Fate of the Faithless? (Forgotten Realms, not sure if this belongs here)

[MonkeySage]

I'm curious if there's a difference between "Faithless" and "Atheist" in the Forgotten Realms setting: Because in one instance, I've heard that Asmodeus devours the souls of atheists, and in another, I've heard the Faithless end up merging with the wall surrounding the City of Judgement. Is there a difference or did something change?

[Rhyltran]

I'm curious if there's a difference between "Faithless" and "Atheist" in the Forgotten Realms setting: Because in one instance, I've heard that Asmodeus devours the souls of atheists, and in another, I've heard the Faithless end up merging with the wall surrounding the City of Judgement. Is there a difference or did something change?

An atheist is someone who doesn't believe in God's and often the supernatural. The faithless are those who don't worship a deity. Technically an atheist would ne faithless but not all faithless are atheists. So there is a difference.

[Kayblis]

In Forgotten Realms, deities are pretty active and devout followers are gifted with powers. In such a setting, the faithless would be someone that says "yes, praise the gods, now let's eat" at the dinner table, not really caring for the ones above more than the standard respect shown by common phrases. He's a guy that doesn't turn to the nature gods praying for a good harvest, and doesn't ask for divine protection when heading out on days long travels to nearby cities. He lives his life as most people live theirs in the real world, having religion as a part of culture more than a palpable thing.

Atheists on the other hand don't believe the gods actually exist, or that they're actual 'gods' in the purest sense of the word. Some might say they're just powerful creatures that wish to be called divine, others might say the gods themselves don't exist at all and all the "divine magic" is just force of will just like other magic such as incantations and sorcerers' powers. After all, the local priest never did more than heal some workplace injuries and make rotten food edible, even if he prayed every day he still couldn't do the miracles that those 'divine heroes' did because he lacks the personal strength(read: levels) to do so. In this mindset, religion is more of a conduit for personal strength, not a connection to anything bigger than yourself.

When it comes to deciding if it's justified or not, it's not a simple case of "Look! The cleric can call lightning!". Many people can do that with not a single prayer in their life. For many purposes and personal reasons, people can be faithless or atheist in a world in which gods are real and active. The distinction exists and it's a pretty big one, but it's easy to miss when you just consider them 'nutjobs' in the eyes of adventuring parties that usually have at least one divine caster.

[hamishspence]

Different books tend to portray What Qualifies as Faithless, differently. FRCS 3.0 suggests that they "paid lip service without truly believing" but the slightly later 3.0 Deities & Demigods says they "actively opposed the worship of the gods".

[Feantar]

Different books tend to portray What Qualifies as Faithless, differently. FRCS 3.0 suggests that they "paid lip service without truly believing" but the slightly later 3.0 Deities & Demigods says they "actively opposed the worship of the gods".

Uh, I think the first is the False, not the faithless.

[hamishspence]

The False "intentionally betrayed their deities".

The exact quotes:

FRCS

While most souls wander the Fugue Plane until their deity calls them, the Faithless and the False are compelled to enter the city of Judgment and be judged by Kelemvor. The Faithless firmly denied any faith or only gave lip service to the gods for most of their lives without truly believing. The False intentionally betrayed a faith they believed in and to which they had made a personal commitment.

All of the Faithless receive the same punishment: They form a living wall around the city of Judgment, held together by a supernatural green greenish mold. This mold prevents them from escaping the wall and eventually breaks down their substance until the soul and its consciousness are dissolved.

The False are punished according to their crimes in life and serve their sentence in the city if Judgment for eternity. Nearly all of the beings in the city are members of the False, the rest being deceased followers of Jergal and Kelemvor who enact the will of their deities upon the doomed souls. Depending upon the severity of their crimes, some of the False may receive relatively light punishments, such as escorting visiting baatezu or patrolling the city for unauthorized guests. Others are punished in ways that would surprise the cruelest demon.


Deities & Demigods:

In the Forgotten Realms campaign setting, for example, the souls of those with no patron deity are consigned to wander the Fugue Plain until they are either taken in by a merciful deity or captured by demon or devil raiders and drafted into service in their eternal war. The souls of the "faithless," those who actively oppose the worship of the gods, are bound into the living wall around the City of Judgment, from which they can never return.

[Feantar]

The False "intentionally betrayed their deities".

The exact quotes:

FRCS

While most souls wander the Fugue Plane until their deity calls them, the Faithless and the False are compelled to enter the city of Judgment and be judged by Kelemvor. The Faithless firmly denied any faith or only gave lip service to the gods for most of their lives without truly believing. The False intentionally betrayed a faith they believed in and to which they had made a personal commitment.

All of the Faithless receive the same punishment: They form a living wall around the city of Judgment, held together by a supernatural green greenish mold. This mold prevents them from escaping the wall and eventually breaks down their substance until the soul and its consciousness are dissolved.

The False are punished according to their crimes in life and serve their sentence in the city if Judgment for eternity. Nearly all of the beings in the city are members of the False, the rest being deceased followers of Jergal and Kelemvor who enact the will of their deities upon the doomed souls. Depending upon the severity of their crimes, some of the False may receive relatively light punishments, such as escorting visiting baatezu or patrolling the city for unauthorized guests. Others are punished in ways that would surprise the cruelest demon.


Deities & Demigods:

In the Forgotten Realms campaign setting, for example, the souls of those with no patron deity are consigned to wander the Fugue Plain until they are either taken in by a merciful deity or captured by demon or devil raiders and drafted into service in their eternal war. The souls of the "faithless," those who actively oppose the worship of the gods, are bound into the living wall around the City of Judgment, from which they can never return.

You sir, are correct. As a sidenote, this is a really creepy passage showing how hardcore FR is with both the Faithless and the False.

[Biggus]

I've heard that Asmodeus devours the souls of atheists

I've never heard that before, what book is it from?

[MonkeySage]

I've never heard that before, what book is it from?

Guide To Hell, it's an AD&D book from 1999.