6 réponses à ce sujet

[Ardeco]

I am actually pleased to see a fantasy game that contains a religious group similar in character to the dominant Church of the Middle Ages. Because fantasy games borrow so heavily from the history of the West, I often have trouble understanding how a society so similar to that of the Middle Ages could exist without the influence of a Catholic-like entity. Because the Church shaped much of medieval thought and culture, it seems logical that Bioware has created a similar religious group in the Chantry. Some of the details are changed (female savior who led through war instead of peace, and therefore, female religious leaders), but at its core the Chantry is similar to the Church in terms of beliefs, tradition, and political influence. Bioware has also avoided the cliche of an evil religion, as the Chantry is presented as neither evil nor fully benevolent.

The best fiction mirrors human experiences of the past, and Bioware has demonstrated an understanding of Western history and culture. Well done.

[Chesta12345]

The theology is very different, as well. The Chantry priests are essentially deists whereas the early Catholic church thought God to play an active role in human affairs. Its very different but very much believable. I liked Leliana's arguments with the Chantry over how she perceived the Maker as a loving entity. Twas' very interesting hearing the different interpretation about the divine.

[daguest]

A lot of middle age society used a different religion than a monotheist one. For example the Chinese civilization, which was for more advanced than our mind closed Europe. Or all the south america empires. There was no need of catholic like religion to have a powerful state. Even if religion was very important in every empire of the past.

Anyway, there is some concern with using a religion so similar to a real and actual religion. I m no Catholic at all, and seeing my toon crying "by the maker !" doesn't sound right for me. Not a great concern, i will not make a complain post somewhere, but it makes me disagree on what you say.

[Ardeco]

daguest wrote...

A lot of middle age society used a different religion than a monotheist one. For example the Chinese civilization, which was for more advanced than our mind closed Europe. Or all the south america empires. There was no need of catholic like religion to have a powerful state. Even if religion was very important in every empire of the past.
Anyway, there is some concern with using a religion so similar to a real and actual religion. I m no Catholic at all, and seeing my toon crying "by the maker !" doesn't sound right for me. Not a great concern, i will not make a complain post somewhere, but it makes me disagree on what you say.

When your aesthetics are Western, your weapons Western, and your culture Western, the lack of a Western religion seems like a distortion. Religion, particularly during certain periods of history, has a profound impact on society. I would find it inappropriate for a game with heavy feudal Japanese elements to contain a dominant religion that is free of ancestor worship. I appreciate that a developer has attempted to create an appropriate body of faith for its in-game society.

[Officeninja]

Given that Thedas draws a great deal of influence from medieval Europe it makes sense that it would also include a representation of the catholic church...I do like the irony that in Thedas priests are Female instead of Male (essentially switching it around) and that the storyline equivalent of the Anglican (or perhaps Lutheran, my exact history is not as solid as it used to be) church is so because they ordained male Reverends and a male Divine. I am not especially religious, but it was nice that they made it feel something like a character that had good and bad, right and wrong, apples and oranges in its ranks.

[JamesX]

Sword is Sword. Religion is not the sole deterimant of a society.



As for aesthetics, weapons, culture, is pretty much all based on Rome and Greek. But neither Rome or Greek is "western religion". At least not till Rome's late stages.



Religion has about much impact on culture (culture... not morality) as weather have on society. It is not the sole determinant. It is very possible for a culture of hierachy and pre-determination (such as japan) without their shinto religion. Just look at india. It is also a caste system with very very stratified society with a king ruling over sub kings and such. Yet hindu is vastly different than shinto. While buddism is shared by both but the raja era is mostly pre-buddism.

[daguest]

You think we were catholics because we were on the west of the world (west of what ? who know). History give us catholicism. It was just a matter of luck, and a lot of thing (roman empire, life condition,...). Religion was important. No matter which one. People just wanted something to believe, easy to understand when you live no more than 30years old.
Anyway, the chantry religion is too close to an actual religion i don't believe in. Modern politics and religion is a very sensitive point in a rpg.

Modifié par daguest, 13 novembre 2009 - 12:16 .