Adopting another Civs religion ?

[Foxile]

In my latest game, I was actually starting to get to grips with things, but I hadn't 'invented' any religion. I was relying on another civs religion 'arriving' to allow me to have a state religion.

Of the 5 or 6 other religions, four were following Buddhism, but it hadn't 'leaked' into my area of influence, so I was unable to adopt that religion ( I assume that's how I'd adopt another religion in the first place ). Consqeuently the two strongest declared war ( -4 for 'heathen religion ) on me and nobody else would help me out, as they weren't impressed either.

Any ideas, please folks ??

 

[scienide09]

Do you have open borders with any of the civs with a religion that you would like? Without open borders, a civ cannot send missionaries into your cities. While a religion can eventually bleed/spread to your civ through trade routes, it may take a while for this to happen. Roads/railroads, rivers, coastal squares, etc, are needed for trades routes, along with open borders.

Another option is to conquer a enemy city with a religion already established. That city will keep its religion, and allow it to spread (still slowly) into your civ. You can then work toward building missionaries to send to your own cities, spreading the religion faster.
Of course, while this conquering tactic may get rid of the penalty of having a heathen religion, whichever civ you attack will then be pissed at you for starting a war with them.

Hope that helps...

 

[Foxile]

Unfortunately, the civs close their borders, before I can get missionaries across to try and 'change their faith'. The shutter go up, before the onset of war and I'm stuck trying to build a big enough army to at least have a fighting chance.

I even managed another game today, where I opted for Free Religion, but it didn't help. Everyone else was Taoist and still said this disliked my choice of religion

 

[gettingfat]

You may build up the military force first, then choose either

- be a nice guy: open border to allow religion spreading into your area (you need a decent army first or the other civs will attack you once they've scouted you enough), play a nice guy, trade and give techs, adopt the state religion that give you most threat (to minimize war), and switch to no religon ASAP to go for space win.
- be a baddy: scout out the closest holy city. Declare war and take over it once you're strong enough. Then spread religion that may profit you once build the holy building.

At higher level, basically one won't get Buddism and Hinduism unless you start with mysticism AND lucky. You won't get Judiasm unless your city has some improvements that give you additional gold (gold mine is the best) and you go straight for it. Actually chop rush an oracle to acquire code of law or theology first is usually the only way. But sometimes adopting a late religion and make enemies with your mighty neighbours is not necessarily a good thing. So it's always a good practice to try playing without actively seeking out a religion and finally you will get used to it.

 

[Shadzy19]

Well if you dont found a religion you can only get a religion from having open borders with a civ that does has a religion. In this case since you had 4 AI's in buddism make a OB agreement with some/all of them (if u can) before you follow any other religion , its not because a diffrend religion that nobody follows enters your lands that you have to change your religion to this , just wait untill buddism spreads into your lands and then convert to that and instead of negative modifiers you will get positive ones.