What religion do Equestrians practice?

[ShintX 180]

I find it extremely hard to believe that such a world has absolutely zero amount of religious thought. Again, not all religion has to be formally organized as long as it's an internally consistent code that reflects actions having a greater cosmic significance, it can be religious.

Just an assumption. I have not seen any pony priests, or jeponywitnesses. So that's just my assumption. One could speculate all day. But in the end, the show doesn't tell due to it wants to be neutral and all.

Edited November 3, 2014 by ShintX

[Steel Accord 6,660]

Just an assumption. I have not seen any pony priests, or jeponywitnesses. So that's just my assumption. One could speculate all day. But in the end, the show doesn't tell due to it wants to be neutral and all.

 

Again, not all religion is organized. No we don't see any clergy . . . apart from this.

 

 

Mr. Waddle is clearly wearing what looks like a Priest's collar. He's presiding over a funeral of all things! (Kind of weird to drop that canon bomb in the middle of an upbeat song about suitors, but this show is anything but conventional.) I'm willing to drop that one omission as a one time thing and assume Mr. Waddle was just close to the deceased and found that collar to be appropriate wear.

 

However, this is the place for speculation so let's speculate.

 

Personally, I think Pinkie Pie and Rarity both show signs of entertaining and even meditating on religious or spiritual thought. Pinkie and her "Pinkie sense" may be something she takes for granted but given the wisdom she follows from her Granny Pie, referenced in Friendship is Magic Part 2 and Too Many Pinkie Pies, she clearly holds her elder's tales to hold at least a kernel of truth. Going further, her element of laughter could be a simplified version of faith. Fallout: Equestria makes it a point that laughter is what allows someone to carry on when all conceivable evidence should point to hopelessness.

[ShintX 180]

Well they do have that "Cutie Mark Crusaders". And it seems to take place in USA with the Fillydelphia tag naming

Edited November 4, 2014 by ShintX

[Tetrakemy 221]

All ponies are atheists. There are no gods and princesses might control the heavens and the stars and everything, but that does not mean they have an afterlife or have spirituality or prayer or anything like that. 

 

 

[ShintX 180]

I would just recommend to ask Lauren Faust or something

 

Meanwhile in the medieval times

Edited November 4, 2014 by ShintX

[Steel Accord 6,660]

All ponies are atheists. There are no gods and princesses might control the heavens and the stars and everything, but that does not mean they have an afterlife or have spirituality or prayer or anything like that. 

 

Kind of a stretch don't you think? I mean, you could make the argument that certain trends of organized religion never took root in Equestria but how can you say that nopony in all of Equestria has ever pondered the great how's and why's of their existence? Some of what we see the Mane Six do could be easily interpreted as spirituality.

 

I'm not saying they hold ceremonies or anything so specific, but again I wouldn't be surprised if they did, but creating a grand narrative around the outermost conditions of existence is simply one of the hallmarks of sapience.

Well they do have that "Cutie Mark Crusaders". And it seems to take place in USA with the Fillydelphia tag naming

 

Well I think that was meant to be more of a general declaration than a specific sentiment. The word "crusade" simply means a righteous cause so the CMC are just taking it upon themselves to find their purpose in life. That could be seen as holy as per Equestria's cultural focus on individual realization of talent, but Scootaloo, Applebloom, and Sweetie Belle seem a little young for that larger implication to have crossed their minds. (Indeed, that's often the very point that flies over their little heads.) It really does seem they just picked the name because it sounds cool.

 

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

 

I've made it a point in another thread that Equestria seems to be less the U.S. specifically and more a combination of various world cultures and myths. Parts of it's map have places distinctly Canadian in essence. (Vanhoover comes to mind.) Not to mention the various greek monsters or the Greco-Roman styled architecture of Cloudsdale. Which makes sense considering the pegasi had a military stratocracy very Spartan in feel before Equestria was founded. Canterlot certainly isn't inspired by Washington D.C. and what we do see of the government, it doesn't seem to have much of a congressional or parliamentary setup.

 

I personally theorize that Equestria is a Confederate Thearchy (not to be confused with Theocracy): the various city-states run themselves more or less independently but the Council of Princess Celestia and Princess Luna take precedence as national policy and they act as the joint Commander in Chief during a crisis.

Edited December 1, 2014 by Steel Accord

[PROJECT: Simon 3,955]

I really don't think theres no religion in Equestria 

[Steel Accord 6,660]

I would just recommend to ask Lauren Faust or something

 

I wouldn't bother. She's got enough on her plate to entertain the theories of fanboys. In addition, you can see, at the very least the religious/mythological inspiration behind the very opening of the pilot. With a story of siblings turned enemies right out of Cain and Abel, Set and Osiris, Athena and Ares, etc.

I really don't think theres no religion in Equestria 

 

Truly? You mean you don't think anypony looked up into the sky and ever thought, "what is the true meaning of life? Is it just what my cutie mark is telling me or is there something more to the grand scheme?"

 

I'm not saying you're wrong, I just personally find it hard to believe a world such as Equestria would have no inhabitants that would ever ponder what faith is or what it's place is in life.

[Buttonmash1973 1,026]

Party of One might had been my first episode, so I thought the school was a church first.

 

[VitalSpark 1,830]

Anyways, we now have about 30 hours of the show, and there's never been a single cigarette, any drugs, any alcohol, any extra-marrital sexuality, etc.

 

We've also not seen any marital sex, so I wouldn't read too much into the lack of extramarital sex.

 

For that matter we've not seen any urination or defecation scenes.

 

We've not seen any cello manufacturing scenes, yet we know they must make cellos. (Octavia plays one.)

[Comet Tail 809]

We've also not seen any marital sex, so I wouldn't read too much into the lack of extramarital sex.

 

For that matter we've not seen any urination or defecation scenes.

 

We've not seen any cello manufacturing scenes, yet we know they must make cellos. (Octavia plays one.)

 

No, but we've seen very direct and more-or-less-unmistakable implications of those things. Pony shipping (finding Cherilee a "special somepony") + Cakes having the baby twins, plus word of Faust that they reproduce by normal mammal means (they are ponies). And we have seen both Rarity use the excuse "I need to use the fillies' room," and this makes it absolutely unmistakable.

 

So yes, a lack of evidence where we'd expect to see evidence, is in fact evidence of a lack. But then again, seeing as it needs to keep a TV-Y rating, we probably wouldn't see those things even if they were intended ("where we'd expect to see evidence," as I just put it), but again, why would they make them intended if they're never to be seen or directly implied?

 

Sooo... Essentially, it's just a "no" because this is a TV-Y universe. But if you want to headcanon those things in, you can, but they'll never be canonized. On top of the TV-Y thing, they also probably wouldn't want to do anything that'd be controversial, least they burn themselves by invoking those on the other side of the debate.

Edited November 7, 2014 by Comet Tail

[Steel Accord 6,660]

On top of the TV-Y thing, they also probably wouldn't want to do anything that'd be controversial, least they burn themselves by invoking those on the other side of the debate.

 

Which is a practice I normally wouldn't like, going forward and depicting your vision is better than playing it safe and reducing the potential of the piece. But as with the Derpy Incident, I think that attitude might be a bit more justified or at the very least, understandable.

[Invincible 2,092]

I don't think the very concept of religion applies to equestria. Maybe they have a different system of faith altogether.

[Steel Accord 6,660]

I don't think the very concept of religion applies to equestria. Maybe they have a different system of faith altogether.

 

Maybe not "organized" religion no, but they clearly have superstitions. (Nightmare Night, the Zap Apple rituals, etc.) Religion is, just a narrative applied to faith. I've said before that Rarity and Pinkie actually come across as being quite faith driven just when I compare them to people I know and myself.

[GuillermoGage 246]

In "A Dog and Pony Show" Rarity specifically says "Oh, stars, if I am dreaming, do not wake me up". That is a very specific thing to say and is not a quick interjection such as "oh my stars". I believe that Rarity follows some sort of star-worshipping belief system, and that her religion is the correct religion in the FiM universe. Applejack also shares these same or similar beliefs. , because Applejack dead parents shooting star and Rarijack angst spiritual beauty.

[Steel Accord 6,660]

In "A Dog and Pony Show" Rarity specifically says "Oh, stars, if I am dreaming, do not wake me up". That is a very specific thing to say and is not a quick interjection such as "oh my stars". I believe that Rarity follows some sort of star-worshipping belief system, and that her religion is the correct religion in the FiM universe. Applejack also shares these same or similar beliefs. , because Applejack dead parents shooting star and Rarijack angst spiritual beauty.

 

Star worship . . . . that's actually not a bad idea! 

 

"The stars will aid in her escape." remember? The fact that Celestia and Luna both control heavenly bodies, of course Twilight's cutie-mark being both a star and on the Tree of Harmony itself.

 

Yeah, there actually does seem to be a lot of evidence to support at least the reverence of the stars in Equestria.

 

And while it's not canon, in Fallout Equestria, this was in part what lead to the war that destroyed the world. The Zebra, actually feared the stars and considered them akin to the eyes of some Lovecraftian horror. Maybe not canon but if the star worship was an idea in Equestria, it would make for a very interesting juxtaposition.

Edited November 9, 2014 by Steel Accord

[Spikey-Wikey 378]

It would fit in if they were Orthodox's :3

[HereComesTom 2,271]

My headcanon about Equestrian religion is that it's very simple, and it's also very different from any real-life religion.

 

The love of every deceased pony sort of sticks together after the pony's death, and over the thousands/millions of years ponies have existed, their love has become so strong, that by now, it has become a sentient being named Paradise.  She has little if any influence over the world of the living, so she can't quite be called a "god" (technically their faith would be atheistic, then, I suppose) but she's essentially a living place where the souls of ponies go who have died with more love than hate in their hearts.  (There's a similar, evil amalgamation of hate, too, named "Satallion"---I used him as a main antagonist for a fic I wrote a few years ago.)

 

Note that the criteria for entry into Paradise is "more love than hate in your heart":  it doesn't really matter whether the ponies believe Paradise exists or not; they can enter her either way, as long as their love outweighs their hate.  In my headcanon, since what the ponies believe about Paradise doesn't matter, and in fact it doesn't even matter whether they've ever even heard of her---they don't take religion quite as seriously as humans do.  They have nothing to suggest that they need to take it very seriously or even talk or think about it much.

 

By contrast, just about every real-life religion I can think of emphasizes that believing that the supernatural works in such-and-such-a-way is important, or at least that the way the supernatural works has consequences that mean you need to take or avoid specific actions.  This headcanon-Equestrian-religion of mine doesn't really tell ponies to do anything they aren't already doing---unless they're living in hate, and there are plenty of non-faith-based reasons to stop that.  That's why I figure they don't take religion as seriously as humans, and why it makes sense they wouldn't discuss it much in the show.

[toonami97 25]

there all atheist when has religion ever brought up

[Marine_Vet_Brony 317]

They worship two gods that the manifestations of the Sun and Moon. So I would say the ponies are Pagans.

[Steel Accord 6,660]

@@HereComesTom,

 

Technically that would be what's called a nondeistic religion like Buddhism, but otherwise that actually is a pretty cool head canon and it makes a lot of sense with the evidence given. Could that place be called Elysium after the Underworld's domain for heroes? I mean if Tartarus is canon shouldn't it's opposite be?

 

They worship two gods that the manifestations of the Sun and Moon. So I would say the ponies are Pagans.

 

Well Celestia and Luna or more wardens of the sun and moon rather than incarnations of either. As the sun and moon both existed prior to their arrival, however that came about. And I wouldn't call them "pagan" because that indicate that there is some "proper" religion that exists and we haven't seen much evidenced of an organized church. I would refer to them simply as polytheistic.

 

If you want to get technical, any ponies that worship Discord would actually be the pagans, but since there's only one of him (that we know of) that makes them monotheistic.

 

The ponies do seem to hold Celestia in reverence for bringing them the sun, as shown in the Summer Sun celebration. Luna, while suffering from some bad PR on her debut, has since seem to be endearing herself to the foals of Equestria. (Pipsqueak, the CMC)

 

Maybe that whole "Children of the Night" video isn't such a stretch of the canon.

there all atheist when has religion ever brought up

 

Another "ALL ATHEISTS!" post and again I would just like to know why or how? In your headcanon, nopony ever pondered the meaning of life or morality? Or took up a cause or belief that they didn't know would succeed but choose to believe in?

 

To answer your question, I will reiterate my point. Religion need not be organized. Even for those who are part of an organized church, their faith is often deeply personal. We see a funeral in Heart's and Hooves day, so they have some ceremony of interning their dead, that by itself is evidence to a grand narrative of mortality. Apart from that though, the very basis of the show, the morals and joys of friendship could certainly inform a pony's faith even without an official or even named institution.

 

Lord of the Rings, for instance, was also informed very much by Tolkien's religious and spiritual views as much as his expertise on language. He didn't give Middle-Earth a church or have any characters act as clergy, but the various powers at work within the story are very reflective of some form of Providence.

 

In the man's own words:

 

"The Lord of the Rings is of course a fundamentally religious and Catholic work; unconsciously so at first, but consciously in the revision. That is why I have not put in, or have cut out, practically all references to anything like 'religion', to cults or practices, in the imaginary world. For the religious element is absorbed into the story and the symbolism."

 

With all the references to greek mythology, talk of "destiny", and similarly grand powers at work in Equestria; even if it has no official church (a wise move on the part of the creators) there's still the possibility that characters within it may or may not hold personally religious and spiritual views.

Edited November 12, 2014 by Steel Accord

[Visual Spectrum 1,932]

You have to understand, a lot of religions are based off the followings of someone or a group of people who spread the word about what they believe. People like Jesus, Mohammed, and Buddha do not exist in Equestria. Equestria would not have the same religions Earth does. 

 

They probably have a variety of religions. I doubt most of them worship Princess Celestia and Princess Luna. Those two are the princesses of Equestria, and Equestria is not the planet. It's more of a country. Do you worship your country's leader(s)? I doubt it. 

[Fractured 2,684]

I don't exactly know why they would need a religion. All of their "gods" happen to have a physical form, and are living, breathing and thinking. Who exactly would they need to be praying to?

[Steel Accord 6,660]

You have to understand, a lot of religions are based off the followings of someone or a group of people who spread the word about what they believe. People like Jesus, Mohammed, and Buddha do not exist in Equestria. Equestria would not have the same religions Earth does. 

 

They probably have a variety of religions. I doubt most of them worship Princess Celestia and Princess Luna. Those two are the princesses of Equestria, and Equestria is not the planet. It's more of a country. Do you worship your country's leader(s)? I doubt it. 

 

Well of course those religions don't exist, but plenty of fantasy universes have their own religions as well. This is just fun speculation as to some that might exist there. 

 

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 

 

Ever hear of the concept of Thearchy? The only perfect government would be one headed by divinity. Celestia and Luna are both immortal, have saved Equestria in an ancient past from a being of chaos, and remain to this day to the be the keepers of ancient knowledge and power.

 

Sound familiar?

 

I don't exactly know why they would need a religion. All of their "gods" happen to have a physical form, and are living, breathing and thinking. Who exactly would they need to be praying to?

 

Don't know, but Celestia is name dropped in the vein of prayer or grand declarations.

 

"With Celestia as my witness!"

 

"In the name of Celestia!"

 

So maybe the concept of prayer doesn't exist, because the idea of prayer is communing with God the only way we understand how to. The ponies can just talk to Her. Even if they don't worship Celestia, She seems to be in a vague place between royalty and divinity. Yes She is the head of state, but at the same time she's also been a constant throughout the century of the nation's existence, spanning the lifetime's of others.

[blank 88]

Basically, What Religion to Equestrians practice. And, I know religion is kinda inappropriate for Kid's TV, so it's probably not gonna be revealed on-screen. Myself, I think they worship the 2 Sisters mainly. They have a bit of Greek Mythology mixed in, for example, Tartarus, Cerberus, etc. They are not very religious people, though, unlike SOME of us humans (let the flame wars commence).

 

Post your thoughts below!

praise the sun.

(For a few, only a few sadly) praise the moon.

 

Oh my celestia, etc...or thier parents...