The Seven Gods

 

        The Faith of the Seven is the religion that is practiced in most of Westeros, excluding the North and the Iron Islands. It is often referred to as the Faith in the books with the Gods being called the New Gods to distinguish them from the Old Gods of the North. The power of the Faith is linked directly with who is ruling the Seven Kingdoms. The Faith most closely resembles Christianity, specifically Catholicism.

 

        The Seven Gods are actually a single deity with seven different aspects/faces, each representing a different virtue. When praying, worshippers prayed to one aspect of the seven depending on what they were praying for. The aspects are the Father (judgment), Mother (motherhood/nurturing/fertility), Smith (crafts and labour), Maiden (innocence/chastity), Warrior (strength in battle), Crone (wisdom), and the Stranger (death/the unknown).  The Seven aspects of one God is a representation of the Holy Trinity, the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost, in the Catholic religion. Both the Seven and the Holy Trinity give a sense of balance to the religion. The Seven pointed star is the most important religious symbol as is the Trinity to Catholicism. This is the first but surely not the last easy comparison of the Faith and Catholicism.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

      During the course of the books the Faith holds great and increasing power with the King(s). The High Septon gives council to the King and is often thought of and dealt with when the different nobles are plotting and scheming. Towards the end of the series so far the new High Septon has placed himself in a position of great power.

 

 

               

         The Faith of the Seven was brought to Westeros from Essos by the Andals six thousand years ago where it spread throughout the Kingdoms. The original center of the Faith was the city of Oldtown which served as the seat of the High Septon until Aegon the Conqueror came. When Aegon came to Westeros and conquered and united the Seven Kingdoms under his rule he adopted the Faith in return for the Faith supporting his rule. Aegon had a Sept built in the capitol city, King’s Landing, and that would serve as the seat for the High Septon.  

         Upon Aegon’s death the Faith separate from the ruling government using their militant force against them. The resulting civil war would last through two rulers and result in oppression of the Faith and the death of many of its followers. Shortly into the next reign, the forth Targaryen King, Jaehaerys I, the Faith would be offered peace and support if in return it would disband its militant forces. The Faith accepted and once again was adopted by the ruling dynasty and would enjoy different levels of power and influence throughout the next years depending on who was King.  This pattern of religious support and rebellion is very similar to that of Catholicism in England.  In the series however the militant forces of the Faith would come together again in the last book giving the Faith more control again.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

               

 

 

 

                The Faith is most similar to Christianity and Catholicism in its practices. The Faith is the official religion of the Seven Kingdoms and has heavily influence the laws and culture of the land. The Faith teaches morals and frown on crimes, dishonesty and many more things including kinslaying, incest and adultery. The religious text “The Seven-Pointed Star” is filled with the teachings of the Faith with each aspect having a “book” in it. The Seven-Pointed Star has stories, teachings, hymns and morals and is similar to religious texts used in Christianity.  
               

                The Faith is so ingrained in the law that a defendant at a trial can choose trial by combat because it is seen as the Seven intervening to help one person or the other win the battle depending on if the defendant is guilty or not. Another example of the Faith being ingrained in the laws of Westeros is that to become a Knight you must become anointed in the Faith.

 

                The Faith is a highly organized religion that is practiced in buildings called Septs. Septs, and the ceremonies held in them are also similar to the Christian faith. The septs always have some kind of artwork that represents each of the Seven. Ceremonies are led in septs by a high ranking male member of the clergy and people gather and usually sign hymns. Children are named in septs, using seven oils, as well as weddings where the bride and groom stand between the Mother and the Father.

 

 

 

 

                The roles of the Faith are again strikingly similar to those of the catholic faith. The primary servants of the Faith are called Septons (male) or Septas (female). These are similar roles to priests and priestesses in other religions. The Septons and Septas swear vows to the Faith. The Faith is then ruled by a council made of high ranking Septons and Septas called the Most Devout. The High Septon is the head of this council. In Catholicism Priests are led by a council (cardinals) who are led by a head priest (the Pope).               

                Outside of the Septons and Septas there are other orders of the faith. The two most important of these are the Silent Sisters and the Faith Militant. The Silent Sisters are an order of women who swear vows of chastity and silence to the service of the Stranger. They handle the dead and prepare them for funerals and burial. The Faith Militant are military orders of the faith which had been disbanded but are reinstated under the new King during the course of the series.