state religion?

[onomastikon]

Do I understand correctly that in CivIV, Religion is beneficial to your empire to the degree that it is a successful state religion? Does that mean that there is an incentive to have a uniform religious atmosphere and empire-sponsored missionaries for your one religion? Or is religious heterogenism equally beneficial? (I am still trying to download the demo.)
thank you in advance

 

[rob.derosa]

Depends which civics you have as to which option is best. I would consult the guides on the main site.

 

[Sybot]

Most religious civics only benefit cities with your state religion, so it is best to spread it around your empire. However, if you have Free Religion then it is best to spread as many a possible to your cities to get a happiness bonus.

 

[Tapsa]

Also, if you have multiple religions in a city, you can build multiple religious buildings (Temples, Monastaries, Cathedrals). This means the city will benefit from more happines, culture etc.

 

[BF_Sweden]

Last game I played I invented hinduism. Then later Musa had Islam and it grew in one of my cities. I hesitated to spread Islam to my other cities cause I knew that it was my enemy who had invented it. Am i thinkning wrong? Whats the benefit to spread another guys religon? Should I just focus to spread the religon that I have invented myself?

 

[Bast]

I usually adopt either Judaism or Christianity as my state religion early in the game and shoot for Theocracy (during wars) or Pacifism (at other times).

I don't think I've ever used Organized Religion except in my first game. And usually I don't go to Free Religion because most of my cities usually only has 1 religion. When I conquer other cities I spread my state religion in them.

 

[onedreamer]

BF. Well it depends on your strategy.
By spreading an opponent's religion in your or others' territory, you help in in a way, meaning that if he built the holy wonder bulding, he will get from it more money. Though I think that the benefits that you yourself get make up for is. First off, with a new religion in each city you can build:
1- temple, extra happiness and culture
2- monastery, extra culture and science
3- cathedral, quite a boost in culture per turn
Also, your relationships with your neighbor will get better. And in the last stages of the game, should you choose the religion civics "Free Religion", you will benefit from each and every religion that you could spread in your cities.

 

[panzooka]

i tries to be conservative first by founding my own religion, spread my religion with trade route, later in game, i conqure other's city, spread their religion into my cities, after the war, adopt free religion, and make every city atleast 3 religions

 

[Polopapolo]

By having three religions in every city, this allows you to produce a "cathedral" in every city since you need 3 temples/religion to build it's "cathedral".

I find that the most interesting aspect of religion is the money... Once you've built a holy shrine, every city with that religion gains you 1 gpt. If you can found 4 religions (this is actually pretty easy even on noble) AND build the 4 corresponding holy shrines (stonehenge + parthenon wonder hlp with GProphet) AND have these 4 religions in a city => you get 4 gpt/city

If you add up the spiral minaret wonder, for your state religion, you get 1 gpt/building. Therefore, by building a monastery and a temple in a city, you get 2gpt/city.

This totals 6gpt/city in your empire just from religion! It can be a hassle to spread all those religions but the money will cover expansion, upkeep, excess military, etc.

ex.: a 15 city empire will generate an extra (6*15 + 1*15/3) 95 gpt/turn! For huge empires this can maintain your economy until you get state property... This is without counting the money you get from getting AI to convert to your State religion.

In my book, religion in Civ IV is very good !

 

[Ackillez]

I find that the most interesting aspect of religion is the money... Once you've built a holy shrine, every city with that religion gains you 1 gpt. If you can found 4 religions (this is actually pretty easy even on noble) AND build the 4 corresponding holy shrines (stonehenge + parthenon wonder hlp with GProphet) AND have these 4 religions in a city => you get 4 gpt/city

Haha.

Try the tech race on monarch, *****.

No, but seriously, even on the higher difficulties, you should be able to found at least two, provided you start with mysticism (haven't tested non-spiritual civs on high difficulty yet). And the cash you get from shrines is invaluable.