Why the Religion in Warhammer 40k (before it changed for modern audiences) is so well thought out.

[AnonUnlimited]

So I'm sure there are a lot of discussions about religion in today's world and how religion should be in fantasy.
One thing I've noticed a lot in modern fantasy is that the demons are often misunderstood, and those who are religious are generally fantasy bigots who can't differentiate nuances or between right and wrong.

This brings me to Warhammer 40k.

Where the religion of the imperium of man is literally fantasy bigotry, but demons are still bad.
I find this more fantastic because there is essentially no correct fix for the world. It's much more realistic.

The worship of the emperor in it of itself is a terrible thing according to the lore, requiring thousands of sacrifices daily, but at the same time the Imperium of Man doesn't know any other way to survive against the forces of chaos, xenos and other heretic evils without large sacrifices. I feel this truly is the way our world works more so than any other type of world.

 

[Deleted member 84247]

I'm confused what you mean by the way our world works.

 

[Tegeli]

demons are still bad

While the feeble slaves simp for the corpse emperor, freethinking individuals get to have their rad times with the actual real gods.

 

[Corty]

It feels so real because this is how humans work. If anyone, ever in their life, walked into a history lesson, they could and would understand that this is human nature. We need a focus point that we can use to absolve ourselves of things we don't want (sins) and convince ourselves that we will be rewarded for everything we do. (heaven) No matter where in the world. Or when.

This will never change. This will never disappear as long as humans live. Even if atheists win (aka Big-E), everything will return to faith, if not in a metaphysical being, then faith in science (Omnissiah).

Any further questions?

 

[Tempokai]

Because there are proper cause and effect in action. Without Emperor, there isn't order to combat chaos, and a lot of order is needed when you fight against primordial sins. His religion isn’t just a belief system, it’s a necessity. Cause: Faith in the Emperor. Effect: Continued survival. The math checks out.

Of course, the joke here is that the Emperor never wanted to be worshipped in the first place. He was the ultimate rationalist, a secular messiah who wanted humanity to outgrow superstition and embrace logic and reason. So naturally, what does humanity do after his "death"? It turns him into the very god he explicitly told everyone not to worship. It's the Buddha paradox, but in 41st millennium. At its core, the Imperium’s religion works because it’s a brutal counterweight to Chaos. Imperium religion is kind of "working" that leaves you wondering if surviving is even worth it.

 

[ArlindoFrancisco]

Its because it makes sense, is just simple, you can link the dots...

 

[cabbag3]

I mean... you need to be a little crazy to survive in that crazy world.

 

[RedMuffin]

Because in the grim darkness of the far future there is only war.

 

[AnonUnlimited]

I'm confused what you mean by the way our world works.

Pretty much, almost everything is out there to scam or take advantage of us.

While the feeble slaves simp for the corpse emperor, freethinking individuals get to have their rad times with the actual real gods.

Kind if like real life, no one in this world wants to save us.

This will never change. This will never disappear as long as humans live. Even if atheists win (aka Big-E), everything will return to faith, if not in a metaphysical being, then faith in science (Omnissiah).

Atheists have faith that there is nothing to believe in. Their utter denial of a more powerful existence is a faith that they won't suffer eternal damnation.

Because there are proper cause and effect in action. Without Emperor, there isn't order to combat chaos, and a lot of order is needed when you fight against primordial sins. His religion isn’t just a belief system, it’s a necessity. Cause: Faith in the Emperor. Effect: Continued survival. The math checks out.

Of course, the joke here is that the Emperor never wanted to be worshipped in the first place. He was the ultimate rationalist, a secular messiah who wanted humanity to outgrow superstition and embrace logic and reason. So naturally, what does humanity do after his "death"? It turns him into the very god he explicitly told everyone not to worship. It's the Buddha paradox, but in 41st millennium. At its core, the Imperium’s religion works because it’s a brutal counterweight to Chaos. Imperium religion is kind of "working" that leaves you wondering if surviving is even worth it.

That's what makes Warhammer 40k so realistic in some ways. In our current world with so many enemies foreign and domestic, the very system that is corrupt is somehow also what keeps society from crumbling (America and other places). I've come to realize that a corrupt government is often better than no government at all.

Yeah, the Emperor didn't want that, but without them using him as a crux they would have a much harder time fighting chaos.

Because in the grim darkness of the far future there is only war.

Yes.

 

[Seaspecter]

Just remember that the only gods that care about their people are Gork and Mork.