Religion on Gor is not as such found on Earth. In fact, it's really not seen as needful to the people of Gor, except perhaps, the Initiates, that I've seen referenced to as "high priests," though that is not correct." — Dancer of Gor, pages 279.

Religion on Gor, though greatly different than what is known on Earth, still has a great many similarities. There are specific relgious factions found on Gor, that are also found on Earth (i.e., the Torvaldslander belief in the Viking gods Odin and Thor), most probably due to the fact that many peoples of Gor can be traced to their Earthly ancestors. Probably the biggest difference to religion on Earth is that "god" is not a term used by Goreans. Although there are those that believe the Priest-Kings to be something akin to gods, they are not referred to as "God."

The Gorean people are, because of their beliefs in honesty and honor, are quite readily accepting of such things as magicians and belief in their illusions as being real. Rather than being "religious" as we know it based on organized religion, Goreans are a bit more earthy in their beliefs and are known to be quite the superstitious lot, especially those of the lower castes, and may often seek out fortune-tellers and soothsayers, et al. Evidence in the books discusses many things, from prayer books and hymnals to even the beliefs of magical amulets. It's not uncommon to find Goreans burning incense in an effort to appease the Priest-Kings so they might have a bountiful crop.

"Here there were lines of booths in an extended arcade, where merchandise of various sorts might be purchased, usually of an inexpensive and low-quality variety. There were poorly webbed, small tapestries; amulets and talismans; knotted prayer strings; papers containing praises of Priest-Kings, which might be carried on one's person; numerous ornaments of glass and cheap metal; the strung pearls of the Vosk sorp; polished, shell brooches; pins with heads carved from the horn of kailiauk tridents; lucky sleen teeth; racks of rep-cloth robes, veils and tunics in various caste colors; cheap knives and belts and pouches; vials containing perfumes, for which extraordinary claims were made; and small clay, painted replicas of the stadium and racing tarns." — Assassin of Gor, pages 155-156.

"Some people of Gor burn incense, petitioning to the Priest-Kings for such things as better crops and success and calamities for enemies." — Dancer of Gor, pages 280.

"Goreans tend to takes such things as honor and truth very seriously. He is more likely to be an easy mark for a charlatan or a fraud, than say perhaps, the more suspicious, cynical fellow of Earth. However, it is not wise to lie to a Gorean. They do not like it." — Magicians of Gor, page 255.

"Goreans often accept what they see; accepting the evidence of their senses, so to speak. For instance, many Goreans truly believe the mind readers of the carnivals can truly read a person's mind. And many Goreans truly believe the magicians of the carnival troupes can make a girl vanish into thin air and then retrieve her from the same. The taking of auspices, incidentally, is very common on Gor before initiating campaigns, enterprises and such. Many Goreans will worry about such things as the tracks of spiders and the flights of birds. Similarly on Gor, as on Earth, there is a clientele, particularly in uncertain, troubled times, for those who claim to be able to read the future, to tell fortunes and such." — Magicians of Gor, pages 62-63.

"With respect to things like a magician seemingly making a girl disappear into thin air, Goreans, especially those of lower caste, who only have access to the 'First Knowledge,' take things of this sort very seriously, believing not to have witnessed an illusion or a trick, but that of some miraculous phenomena consequent upon the gifts and powers of unusual individuals such as magicians and sorcerers. Such factors as the primitiveness of the world, the isolation and uniqueness of the cities on Gor, the disparateness of cultures and the tenuousness of communication play a big part of such beliefs. Too, Goreans neither view their world as a mechanical clockwork of independent parts, as a great, regular, predictable machine, docile to equations, obedient to abstractions, nor as a game of chance, inexplicable, meaningless, and random at the core. His fundamental metaphor in terms of which he would defend himself from the glory and mystery of the world is the stalk of grass, the rooted tree, the flower; he feels the world alive and free. He paints eyes upon his ships so that they may see, and if he feels so even about his vessels, just think of how much more the awed and reverent he must feel when in contemplation of his world, the immensity and grandeur, the beauty and the power! The Gorean sees the world less as a puzzle than an opportunity, less as a datum to be explained than a bounty in which to rejoice, less as a problem to be solved than a gift to be gratefully received." — Magicians of Gor, pages 254-255.

The Initiates and the Priest-Kings

The symbol of the Priest-Kings is a large golden circle, which represents eternity, and is placed on the highest altar in every temple. The hand-sign of the Priest-Kings, much like a genuflection, is made with a closed circular motion.

"The symbol of the Priest-Kings is a large golden circle, the symbol of eternity, placed on the high altar of each temple. The 'sign of the Priest-Kings' similarly is made with a closed, circular motion." — Dancer of Gor, pages 279-280.

Most people of Gor have never seen a Priest-King, so although they do know they exist, as demonstrated by Flame Death, they do not see them as gods themselves, although they do see them as immortal beings. However, the general population does not believe in an after-life. In fact, most Goreans do not even ponder such notions — except, of course, for the Initiates who attempt to educate the people of Gor in believing otherwise.

"The Priest-Kings," said my father, "are immortal, or so most here believe." — Tarnsman of Gor, page 29.

"Whereas initiates tend not to be taken with great seriousness by the high castes, or the more intelligent members of the population, except in matters of political alliance, their teachings and purported ability to intercede with Priest-Kings, and further the welfare of their adherents, is taken with great seriousness by many of the lower castes. And many men, who suspect that the initiates, in their claims and pretensions, are frauds, will nonetheless avoid coming into conflict with the caste. This is particularly true of civil leaders who do not wish the power of the initiates to turn the lower castes against them. And, after all, who knows much of Priest-Kings, other than the obvious fact that they exist. The invisible barrier about the Sardar is evidence of that, and the policing, by flame death, of illegal weapons and inventions. The Gorean knows that there are Priest-Kings. He does not, of course, know their nature. That is where the role of the initiates becomes most powerful, The Gorean knows there are Priest-Kings, whoever or whatever they maybe. He is also confronted with a socially and economically powerful caste that pretends to be able to intermediate between Priest-Kings and common folk. What if some of the claims of Initiates should be correct? What if they do have influence with Priest-Kings? The common Gorean tends to play it safe and honor the Initiates. He will, however, commonly, have as little to do with them as possible. This does not mean that he will not contribute to their temples and fees for placating Priest-Kings." — Marauders of Gor, pages 28-29.

"Religion on Gor is not as such found on Earth. In fact, it's really not seen as needful to the people of Gor, except perhaps, the Initiates, that I've seen referenced to as 'high priests,' though that is not correct. The Priest-Kings are not 'other-worldly,' but are, in fact, an alien species. However, to the people of Gor, or at least most people of Gor, the Priest-Kings are a mystery, having never seen one. Some people of Gor burn incense, petitioning to the Priest-Kings for such things as better crops and success and calamities for enemies. Gorean petitions to the Priest-Kings depend on the whole to be very specific, and very practical. Most Goreans seem skeptical of an after-life, or at least seem content to wait and see. Goreans perform their rites, recite their prayers, and such, standing up. The Gorean tends to regard Priest-Kings not so much as his masters as his potential allies, who might, if he is lucky, be flattered, wooed with gifts, and such. The only Gorean caste which officially believes in an afterlife is that of the Initiates, and they believe in it only for themselves, believing it to be connected to the performance of secret rites, the acquisition of secret knowledges, mostly mathematical, and the avoidance of certain foods. Initiates commonly wear white and have their heads shaved, abstain from alcohol and food presumably. In some cities, they are quite powerful, and in others, largely peripheral to the life of a community. Their temples are lavishly and ornately decorated, though there are many that seem very austere, depending on the city or taste of the community. The Chief Initiate claims to be the chief of all Initiates, but there seems to be a Chief of Initiates in all cities, all purporting the same claim. … The lower castes seem to take the teachings of the Initiates more seriously than those of the high castes." — Dancer of Gor, pages 279-280.

"It should be noted that despite the awe and reverence many Goreans feel toward the Priest-Kings, they do not believe that they formed the world or that the world as being some consequence upon their will. Rather they view the Priest-Kings as being its children, too, just like sleen, and man, and a drop of rain." — Magicians of Gor, page 255.

The After Life

The belief in the after-life, or eternal life, as stated previously, is that only an Initiate may obtain an eternal life, having something to do with the teachings of mathematics and avoiding impurities. Females, however, being unable to even become an Initiate, therefore have no chance of obtaining eternal life.

"Incidentally, it is a teaching of the initiates that only initiates can obtain eternal life. The regimen for doing this has something to do with learning mathematics, and with avoiding the impurities of meat and beans. This particular teaching of the initiates, it is interesting to note, is that least taken seriously by the general population. The Gorean feeling generally is that there is no reason why initiates or only initiates, should live forever. Initiates, though often feared by lower castes, are also regarded as being a bit odd, and often figure in common, derisive jokes. No female, incidentally, may become an Initiate. It is a consequence, thusly, that no female can obtain eternal life. I have often thought that the Initiates, if somewhat more clever, could have a much greater power than they posses on Gor. For example, if they could fuse their superstitions and lore, and myths, with a genuine moral message of one sort or another, they might appeal more seriously to the general population if they spoke more sense people would be less sensitive to, or disturbed by, the nonsense; further, they should teach that all Goreans might, by following their rituals, obtain eternal life; that would broaden the appeal of their message, and subtly utilize the fear of death to further their projects; lastly, they should make greater appeal to women than they do, for, in most Gorean cities, women, of one sort or another, care for and instruct the children in the crucial first years. That would be the time to imprint them, while innocent and trusting, at the mother's or nurse's knee, with superstitions which might, in simpler brains, subtly control then the length of their lives. So simple an adjustment as the promise of eternal life to women who behaved in accordance with their teachings, instructing the young and so on, might have much effect. But the initiates, like many Gorean castes, were tradition bound. Besides, they were quite powerful as it was. Most Goreans took with some seriousness their claim to be able to placate and influence Priest-Kings. That was more than they needed for considerable power." — Marauders of Gor, pages 29-30.

The Quest for Immortality

Although generally the people do not think of immortality, there are those men that do, and go in search of the secrets of such immortality on the Sardar. Prior to Tarl Cabot's own venture into the Sardar, no man had ever returned. Thus, it became a popular superstition that to go there meant death, which only helped the cause of the Initiates.

"Sometimes," said my father, his eyes still faraway, "when men are old or have had enough of life, they assault the mountains, looking for the secret of immortality in the barren crags. If they have found their immortality, none have confirmed it, for none have returned to the Tower Cities." He looked at me. "Some think that such men in time become Priest-Kings themselves. My own speculations, which I judge as likely or unlikely to be true as the more popular superstitious stories, is that it is death to learn the secret of the Priest-Kings." — Tarnsman of Gor, page 30.

Religious Structures

The temples and monastaries, of course, are sacred, and in such are designated common areas for those not in the caste of initiates must remain. Initates are annointed in the "Grease of the Priest-Kings" though what this is, has never been broached in the books.

"The High Initiate of Kassau, a town at the northern brink of the forest, sat still in his white robes, in his tall hat, on the throne to the right, within the white rail that separated the sanctuary of Initiates from the common ground of the hall, where those not anointed by the grease of Priest-kings must stand." — Marauders of Gor, page 25.

There is no formal religious instruction for Goreans, except of course, within the caste of Initiates. However, the peoples may often be instructed in certain prayers, as evidenced by prayer strings, which are much like the rosary beads in Catholic practice. Even so, the prayers and services are in an archaic form of the Gorean language, or "Old Gorean" although a few are translated into contemporary Gorean, a decision made solely by Initiates as to which services and/or prayers.

"Oddly enough, there was little religious instruction, other than to encourage awe of the Priest-Kings, and what there was, Torm refused to administer, insisting it was the province of the Initiates. Religious matters on this world tend to be rather carefully guarded by the Caste of Initiates, who allow members of other castes little participation in their sacrifices and ceremonies. I was given some prayers to the Priest-Kings to memories, but they were in Old Gorean, a language cultivated by the Initiates but not spoken generally on the planet, and I never bothered to learn them. To my delight, I learned that Torm, whose memory was phenomenal, had forgotten them years ago. I sensed that a certain distrust existed between the Caste of Scribes and the Caste of Initiates. " — Tarnsman of Gor, page 40.

"There were poorly webbed, small tapestries; amulets and talismans; knotted prayer strings; papers containing praises of Priest-Kings, which might be carried on one's person; numerous ornaments of glass and cheap metal; the strung pearls of the Vosk sorp; polished, shell brooches; pins with heads carved from the horn of kailiauk tridents; lucky sleen teeth; racks of rep-cloth robes, veils and tunics in various caste colors; cheap knives and belts and pouches; vials containing perfumes, for which extraordinary claims were made; and small clay, painted replicas of the stadium and racing tarns." — Assassin of Gor, pages 155-156.

"They converse among themselves in archaic Gorean, which is no longer spoken among the people. Their services, too, are conducted in this language. Portions of the services, however, are translated into contempory Gorean. When I had first come to Gor I had been forced to learn certain long prayers to the Priest-Kings, but I had never fully mastered them, and had, by now, long forgotten them." — Marauders of Gor, page 26.

Prayers and sacrifice, as well as reading the omens of the livers of the white bosk, are performed by the Initiates, for both standard ritual, as well as times of strife.

"Nela, like most of the others at the baths, could talk of little but the startling disappearance, and presumed abduction, of Claudia Tentius Hinrabius, the proud, spoiled daughter of the Administrator of the City. It seemed she had vanished from the central cylinder, in those portions of it devoted to the private quarters of the Administrator and his family and closer associates, almost under the very noses of Taurentian guardsmen. Saphronicus, Captain of the Taurentians, was reportedly, and understandably, beside himself with frustration and rage. He was organizing searches of the entire city and surrounding countryside, and gathering all possible reports which might bear on the case. The Administrator himself, with his consort, and many others of the high family, had locked themselves in their quarters, secluding themselves in their outrage and sorrow. The entire city was humming with the news and a hundred rumors ran rampant through the alleys and streets and on the bridges of Glorious Ar. On the roof of the Cylinder of Initiates the High Initiate, Complicius Serenus, offered sacrifice and prayer for the speedy return of the girl and, failing that, that she might be found slain, that she might not be reduced to the shames of slavery." — Assassin of Gor, pages 158-159.

Often times, the Caste of Initiates are able to convert a village chief to their beliefs, generally via bribery with gold and trade influences, much to the chagrin of their people. It's not uncommon for people to be tortured and killed for their beliefs.

"Initiates often used their influence and their gold, and pressures on trade and goods, to spread their beliefs and rituals… Sometimes a Chieftain, converted to their ways, would enforce his own commitments on his subordinates. Indeed, this was not unusual. Too, often, a chief's conversion would bring with it, even without force, those of his people who felt bound to him in loyalty. Sometimes, too, the religion of the Priest-Kings, under the control of the initiates, utulizing secular rulers, was propagated by fire and sword. Sometimes those who insisted on retaining the old ways, or were caught making the sign of the fist, the hammer, over their ale were subjected to death by torture. One that I had heard of had been boiled alive in one of the great sunken wood-lined tubs in which meat was boiled for retainers. The water is heated by placing rocks, taken from a fire, into the water. When the rock has been in the water, it is removed with a rake and then reheated. Another had been roasted alive on a spit over a long fire. It was said that he did not utter a sound. Another was slain when an adder forced into his mouth tore its way free through the side of his face." — Marauders of Gor, page 26.

Cultural Religious Beliefs

Almost universally, the Caste of Initiates are accepted by the citizens of Gor to be religious icons. However, there are those specific cultures which are identified as having different religious beliefs.

• The Sun Worshippers

There is one mention of a very small sect of people who worship the sun, however, even this group will solicit a prayer to the Priest-Kings in times of danger.

"There was a sect among the people that worshipped the sun, but it was insignificant both in numbers and power when compared with the worship of the Priest-Kings who, whatever they were, were accorded the honors of divinity. Theirs, it seems, was the honor of being enshrined as the most ancient gods of Gor, and in time of danger a prayer to the Priest-Kings might escape the lips of even the bravest men." — Tarnsman of Gor, pages 28-29.

• The Torvaldslanders

Despite the claims of the Caste of Initiates, the peoples of the north, specifically the Torvaldslanders, hold to their old gods, those which originate from Earth, such as Odin and Thor. However, due to the influence of the Initiates, a chieftain may force his people to convert to the ways of the Initiates by force, or as it is said, "propagated by fire and sword."

"Kassau is the seat of the High Initiate of the north, who claims spiritual sovereignty over Torvaldsland, which is commonly taken to commence with the thinning of the trees northward. This claim, like many of those of the initiates, is disputed by few, and ignored by most. The men of Torvaldsland, on the whole, I knew, while tending to respect Priest-Kings, did not accord them special reverence. They held to old gods, and old ways. The religion of the Priest-Kings, institutionalised and ritualised by the castle of Initiates, had made little headway among the primitive men to the north. It had, however, taken hold in many towns, such as Kassau. Initiates often used their influence and their gold, and pressures on trade and goods, to spread their beliefs and rituals… Sometimes a Chieftain, converted to their ways, would enforce his own commitments on his subordinates. Indeed, this was not unusual. Too, often, a chief's conversion would bring with it, even without force, those of his people who felt bound to him in loyalty. Sometimes, too, the religion of the Priest-Kings, under the control of the initiates, utulizing secular rulers, was propagated by fire and sword. Sometimes those who insisted on retaining the old ways, or were caught making the sign of the fist, the hammer, over their ale were subjected to death by torture. One that I had heard of had been boiled alive in one of the great sunken wood-lined tubs in which meat was boiled for retainers. The water is heated by placing rocks, taken from a fire, into the water. When the rock has been in the water, it is removed with a rake and then reheated. Another had been roasted alive on a spit over a long fire. It was said that he did not utter a sound. Another was slain when an adder forced into his mouth tore its way free through the side of his face." — Marauders of Gor, pages 25-26.

• The Wagon Peoples

The Tuchuk People, though they hold the Priest Kings in reverence, do not extend to them the dignity of worship. It is to the sky before which the Tuchuk warrior will remove his healmet proudly, that vast sky which formed the earth, the bosk, and the Tuchuks themselves. The bosk and their weapons are also considered holy. It is to the sky they pray, demanding victory and luck for themselves; defeat and misery for their enemies. Praying only while mounted upon his kaiila, and with his weapons at hand, he lifts his head to the sky and prays, not as a slave to a Master, but as a warrior to a great Ubar.

The women of the Tuchuks are forbidden to pray. They patronize the haruspexes, shamans of the Wagon People. A haruspex reads portents and tells the future, as well as providing things such as amulets, talismans, trinkets, philters, potions, spell papers, wonder-working sleen teeth, the marvelous powdered kailiauk horn, and colored, magical strings that, depending on the purpose, may be knotted in various ways and worn around the neck.

"I heard a haruspex singing between the wagons; for a piece of meat he would read the wind and the grass; for a cup of wine the stars and the flight of birds; for a fat-bellied dinner the liver of a sleen or slave. The Wagon Peoples are fascinated with the future and its signs and though, to hear them speak, they put no store in such matters, yet they do in practice give them great consideration. I was told by Kamchak that once an army of a thousand wagons turned aside because a swarm of rennels, poisonous, crablike desert insects, did not defend its broken nest, crushed by the wheel of the lead wagon. Another time, over a hundred years ago, a wagon Ubar lost the spur from his right boot and turned for this reason back from the gates of mighty Ar itself. …
The Tuchuks and the other Wagon Peoples reverence Priest-Kings, but unlike the Goreans of the cities, with their castes of Initiates, they do not extend to them the dignities of worship. I suppose the Tuchuks worship nothing, in the common sense of that word, but it is true they hold many things holy, among them the bosk and the skills of arms, but chief of the things before which the proud Tuchuk stands ready to remove his helmet is the sky, the simple, vast beautiful sky, from which fans the rain that, in his myths, formed the earth, and the bosks, and the Tuchuks. It is to the sky that the Tuchuks pray when they pray, demanding victory and luck for themselves, defeat and misery for their enemies. The Tuchuk, incidentally, like others of the Wagon Peoples, prays only when mounted, only when in the saddle and with weapons at hand; he prays to the sky not as a slave to a master, nor a servant- to a god, but as warrior to a Ubar; the women of the Wagon Peoples, it might be mentioned, are not permitted to pray; many of them, however, do patronize the haruspexes, who, besides foretelling the future with a greater or lesser degree of accuracy for generally reasonable fees, provide an incredible assemblage of amulets, talismans, trinkets, philters, potions, spell papers, wonder working sleen teeth, marvelous powdered kailiauk horns, and colored, magic strings that, depending on the purpose, may be knotted in various ways and worn about the neck. — Nomads of Gor, pages 27-28.

 

 

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Special Note

Because of the differences in publishing the books, depending upon whether published in the U.S. or Europe, depending upon whether a first publishing or a Masquerade Books release, page numbers will often vary. All of my quotes are from original, first-printing U.S. publications (see The Books page for a listing of publishers and dates) with the exception of the following books:

  • Tarnsman of Gor (2nd Printing, Balantine)
  • Outlaw of Gor (11th Printing, Balantine)
  • Priest-Kings of Gor (2nd Printing, Balantine)
  • Assassin of Gor (10th Printing, Balantine)
  • Raiders of Gor (15th Printing, Balantine)
  • Captive of Gor (3rd Printing, Balantine)

Disclaimer

These pages are not written for any specific home, but rather as informational pages for those not able to get ahold of the books and read them yourself. Opinions and commentaries are strictly my own personal views, therefore, if you don't like what you are reading — then don't. The information in these pages is realistic to what is found within the books. Many sites have added information, assuming the existences of certain products and practices, such as willowbark and agrimony for healing, and travel to earth and back for the collection of goods. I've explored the books, the flora, the fauna, and the beasts, and have compiled from those mentioned, the probabilities of certain practices, and what vegetation mentioned in the books is suitable for healing purposes, as well as given practicalities to other sorts of roleplaying assumptions.