Faith and Fire: Religion and Power in Game of Thrones
Exploring how ritual, myth, and symbolism turn Westeros into a world where religion is a language of power.
Project Overview
Game of Thrones is usually remembered for politics, dragons, and war – but underneath all of that, the story is shaped by religion. Faith of the Seven, the Old Gods of the Forest, and the Lord of Light are not just background lore. They guide characters’ decisions, justify kingship, and make violence feel sacred or condemned.
This project uses tools from Religious Studies to ask: How does Game of Thrones reimagine religion as a force of power, morality, and meaning? Through key scenes and symbols, it shows how the series turns fantasy TV into a space where viewers think about belief, authority, and destiny.
ABOUT THE PROJECT
This project was created for Religion and Popular Culture (RELS 2812) and explores how Game of Thrones reimagines religion through ritual, myth, and symbolism. It combines close reading of key scenes with concepts from Religious Studies, including ritual theory, myth analysis, symbolism, and popular religion. The goal is to show that fantasy television does not avoid religion. Instead, it gives us new ways to think about faith, power, and morality.