There are few systems of belief that so greatly influence human behavior as religion. Our history is marked by acts of faith, both great and terrible, which have altered the path of civilization. Because of the tremendous role religion has played in shaping our world, it comes as no surprise that religion is used often in fiction. Zealots, in particular, have a lot of appeal to authors. Intense faith offers a perfect combination of backstory, motivation, power, and justification for actions which drive a story. Writing a convincing zealot is, however, a challenge.
To create a character which is driven by faith to an extraordinary degree, there are a few important rules you must keep in mind.
1) You must understand their religion.
To create a convincing zealot, you must create a detailed description of the faith they practice. This includes a list of significant deities, a description of core tenets, a set of critical rules adherents follow, an outline of any major restrictions or offenses unacceptable in the faith, an outline of the critical goals of followers, and creation of all significant rituals.
2) You must understand the place of their religion in their world.
The history of a religion is just as critical as its core tenets. Consider the importance of power- is this religion historically influential? If so, there is motivation to try to hold on to power and influence. On the other hand, if the religion is historically oppressed, adherents will have a strong motivation to gain authority and legitimacy (or even basic security).
3) You must understand the way in which their religion wants to influence the world.
Some religions simply want to spread their faith. While proselytizing may be a bit off-putting for some, teaching faith is typically somewhat harmless. If, on the other hand, the religion your zealot follows demands universal practice of their faith, other people within the world might suffer. Consider, for instance, the oppression of other faiths- or the loss of individual freedom to act and behave in a certain manner- or even elimination of certain populations seen as unfit. While sharing faith can spread peace, charity, and understanding, it can also spread violence, fear, and suffering.
4) You must understand the role of religion in their backstory.
Your zealot must have a compelling story of how they came to their faith. Simple introduction and mundane practice as a child does not generally create the type of fervor associated with zealotry. Consider a few scenarios: perhaps your character was introduced to the faith by equally zealous mentors as a child? Perhaps your character experienced some significant personal tragedy, and found solace in faith? Perhaps, on the other hand, your character was somehow hurt by another faith, driving them your religion of choice? Or they might be a member of a historically oppressed people, leaving them with all related resentment and hurt.
5) You must understand the role of religion in their individual goals.
The goals of an individual do not always match the goals of an organization. Your zealot may be motivated by personal experiences which drive them to share similar goals. This does not mean, however, that your character will always follow the guidance of religious leadership to the T. Rogue zealotry, after all, is one of the most dangerous forces in the world- and combining personal anger with the legitimacy of an institutionalized religion creates a scenario where a character not only has tremendous motivation- they also have the potential to attract followers.
6) You must decide whether they are a protagonist, an antagonist, or a combination.
This is a critical question. Your decision to create either a protagonist or an antagonist will drastically shape how you tell their story. It is important to consider, however, that a convincing zealot must have a story which is powerful, believable, and compelling- they cannot simply be a weak representation of your personal views of faith and religion. Regardless of how they behave, either cruelly or kindly, their motivations must not only be clear to them, and to you- they must be clear to the reader.
Richard Marpole
Jennie Ivins
Ah, the zealots. Always good fodder to stir emotion (though I never thought about a protagonist in this position). If you want an edge, it does help to have been a part of a zealous religion as well (but obviously, not required). This is a topic I was just thinking about, well timed indeed and thank you for that.
Do you think this can apply to governments (kings, emperors, countries, etc) as well? It certainly isn’t that far off from a normal zealot, at least from what I can see.
Thanks for sharing this with us, glad you did!
It’s an interesting concept. If you’re looking for a book that does zealotry really, really well (Oh dear, I seem to be recommending a lot of things these days, I apologize) then I would urge you to read the Left Hand of God by Paul Hoffman.
It features a group known as the “Redeemers” who live in a compound called the Sanctuary, which is a sort of half-military/ half-monastery training ground. They venerate a man known as the “Hanged Redeemer” (who is basically Christ, but was hung rather than crucified). In fact, one of my favourite characters from the book is Redeemer Bosco because of his utmost belief that all he does, even if it’s for his own personal gain, is for his religion.
Great article, I appreciate your work! It would be nice if you could write an article about how to start becoming a fantasy author. If you havent written so much, but wants to. How should you start when you are not that good at writing yet? Any tips? How did you do? Thank you very much!
Btw, anyone knows when the next Gentleman Bastards book will be released?
Finally wrote it. 🙂 Thank you, it was a good read and offers a few points I hadn’t thought about yet.
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