Religion

In the known world there are many faiths, and many faithful. Belief in high powers and supernatural threats runs deep through the cultures of the known world and influence most aspects of life. In Tamriel nearly all children are raised praising either the gods of the Faith, or the gods of regional religions. Across the Padomaic Ocean children are often given to be raised to priesthood of one of the many deities worshipped there. Little is known about the actual deities and their powers. So far, only followers of the Daedric Princes have been shown to channel real powers that influence the world directly.

Tamriel[]

In Tamriel there are numerous religions, some more powerful than others. These include:

The Faith of the Eight is the dominant religion throughout Tamriel, primarily in the central and western regions. The Faith worships the Eight Divines, eight gods that represent different aspects of common life. Like with the Church of Alaxon, the number eight is considered holy.
The Church of Alaxon is the dominant religion in the Summerset Archipelago, practised primarily by the Altmer of Tamriel. The Church worships eight gods. The number eight is considered holy.
The New Temple is the dominant religion among the Dunmer of Morrowind. The Temple worships The Reclamations, the three Daedric Princes Azura, Mephala, and Boethiah.
The Old Ways is the religion practised by the Psijic Order of Artaeum, though it used to be the dominant religion among all Aldmer and even early Altmer. Its influence on the Summerset Archipelago gradually diminished until it was practised only by the Psijics, who over time amended the religion to serve as a quasi-religious philosophy.
Mannimarco, also known as the God of Worms, and Father of Necromancy, is a prominent god among necromancers of Tamriel, though by few others. Those who worship Mannimarco typically do so out of a desire to attain necromantic power or knowledge, such as the knowledge of how to achieve lichdom.
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Alvarlism was once a dominant religion in Tamriel under the days of the Ayleid Empire, though was largely abandoned after the fall of the Ayleids. Some aspects of Alvarlism were integrated by Empress Alessia I Paravant into the Faith of the Eight.

The old gods are a collection of mostly nameless deities of stream, water, and stone once worshipped on the continent of Atmora and Northern Tamriel. Since the establishment of the Third Empire which brought with it its own religion, the old gods are no longer dominantly worshipped in Skyrim, although the Skaal continue to worship them.

The Tribunal Temple was once the dominant religion of Morrowind before the Red Year and the rise of the New Temple in 4E 5. After the death of their livng-gods, the Dunmer of Morrowind returned to the worship of Azura, Mephala, and Boethiah, which they now worship under the New Temple.

Akavir[]

Akavir is known to be the home of many religions, though none are known by name.

Other Regions[]

Atmora, frigid continent to Tamriel's north across the Sea of Ghosts, was known to worship the old gods. Some gods from their pantheon were integrated by Empress Alessia I Paravant into the Faith of the Eight. Some Nordic gods are still worshipped in Skyrim today, though it tends to be in name only.
Aldmeris, a lost continent to Tamriel's southwest across the Eltheric Ocean, was known to practice ancestor worship, which involved praying to one's own personal ancestors rather than a codified pantheon. Aspects of Aldmeri ancestor worship were carried over into the Church of Alaxon, the religion of the Summerset Archipealgo where in addition to the main eight gods, they also worship powerful common ancestors (not necessarily personal or familial ones). Ancestor worship is also believed to be present in the Old Ways of the Psijics.

Prophecy[]

See list of prophecies.

Quotes[]

When my son was five he said to me "I don't ever want to die". I wanted to say to him "you won't child, not ever". I hated the idea of him lying awake in the dark afraid. I think mothers and fathers made up the gods because they wanted their children to sleep through the night.

—X to X about the gods