Game of Thrones, Season 5 Focuses on Religions

By Hayli Harding --
19 Apr 2015 --

Game of Thrones Season 5 is upon us and much has been said about the different religions in Westeros.

Game of Thrones had been on hiatus for about a year before the Season 5 premiere episode aired on Sunday. The primary focus of the series has been politics, but there has also been plenty on the topic of religion, which will be further explored in this season.

The Main Religions of Game of Thrones

There are several religions in Westeros, though there are three main ones: the old gods, the Faith of the Seven and Faith of R’hllor (Lord of Light). Each has their own history, traditions, rituals and beliefs.

Many fans are familiar with the old gods, which feature pagan-like beliefs. The religion is neither an organized one nor does it have a hierarchy or temples. This religion goes back long before humans arrived to Westeros, in a time when the Children of the Forest were free to do as they wished. Many South Westeros homes treat the religion as secular, worshiping the gods wood or heart tree.

The Faith of the Seven is very similar to Catholicism. It has a specific place in society, a hierarchy, rituals and monastic orders. The followers of the faith worship a single god that holds seven aspects. The father, who judges, the mother, who celebrates fertility and peace, the warrior, who provides courage and protection in battle, the maiden, the symbol of innocence and love, the smith, who crafts, the crone, which is essentially fate, and the strange, or the god of death. The Faith of the Seven will play an important role. *SPOILER* In one of the biggest parts of the story, the Faith Militants, which are the fanatics of the religion and the private army for the faith, push for Cersei to allow them to organize. If she recognizes them as a religion, they may become a very powerful force.

The Faith of the Seven perform rituals, such as the baby naming one that requires seven oils to name them. Knights must be vigil in a place of worship and be anointed in the name of the seven, while trials are held by combat to allow the gods to choose your innocence.

#TheWarsToCome. Explore the #GoTSeason5 premiere in the #GoTViewersGuide.
(CONTAINS SPOILERS) https://t.co/wbNjwTYkJ3
— Game of Thrones (@GameOfThrones) April 13, 2015

The Faith of R’hllor follows the Lord of Light. The Lord of Light believers struggle to live in peace with the Faith, who have been heard to call them a ‘false faith.’ Melisandre, the woman who brings word of the Faith of R’hllor, has made it somewhat hard to follow the religion. They believe in two gods, though she primarily speaks of the Red God (R’hllor) and the other god, the Lord of Darkness or Great Other.