A Song of Ice and Fire
Religion in Westeros
The Faith of the Seven is the dominant religion of the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros. Often referred to as the Faith, it's influence reaches nearly all corners of the continent, with the exception of the North and the Iron Islands, where different beliefs are held. The Faith is modelled after the medeival Catholic church, as author George R. R. Martin has previously stated in interviews. The Faith is heavily influential on the government of Westeros, as it is intertwined with both the culture and laws of the land.
Beliefs
The Faith of the Seven is, unlike many Westerosi religions, devoted to a single deity. Followers of the Faith believe in a multifacetet god, who assumes the form of the Seven; The Mother, the Father, the Warrior, the Maiden, the Smith, the Crone, and the Stranger. Each of these 'faces' of God represent different virtues, such as the Father, who represents justice. It is said that the Seven once walked the earth in human forms, in the HIlls of Andalos among the Andal peoples, much like Jesus walked among the earth as God in the flesh. Followers often pray to a specific aspect of the Seven for divine guidance depending on their needs. For example, a woman may pray to the Mother for fertility when wishing to bear children.
This is directly borrowed from the Catholic faith, another monotheistic religion with a multi-faced God. Catholics believe that God is manifested in three forms: The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. They are represented in the Holy Trinity, a triangular symbol regarded as being holy, much like the Seven-Pointed star of the Faith. The number seven itself is considered to be sacred within both the fictional Faith and Catholicism, featured in the latter through the Seven Deadly Sins & Seven Holy Sacraments, as well as the Seven Archangels. The creation story of the Faith also parallels that of Catholicism; “The Father reached his hand into the heavens and pulled down seven stars…” (A Dance with Dragons, 88). This is very similar to the Catholic belief that God (the Father) created the heavens and the earth. Like Catholicism, the Faith of the Seven have a divine text, called The Seven Pointed Star, from which many of the laws of the Seven Kingdoms are derived, much the same as laws that are derived from the Bible. Many of the laws are shared, including
Organization
The Faith of the Seven is structured as follows:
High Septon
This is the highest ranking position within the Faith. It is equivalent to the Pope in Catholicism; The High Septon is the Seven's representative on Earth. He is considered to be the voice of the Gods, and controls all aspects of the Faith. He is elected as High Septon by the Most Devout. The High Septon abandons his name once elected, similar to how the Catholic Pope chooses a new name.
Most Devout
A council consisting of the highest ranking members of the Faith's clergy. They serve as a governing body, however they are still under the conrol of the High Septon. They convene with and advise the High Septon at the Great Sept of Baelor in King's Landing (capital of Westeros). The Most Devout are responsible for choosing who is designated as High Septon, often selecting one of their own members, however this is not a rule. In this way, they are modelled after the College of Cardinals, a group of high ranking church officials responsible for the election of the Pope.
Septons/Setpas
Male members of the Faith's clergy are known as septons. They are the equivalent to priests in the Cathoilc faith. Septons devote their faith towards one particular aspect of the Faith; for example, septons devoted to the Smith often wear a small metal hammer pendant around their necks. Like Catholic priests, septons are sworn to celibacy. Septons may live together in a 'septry', a type of self-sustaining monestary. Some may choose to live outside of a septy, travelling the realm minstering to common folk in exchange for shelter. Female clergy are called "septas", and like septons also devote themselves to a particular aspect of the Seven, although it is not revealed to which they are devoted. Septas often live in "motherhouses", a term shared for the dwelling of Catholic nuns.
Faith Militant
The military arm of the Faith, made up of two miltary orders: The Warrior's Sons and the Poor Fellows, often called the Swords and Stars. Outlawed by King Maegor I, the militant wing was reformed after Queen Cersei Lannister overturned the law at the request of the current High Septon. The Warrior's Sons are a group of knights who have given up their titles and worldly possessions to fight for the Seven. Armour clad and armed with swords featuring seven-pointed crystals in the pommel, they have developed a reputation in King's Landing for being fanatical and extremely hateful towards non-believers. They are known as the Swords. This order is very similar to the real world Knights Templar, the officially endorsed military wing of the Roman Catholic Church from roughly 1119-1312. The Templars were used extensively during the Crusades, known as some of the most skilled fighters of the conflict. Sworn to protect the Christian Kingdom, the Templars both defended the faith at home, and enforced it abroad. The Poor Fellows, also known as the Stars, are the military counterpart to the 'begging brothers', or, septons without septries. Although they are not well armed, using weapons that they have found or crafted themselves, they make up the majority of the Faith's army. They can be identified by the red Seven-Pointed Star sigil, which can often be found carved into or branded on the flesh. Inspiration for this order appears to have been taken from the Peasant's Crusade, a group of ordinary citizens and low ranking knights who mobilized themselves on Jerusalem during 1096.
The Faith Militant is restored by Queen Cersei Lannister, and quickly mobilized to arrest 'sinners' to be tried and judged by The Father.