Any reason why Hinduism dominates?

[CrimsonEdge]

It seems that every game I play Hinduism dominates all other religions. It seems rather odd to me that no other religion ever really has much of a chance, besides Buddhism. Maybe it's just the kind of map I play and how it always seems that I get the same set of AI's every game... but I haven't really seen much of an exception to this.

To make it even worse, everyone is real buddy buddy despite being put up against a few War Mongers like Monty. It's kind of a drag that going to war with anyone usually means that I get some really bad -rep points.

Is there anything I can do to stop the dominant spread of one religion like that? Of course, I always adopt the religion that is the widest spread for the +rep points (getting 4 techs from one civ out of Aesthetics is solid). What I'd really like are a bunch of small teams of different religions so I don't get massive -rep for warring with some buddies. Any way to do this?

 

[ahmedhadzi]

I wouldn't agree, my previous game, I founded and dominated with Judaism and AP with all nations in the game except one (which was Hindu) full members. And this one I'm doing the same thing with Christanity. I would say that only religions which don't have to much chance are Islam and Taoism.

 

[Al Capwn]

Hinduism and Buddhism are going to dominate because they're the first 2 religions available when playing standard rules.
I always play with the "choose religion" option so that different religions are founded at different times. The only way you can really have multiple civs running different religions is if they're religious civs that have each founded their own religion. The religious civs seem to really like to promote the religion they found, even if they've already got a state religion that was founded earlier by a friendly neighbor. I've seen Izzy switch from Juddaism to Hinduism after she founded Hinduism. It started a huge war and made many people very unhappy but she just had to convert to the religion that she discovered.

 

[CrimsonEdge]

Hinduism and Buddhism are going to dominate because they're the first 2 religions available when playing standard rules.
I always play with the "choose religion" option so that different religions are founded at different times. The only way you can really have multiple civs running different religions is if they're religious civs that have each founded their own religion. The religious civs seem to really like to promote the religion they found, even if they've already got a state religion that was founded earlier by a friendly neighbor. I've seen Izzy switch from Juddaism to Hinduism after she founded Hinduism. It started a huge war and made many people very unhappy but she just had to convert to the religion that she discovered.

This interests me. So what does the choose religion option actually do?

 

[GodBen]

This interests me. So what does the choose religion option actually do?

You get to choose which religion you found. The key is in the name, really.

You study Meditation which would normally cause you to found Buddhism, but instead you get to chose which religion you found. Same for the AI, they randomly select a religion. Some people complain because it means that if you study polytheism (the belief in multiple gods) you can found Christianity (a monotheistic religion... barely).

Turn it on in the custom game options. It adds flavour, and it's the only way you'll see Islam as a dominant religion.

 

[AmazonQueen]

If you play a map like hemispheres with up to 6 continents there is a real chance for later religions to get a foothold somewhere. The current system doesn't work so well with 1 or 2 continents.

 

[-FC-Commando]

I always play with the "choose religion" option so that different religions are founded at different times.

Same here. Quite a neat option. Usually pick Christianity or Hinduism if the first one gets snagged.

 

[Wolfshanze]

As stated, if you play default rules, the way the game is setup, the 1st two religions tend to dominate.

Simply have "Choose Religions" and other religions will dominate as both yourself and the AI can and will choose different religions early that will dominate.

 

[LordBuildaholic]

Hinduism dominating probably has more to do with it being founded near the start of the game. I've found Judaism proliferates on my games. Yet keep in mind that it has a lot to do with map layout, and how many Spiritual-oriented leaders are in your game. As these leaders begin with a huge jumpstart towards founding religions, they then found them and propagate to other civs. Spiritual civs are much less likely to convert from their religion once founded and some, like Isabella, strong arm you into joining them. It isn't until a civ (usually on another continent) founds another religion and propagates it there that the cycle begins to counteract.

 

[Alpha Deity]

Quick Question on "Choose a Religion"

What are the differences? I have never used this option and it looks intriguing.

 

[GooglyBoogly]

Whenever a player is the first to research a religion tech, a dialog box pops up asking you to choose a religion (one that has not already been founded). The one that is chosen is then founded according to the standard game rules - if effectively changes the order religions are founded

 

[Roland Johansen]

If you play on a large or huge world with multiple continents and a decent number of civilisations, then it's likely that multiple religions will spread on that world. If you play on a small world with a single landmass, then it's unlikely that multiple religions will spread.

The choose religion option will not change this. It will just change the name of the most dominant religion, not the fact that the world is typically dominated by a single religion or a duo of religions.

To develop multiple religion blocks, there needs to be some space between the various civilisations and that will not happen on a small map pangea. The idea that the number of significant religions would be independant of the map size is preposterous. The game doesn't scale perfectly with map size. Some elements work differently on different map sizes.

 

[SheaD]

I like to choose religions although I often find I can't spread mine as quickly (I always regenerate so I am coastal, sometimes on the edge of the continent) and end up being like the only Christian nation on the entire map and getting bullied the entire game. I can never quite bring myself to switching state religions, it would be like betraying my people and culture (in game people and culture). I still find that Judaism often dominates for some reason, odd considering how few Jews there actually are in the world. 200 at the last count..

 

[Fezfez]

Except for islam, I've seen all the religions rule in the past. But it is true that hinduism and boedism tend to get the upper hand

 

[AmazonQueen]

I still find that Judaism often dominates for some reason, odd considering how few Jews there actually are in the world. 200 at the last count..

200 and they have their own country, thats impressive

 

[Charonicus]

200. ¬¬
There's actually over nine thousand!

 

[SenhorDaGuerra]

from wiki, Religions and number of followers:

Christianity: 1.9 Billion
Islam: 1.1 Billion
Hinduism: 781 Million
Buddhism: 324 Million
Judaism: 14 million
Confucianism: 5.3 Million
Taoism: Unknown

 

[Fezfez]

from wiki, Religions and number of followers:

Christianity: 1.9 Billion
Islam: 1.1 Billion
Hinduism: 781 Million
Buddhism: 324 Million
Judaism: 14 million
Confucianism: 5.3 Million
Taoism: Unknown

I thought islam had 1.3 billion and there were 1.1 atheist

HAIL Athé!!

 

[Iranon]

IIRC, the religions are checked in order whether they spread to a religion-less city; this means that picking Judaism for a religion one wants spread would give one a tiny advantage.

Note that in the default game Judaism is the latest religion that doesn't come with a free missionary.

Apart from spreading order, founding order and free missionary, the only difference is which resource speeds up the major building.

 

[Turquoiside]

Actually, "Choose Religions" dosen't fix anything, as the plrblem reamains the first or second religion will still dominate. Not to mention realism.