Religion in Larp

www.larpalliance.net/Resources/LARPandReligion.pdf

The above is documentation of a sociological research paper done in Southern California that attempted to discover the prevalence and barriers to Religious game play in Larp.

My personal view after reading the paper is that religion provides a necessary cosmological background for the game setting, but requires continuous reinforcement from staff and players to remain productive in game. Players have to internalize their religion and manifest it in various ways in the role play. Staff have to acknowledge the players use of religion and provide reinforcement for players to continue. That reinforcement does not have to be in the form of mechanical benefit, but could be in other more subtle ways.

I have no specific comments on the current state of religion in KR. I just thought the article was interesting and would love to see discussion here on how it relates to KR.

Everything that you put forth is exactly what I'd expect, and I am glad that, in my short time here, I have seen a lot of it, at least in the few less-populated IG faiths I've become acquainted with (Galmachis, Valos a little bit, Glomm, and Enax.) The larger-populated faiths, though, tend to be less so, as far as I've been able to see. I would like to see more religious immersion across the deities, honestly! Some of the religious lore is falling through the cracks because people aren't seizing it, as outlined in this paper. But that's just my two cents. I could go on in this conversation!

Breaking down religion in KR, it centers on the Cosmology of Light and Dark. (An alternative path was added to allow for Neutral play. Finally Visagalis was added which allowed one to be both Light and Dark while overall remaining Neutral.)

This Ethical conflict, the idea of Divine Opposition, should drive alot of RP, and I have heard in the past it did, but in a way that stifled the conflict rather than allow it to become a productive backdrop for the RP. The current solution, Writs, brings the two sides into proximity but does not allow the conflict to go beyond philosophical or social. There are problems with the implementation of Writs, but I see the sense of it. One side with more power cannot just wipe out the other. This allows us to explore the differences and debate our positions, rather than attack and defend ourselves constantly. Eventually more Writ bearers will openly discuss their religions, if the game does not punish the Clergy for allowing it.

There was an incident this event in April where a dark clergy jumped up when a Light Clergy asked for anyone else who wished to speak at Mass. Jed had to be interrupted and asked to stop as he was violating a Light Mass. Had we not, it might have had repercussions for the Altar, and Priests presiding over the Mass as has happened in past. That was a missed opportunity to RP, due to mechanics. Outside of a Mass we have little chance to engage in such debates with our opposing Clergy. Jed is always up for visits, but association often is seen as corruption, making such visits risky from a system mechanics stand point.

However, I concede alot of the onus is on players to adequately role play clergy. There is a bit of an issue with high or inconsistently applied rp requirements for both sides of the Light Dark line, but ultimately, we, the players, need to set the bar for that roleplay and maintain it.

The hardest thing in regards to RP of religion and being really true to it, is that it would lead to a lot of PvP. Writs allow "evil" clergy to survive in the world without killed outright.

Well, keep in mind, writs are being taken away by the current Baron. I have a friend who was applying for a writ last event, and he was told only the King can deal them out now. By the Baron. And Magnus.

I have heard of no writs being taken away. The King has always been the source of Writs. That system is not going to change. IC the idea is not everyone gets a Writ, you have to be loyal to the Kingdom and such.

This misunderstanding and fear frankly is why those with Writs still prefer anonymity. There is a paranoia that their Writ will be suddenly removed. That would be bad from a game standpoint on a couple levels. Personally, I don't believe it will happen, no matter what the Crusaders of the Light may want. (and for precisely that reason, there are Crusaders of the Light.) This is not to say that those with Writs would be annihilated if somehow those writs were revoked. But, sadly it would result in some ugly PvP and would be detrimental to the Larp overall.