These world building prompts come from 3000 World Building Prompts, which you can get at Amazon. This section is focused on creating religions.
- What is this religion’s name?
- What historical event (such as a prophet) led to the creation of this religion?
- Was there a prophet?
- What was the prophet’s occupation prior to their divine revelation?
- What is the prophet’s story of interaction with the god?
- What time of the day and year did this occur on?
- What holidays have arisen and when are they?
- What does each holiday signify?
- How did the prophet die? Or is he/she still alive?
- How did the religion react to this?
- What did the god(s) do when the prophet died?
- Which god(s) does this religion worship?
- Is that god real?
- Does the god(s) answer prayers?
- What makes the god not answer a prayer?
- What can improve the odds of the god answering?
- Is the god capricious in answering?
- Does the god only answer prayers of true believers?
- What is the primary symbol of this religion?
- What other symbols exist?
- Are there any colors important to the religion and what do they signify?
- What is the religion famous for?
- If there’s an official language, what is it?
- What is the original language that sacred texts are written in?
- Are there written texts?
- What is the name of the most important written text?
- Is there a sacred language that only practitioners are taught?
- Is this a dead religion?
Behaviors
- Are there pilgrimages to holy sites?
- If so, how often are worshipers expected to make the pilgrimage?
- Must practitioners fast and for how long?
- Are there dietary restrictions?
- Are there restrictions on behavior?
- Are there restrictions on attire?
- On travel?
- How is a staunch believer determined?
- Does the religion do missionary work, actively trying to recruit people?
- Are they overzealous in missionary work?
- How often must practitioners worship?
- Does the number of times signify anything?
- How many visits to a church/shrine must they make in a time frame (week, month, year)?
- Are there any materials needed to worship (candle, mat)?
- What does the material(s) signify?
- Must worshippers wear anything specific while praying or visiting a holy site, and what is it?
- Must worshippers wear anything and what is it?
- Must worshippers assume a position while praying (kneeling, clasping hands)?
- What does the position signify?
- Is worship only formal, such as a priest conducting services?
- How long is each worship session?
- What is the goal of praying (atonement, showing faith, etc.)?
- What customs exist in the religion?
- What expectations, if not met, result in what punishments?
- How strict is the religion?
Places and Items
- Where is each special site?
- Is this location considered holy now?
- Is this location easily accessible because of terrain?
- Is this location controlled by a sovereign power that restricts access? Who?
- Is this location sacred to more than this religion so that it is contested land desired by others, too?
- What items/artifacts did the prophet have or receive?
- What powers do the artifacts have or are believed to have?
- Which artifacts are lost?
- Where are the missing artifacts rumored to be?
- Where is each of the remaining artifacts?
- How well guarded are they?
- What happens if any artifacts fall into the wrong hands and are used?
- Have any artifacts been split into multiple pieces, each hidden separately? Where are the pieces? Is there a treasure map?
Locations and Relations
- Are there sovereign power types (monarchies, democracies) where this religion flourishes more than others?
- Where does this religion struggle to thrive?
- Is the religion influential anywhere?
- What languages are they expected to speak, read, and write, if any?
- What species/races may join?
- What species/races are discouraged or forbidden? Why?
- What is this religion’s attitude toward each species and race in the setting?
- Do practitioners believe any group is especially in need of “saving?” Which ones and why?
- Does this religion have a contentious relationship with another religion? Why?
- Are there any religions which this one gets along with well?
Adventuring
- Are clergy allowed to join the military?
- What is this religion’s relationship with the military?
- Is this religion non-violent?
- Are practitioners allowed to join the military?
- Does the military have priests from this religion as part of it?
- Are the priests acting as counselors?
- Are the priests acting as healers?
- Are the priests involved in the fighting?
- What kind of armor are the priests allowed to wear?
- What kind of armor are the priests forbidden from wearing and why?
- What weapons are the priests allowed to use?
- What weapons are the priests forbidden from using and why?
Members
- Has the religion developed any sects? What are they and how do they differ?
- Does this religion have a recognized leader? What is their title?
- Are there individual leaders at different locations and what is their title and responsibilities?
- What sort of power do these individuals wield?
- What happens if one of them exceeds their authority?
- Are there any individuals alive or dead who are especially important to this religion?
- Does this religion have saints?
- What sort of afterlife does this religion imagine?
- Are the wicked punished or forgiven?
- Are the good rewarded?
- Is there a place like hell?
- Is there a place like heaven?
- Do they believe in reincarnation?
- How many times can someone reincarnate?
- Is reincarnation real or just an idea?
- How does the religion prepare people for death?
- What causes people to lose faith in this religion?
- What causes people to stop satisfying the religion’s requirements?
- Are the gods believed to reward the faithful?
- If so, for what are they rewarded?
- What form does the reward take?
- Must people die to receive the reward?
- Is the belief in the reward accurate?
- Do the gods punish followers for misdeeds?
- What leads to a punishment?
- What form does punishment take?
- What can someone do to atone for a misdeed?
- What role does this religion play in society?
- Are people encouraged to only worship one god in this religion or are they allowed to have others?