge that there is
            anything 'beyond' the Universe.

            Panentheistic

            The Deitic Principle contains the Universe, but is also beyond
            it - the Universe is a subset of the Deitic Principle.

        Multitheistic (Polytheistic)

        The Deitic Principle is not a single entity. Entities comprising
        the Deitic Principle may be associated with particular entities in
        the world, or with realms of activity or existence. Broadly
        speaking, this can take the following forms:

            Hierarchical Multitheistic

            Some of the entities comprising the Deitic Principle are
            considered more important than others, and the less important
            entities may have their ability to act constrained by the more
            important entities. This includes situations where the lesser
            entities are acting strictly as intercessors with the greater,
            which actually acts on the request.

            Departmental Multitheistic

            There is no real ranking among the entities comprising the
            Deitic Principle; all are considered equal. Instead, each
            entity has an area of responsibility, and requests falling
            within that area are to be directed to the specific entity
            responsible. It is possible that areas of responsibility may
            overlap in day-to-day activities; in such cases, requests may
            be made separately or collectively to the relevant entities.

            Entity-centric Multitheistic (Animistic)

            Each discernably-discrete entity in the world has its own
            portion of the Deitic Principle. This may be limited to only
            those entities that are alive (people, plants, and animals) or
            which may be perceived as such (add such things as rivers or
            other bodies of water and wind), or it may be unlimited (add
            such things as mountains, 'the land', or crafted things such as
            weapons).

            Hybrid Forms

            It is possible for e.g., Departmental and Hierarchical
            Multitheism to overlap; this could represent something similar
            to the Celestial Bureaucracy of Chinese theology.

        Dualistic

        The Deitic Principle is embodied in two entities representing
        opposed principles. Common principle pairs are Life/Death,
        Good/Evil, and Creation/Destruction, but other pairings are not
        unknown.

        Unitheistic (Monotheistic)

        The Deitic Principal is a single entity, distinct from the world.
        Often, some combination of omnipresence, omniscience, and/or
        omnipotence is ascribed thereto.

        Nontheistic

        The Deitic Principal's existence is not acknowledged. This
        guarantees that the religion is classed as a philosophy rather than
        a deitic religion.

        Undefined

        The religion provides no evidence about the form of the Deitic
        Principle, or explicitly denies it, but other characteristics or
        beliefs of the religion implicitly "require" the existence of a
        Deitic Principle. Two beliefs that are considered 'diagnostic' in
        this sense are (1) a belief that "supernatural" occurrences are
        real and not explainable within natural law or known science, or
        (2) belief in reincarnation, i.e., that some component of the
        'self' survives death, and can return to life in another body (and
        under certain circumstances recall details of previous lives).

    Deitic Distance

    The Deitic Distance of a religion describes the level at which the
    Deitic Principle is believed to interact with devotees.

        Interactive

        The Deitic Principle interacts with devotees constantly, and on a
        personal basis with each. Nothing occurs without the direct and
        intimate involvement of the Deitic Principle.

        Personal

        The Deitic Principle interacts with devotees on a personal basis
        with each, but only at specific need.

        Collective

        The Deitic Principle interacts with devotees at need on a group
        basis, not individually.

        Uninvolved

        The Deitic Principle rarely interacts with devotees on any basis.

    Clerical Structure

    The Clerical Structure of a religion describes who may teach or
    interpret the principles and scriptures of the religion, and who may
    perform the rituals of the religion (this is henceforth referred to as
    'acting as clergy').

        Individual

        Devotees are universally and individually empowered to act as
        clergy.

        Congregational

        Selected devotees are individually empowered to act as clergy for
        small groups of other devotees. Authority rises from the groups,
        and agreement to interpretations of principles and scriptures is
        via negotiation and consensus.

        Hierarchical

        Selected devotees are individually empowered to act as clergy for
        large groups of devotees, and to empower others to do so for
        smaller groups. Authority descends from a single individual or
        small council, and interpretations of principles and scriptures is
        determined at the highest levels, with doctrinal statements handed
        down to lower levels.

    Clerical Role

        Pastoral

        Clergy provide advice to devotees and teach doctrine. They may also
        be empowered to certify others as competent to act as clergy.

        Paternal

        In addition to counselling devotees and teaching doctrine, clergy
        may provide specific guidance/direction and may impose penance for
        transgressions.

        Intercessionary

        Clergy are the only ones empowered to interact with the Deitic
        Principle on behalf of devotees, and this is held to be their
        primary role within the organization. Other duties resemble those
        of a strict paternal clergy. Some senior clergy may be empowered to
        certify others as clergy.

    Influence

    While any religion will by definition have influence among its
    devotees, it's possible for a religion's principles to become
    influential among others.

        Congregational

        The principles of the religion are held primarily by the devotees,
        with little acceptance or application beyond that.

        Persuasive

        The principles of the religion are held not only by devotees, but
        by others outside the religion, and have become a significant
        influence among the wider society.

        Statutory

        The principles, rituals, and/or other aspects of the religion are
        enforced even for non-devotees with the force of law.

    Openness

    Openness is an evaluation of how easily one may become part of the
    religious community. A "closed" religion does not accept converts; one
    must be born into the religion to be considered a member of the
    community.

    Accessibility

    Accessibility is an evaluation of how easily a non-devotee may obtain
    information about the religion, including scripture, information about
    doctrine and interpretation, devotional activities, and so on. A
    religion with low accessibility does not make this information
    available, or actively tries to suppress it among non-devotees.

Generating Religions

Game rules to be written

Examples

To be written. The intent is to take some of the religions described in
Mongoose 1ed _Powers and Principalities_ or BITS _101 Religions_ and
provide the profile using the rules above.

Using Religion In Your Game

To Be Written

=============================================================================

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