Interesting thing happened in my fantasy novel. One of my characters veered into discussing religions, specifically the failure of the various gods to actually address the needs of people. Bitter and eloquence in her anger, she rejected the gods. As she put it, "I can't deny they exist, but I can ignore them and wish they didn't." I hadn't realized that she felt that way until I started writing it. Unfortunately it didn't help move the plot along, but it was a short enough segment and so telling of her thoughts that it works in the novel. Finding out surprising things about the characters makes me feel like a real author.
     I've noticed in various novels that religions don't exist, or if they do, they're always characterized by some madman who murders people because God told him to do so. Curious and unrealistic.
     Many, many, many people in this world cling to their faiths and don't go around burying their neighbors in the back yard or serving them in a casserole. Their faith is part of what shapes them. Admittedly, many people don't have any faith -- or more usual, only have one around Christmas or Easter -- but even then, their lack tells a lot about their character. What is going to fill that void if not a religion? Love, sex, booze, commitment to a cause, a career? It's said that nature abhors a void. Something is going to grow there.
     I suspect most novelists avoid dealing with religion because it's one of most controversial subjects out there. Why give people a reason to shoot at your novel?

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