Are Paladins Religious?
Paladins can be devout members of their churches, but it isn’t specifically their devoutness that gives them powers. The relationship between paladins and religion is complex, with many paladins following a strict personal code or organizational doctrine, while others may venerate a single god, such as Iomedae, the goddess of justice.
Understanding Paladins and Religion
To delve deeper into the question of whether paladins are religious, let’s examine some frequently asked questions related to paladins and their connection to faith and religion.
FAQs
- What religion is paladin?: Paladins often do not worship a single deity, but rather abide by a strict personal code or organizational doctrine.
- Can paladins be atheist?: A paladin that is an atheist could still be devoted to Justice, and would still be granted divine powers through the divine portfolio of Justice with the approval of the God of Justice, Tyr.
- Do paladins have to believe in a god?: Most Paladins are sworn to a deity, but all paladins receive their powers from deities, whether or not they are aware of it.
- Do paladins pray to god?: Paladins, like clerics, are granted their divine powers through strength of faith and devotion to their divine patron.
- What do paladins believe?: Paladins who dedicate themselves to the Oath of Redemption believe that any person can be redeemed and that the path of benevolence and justice is one that anyone can walk.
- Do paladins need a holy symbol?: Every spell that has a component of DF requires a holy or unholy symbol to cast, and many of a paladin’s spells require a divine focus.
- Can paladins drink alcohol?: Paladins can drink, and there is nothing against it.
- Can a paladin be evil?: Yes, there’s no hard alignment anymore in 5e, and while some oaths strongly suggest good or lawful alignments, some don’t.
- Do paladins have to swear to god?: Different paladins focus on various aspects of the cause of righteousness, but all are bound by the oaths that grant them power to do their sacred work.
- What are paladins in real life?: The term ‘paladin‘ has found its way into dictionaries as a noun used to describe generally a determined advocate and defender of a particular cause.
- Why can only humans be paladins?: The restrictions on Paladins having to be human goes back to the basis/origin of the class itself – Knightly orders were thought to be a “human thing“.
- Who is paladin in the Bible?: David son of Jesse of Bethlehem, the young shepherd who became a celebrated warrior and later King of all Israel, is considered a prime example of a paladin.
- What is the opposite of a paladin?: If looking at paladin from the noble fighter with a code, the opposite would probably be a rogue.
- Can paladins marry?: Paladins are not Jedi, and they can love, marry, and have a family, with some vowing not to, but the choice is theirs.
- Can a paladin lose faith?: A paladin could change their mind about their deity, denounce them, and crusade against other followers of their former deity, and absolutely keep all their normal paladin abilities as long as they do not break their original oath.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the question of whether paladins are religious is complex and multifaceted. While many paladins are indeed devout and follow a strict personal code or organizational doctrine, others may not be religious in the classical sense. Ultimately, the relationship between paladins and religion depends on the individual paladin and their personal beliefs and values.