@TheEdVerse Quick question, is there a non-theistic religion in the Realms that doesn't automatically result in being slapped on the Wall of the Faithless?
— Valentino Conti (@ValetheHowl) April 25, 2020
1)
Sure. The Cult of Entropy (popular in Chessenta).
And there’s a cult of The Cosmic Balance (worshipping the concept and not a deity), too.
There’s even a Cult of Ao, who believe that the gods are all posers and frauds, as Ao holds all true power.
One can also 2)
…take the view that the worship of Siamorphe, in form, is "non-theistic."
Then there are beholder cults, and cults that venerate enchanted speaking swords, and…#Realmslore— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) April 26, 2020
Wait, I thought Ao didn’t need faithful, explicitly ignored his cultists, and that they ended up in the Wall of the Faithless That's right. That doesn't mean he doesn't have worshippers.
Be wary of pronouncements about the fates of souls. Where do they come from? Likely from clergy. How do THEY know? A god or god's servitor told them. Was that speaker telling truth? Or serving propaganda?#Realmslore— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) April 26, 2020
I love this q&a! I have a non-theist divination wizard who transformed himself into a lich but views gods as more of self made deal makers and I feel like he would really relate to The Cosmic Balance’s ideals. There are even some wizards and sages who worship the Weave but NOT Mystra. (Mystra answers their prayers nonetheless. Gods who refuse veneration sooner or later fall from godhood.)
And there are liches who worship older, famous liches (as role models.)#Realmslore— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) April 26, 2020
No, a true atheist is a non-believer (not just a non-worshipper). No divinity, no divine magic, can't and doesn't happen.
Which in the Realms would most likely be an insane person. Being as the evidence to the contrary is overwhelming and everywhere.#Realmslore— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) April 26, 2020
… what’s the definition of “faith” then, given that knowledge and witnessings and clerical miracles are daily happenings in the Realms? Is that “faith” or “observation”?
Or is it just sacrifices and worship that prevents the Wall of Faithless? Just as in our real world, many use "faith" to mean whatever they want it to.
In the Realms, it's almost never "believing without evidence" but is used in the "belief in a being" or collective religious sense.
Yes, the Wall is avoided by actively worshipping.#Realmslore— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) April 27, 2020
So true worship exempts you from the Wall, even if the object of your worship isn’t a deity? That's right. It's what the entity did in life that matters (belief and intent).#Realmslore
— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) April 26, 2020