Editing Religion (section)

==Influences and Theology==
{{See also|Themes in A Song of Ice and Fire}}

Unlike [[w:J. R. R. Tolkien|J. R. R. Tolkien]]'s ''[[w:The Lord of the Rings|The Lord of the Rings]]'', ''A Song of Ice and Fire'' addresses religion in some detail and portrays several competing religions. More than any other novel in the series, ''[[A Dance with Dragons]]'' explores the different religions of Westeros and Essos. Each of the religions reflects its culture's temperament. [[George R. R. Martin]] based the series' faiths on real religions, tweaking or expanding them a little. However, no religion is presented as the true faith, although there are displays of power on many sides, nor do any have a monopoly on virtue. 

Known influences include: 
* The old gods are "based on [[w:Animism|animism]] and traditional Pagan beliefs of Wicca and various other Celtic systems and Norse systems", melted into one construct.<ref>[https://youtu.be/QTTW8M_etko?t=48m38s George R.R. Martin | Talks at Google (Published August 6, 2011)]</ref> They are nameless and numerous.<ref>[[So Spake Martin]]: [http://www.westeros.org/Citadel/SSM/Entry/948/ Gods of Westeros (November 18, 1998)]</ref> 
* The Faith of the Seven is based on the medieval [[w:Catholic Church|Catholic Church]], although it borrows other elements as well. The Faith's central doctrine of one God with seven aspects is partly based on the Christian [[w:Trinity|Trinity]]: one God in the divine persons of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. In the Faith of the Seven, God has seven aspects: three males, the Father, the Smith, and the Warrior, three females, the Mother, the Maiden, and the Crone, and the Stranger who represents Death.<ref>Bullseye: [http://www.maximumfun.org/sound-young-america/george-r-r-martin-author-song-ice-and-fire-series-interview-sound-young-america George R. R. Martin, Author of "A Song of Ice and Fire" Series: Interview on The Sound of Young America] {September 19, 2011}</ref><ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QTTW8M_etko Google Talks: George R. R. Martin]</ref> The Faith Militant, the Faith's military order, is loosely based on crusading orders such as the [[w:Knights Templar|Knights Templar]] and [[w:Knights Hospitaller|Knights Hospitaller]].<ref>[[So Spake Martin]]: [http://www.westeros.org/Citadel/SSM/Entry/2765 Faith Militant’s Inspiration and Ice and Fire Dream Cast (April 15, 2008)]</ref>
* Similarities between the religion of the [[Drowned God]] and the Norse mythology can be found. For example, the ironborn believe they will feast eternally in the Drowned God's watery halls after they die, similar to Norse warriors, who hoped to feast in [[w:Valhalla|Valhalla]].
* The [[Mother Rhoyne]] religion is a polytheistic worshiping of the [[Rhoyne]] and many lesser river-dwelling deities such as the [[Old Man of the River]] and the [[Crab King]]. The [[Rhoynar]] may be inspired by the [[w:Romani people|Roma]].<ref>[http://www.tor.com/blogs/2011/04/the-many-gods-a-dark-faiths-of-a-song-of-ice-and-fire Many Gods & Dark Faiths] article by [[User:Ran|Ran]] and [[User:Linda|Linda]]</ref>

Martin tries to slowly reveal how the many different kinds of [[magic]] in the ''Ice and Fire'' world may be manifestations of the same mysterious supernatural forces. This leaves readers free to wonder about the validity, teachings and supernatural power of the competing religions, allowing for a sense of wonder, for things that escape the net of explanation in terms of the physical sciences. Martin regards any religion's claim to truth with suspicion, as he does the claims of real religions. The series' gods, he said, are unlikely to appear [[w:deus-ex-machina|deus-ex-machina]] in Westeros.<ref name=io9_gods />