Religion

The setting of A Song of Ice and Fire is one where there are many faiths, and many faithful. Belief in high powers and supernatural threats runs deep through the culture of the known world and influence most aspects of life. In The Seven Kingdoms nearly all children are raised praising either the new gods or the old and fear of the Others coming to claim them if they misbehave. Across the narrow sea children are often given to be raised to priesthood of one of the many deities worshipped there. And

much is unknown about the deities of the known world and their powers, so far only R'hllor has been shown to posses real power or maybe he is the only one to influence the world directly.

Westeros

Westeros has relatively few significant religions, Among them are:

• The Old Gods, The Old Gods of the Forest, which are still worshipped by the people of the North and the wildlings, beyond the Wall.
• The Seven, The Predominant religion in the Seven Kingdoms, worshipping one god consisting of seven separate aspects.
• Drowned God and the Storm God are the God of the Ironmen, the Drowned God is a harsh deity, that said to favour reaving and plunder in its name.
• R'hllor, the Lord of Light, is little known religion in Westeros, thou it seem to gain support in recent times.
• Mother Rhoyne, Worshiped by the remnants of Rhoynar, practiced along the river Greenblood.

Across the narrow sea

On the other side of the narrow sea, it seems there are as many gods as there are peoples. In Braavos, one can find temples and shrines to almost every god one can imagine. At least a dozen separate gods have been mentioned in the novel. Among them are the:

• R'hllor and Great Other, The biggest religion.
• Weeping Woman a favorite of old women.
• the Lion of Night preferred by rich men.
• the Hooded Wayfarer a patron of the poor.
• Bakkalon the Pale Child (favored of soliders)
• Many-Faced God of Braavos, believed to be the true face of all the gods.
• Great Shepherd, Great Shepherd is the deity of the Lhazareen.

Influences and Theology

• The Old Gods seem like a sort of peaceful animistic religion.
• The Seven, bears some distinct similarities to the Catholic church, in structure and organization. The seven is an analog of the Trinity, that has seven gods in one rather than three (the Father, Warrior, Smith, Maid, Mother, Crone, and Stranger ), and complete with monastic orders, dormant military orders(Faith Militant), and a Pope/College of Cardinals (High Septon/Most Devout).
• R'hllor, is similar in many ways to Zoroastrianism, with a strong dualism between the Lord of Light and the Nameless Other of Darkness, apocalyptic theology, and religious practice that is strongly intertwined with the use and symbiology of fire.

• Virtually every other religion are examples of polytheism, where people in the attempt to understand nature gave forces of nature human shapes.
• Storm God and the Drowned God could be related to Norse mythology, encouraging the lifestyle of raiding and reaving just as the religion of the Vikings did.
• Mother Rhoyne religion is polytheistic worshipping the Rhoyne and many lesser river-dwelling deities such as the Old Man of the River and a turtle-god. It's may also be inspired by the real-life Roma, to a degree

Prophecy

• See list of Prophecies.