Game Of Thrones: George R.R. Martin Explains Religious Inspiration For The Sparrows

By Alison Lesley --
31 May 2015 --

The inspiration for the religious and cult groups in Game of Thrones are deeply rooted in real life historical religious groups.

Fans of the wildly popular hit HBO series Game of Thrones are sure to know that the story and plotlines were inspired by George R.R. Martin’s series of fantasy novels, A Song of Ice and Fire.

However, they may not know that some of the storied religious and cult groups that are deeply entrenched in the action on the fictional continents of Westeros and Essos are inspired by real life religious groups.

Martin told Entertainment Weekly that The Sparrows, the evil Faith Militant cult which have risen to power in season five, are his “version of the medieval Catholic Church.” Martin pointed to a period in which the leaders of the church were more politically interested than religiously inspired.

Further, Martin also took inspiration from the splitting of the medieval church during the Protestant Reformation. There were two or three rival Popes during this time all trying to legitimize their own reign while denouncing the others.

The same situation is occurring in Martin’s fictional Westeros. In the show, main characters Tyrion and Cersei Lannister were at odds over the High Septon that Tyrion appointed after the incumbent was torn apart by an angry mob. Cersei did not trust Tyrion’s appointment, and the result was something that mimicked the Protestant Revolution rather closely.

But the “Game of Thrones” gains more influence from the Catholic Church beyond The Sparrows. Martin said that the Faith of Seven was his “reinterpretation of the Catholic Church.”

As a boy, Martin was confused by the Trinity of the Catholic Church, unable to understand if there was one God or three. The Faith of Seven he imagined for A Song of Fire and Ice and subsequently, Game of Thrones multiplied the Trinity to create a God in seven aspects.

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Game of Thrones is currently ending its fifth season and is contracted for a sixth. It is believed that the series will continue at least one more season beyond that.