Cyberpunk’s Religions, how prevalent they have become in the 2020s, larger versus smaller more fringe religions as well as their doctrines will all be discussed in today’s Cyberpunk 2077 Lore video! Well start off with some of the smaller religions and progressively move to the more prevalent ones.
The Beatified Circle of the Celts are a small sect living in isolated communities far from any city, made up of people who feared what modern living had turned into. The circle tries to guide its followers to get back in touch with nature and are led by a group of Elders known as the Druids, a peace-loving group who wants to be left alone.
The Immortal Pyramid is a group who believes that humans are nothing more than intelligent animals, and therefore don’t have souls and do not survive death. Based heavily on the Ancient Egyptian Pantheon, members of the Immortal Pyramid are obsessed with avoiding death and are always carrying and wearing protective equipment and fleeing from any situations with even the smallest chance of risk. The goal of the IP is to find enough money to create a data-centre shaped like a pyramid, with the goal of downloading their minds into memory banks to wait in safety until someone develops a way to make them truly immortal. If the IP is still around in 2077, I’d wager to bet they’re probably pretty interested in the so-called Immortality Chip.
The Worshipers of the Night are a group who wear all white armored clothing, and roam the streets at night to “protect the nights holiness against evil” The worshipers of the Night believe that everyone should feel peace and the ability to rest without paranoia at night, and thus they sleep all day, and patrol all night keeping the streets safe.
Digital Divinity Incorporated was founded on the idea that the Net is the first thing made by man which is infinite, and thus it is proof of mankind’s own godhood. The DDI preached that interfacing with the Net is communion with the true self, that the Net is mans destiny to extend their existence, and that the thought in electronic form is a heavenly or nirvana-like experience.
Deus is the DDIs diving entity in the Net. It is arguably the most suitable religion in the Cyberpunk era with a perfect blend of spirituality and technology, and easily marketable to those with interest in the DDI.
Realism are a relatively small religion based in many of the more technically advanced cities. Realists believe that the real universe is something unbeknownst by us as we are all living in a perfect VR simulation without the ability to “breach” it. Different sects occur within this doctrine, but many believe that all the religions members are gods who are bored with their never-ending existence and have created this simulation just to pass the time.
Satanism is more of a rejection or opposition to Christianity. Most worshipers, mainly Boostergangs and Rockerboys meet together in small groups, each with their own variation of Satanism. As it stands however, no notable church has been reformed and accepted Satanism in place of Christianity.
Moving on to some of the larger religions we first have the Roman Catholic Church during this time has seen a surge in popularity and is still a bolstered world power. The Vatican maintains Swiss troops who have been used in the past to counter Corporation-backed threats on church owned lands, and now more than ever, the Church looks after its own and will go to great lengths in protection of each and every member.
In 2077 Catholicism is likely still popular as Jackie Welles sports multiple articles of clothing with crosses, we see urns with Catholic imagery as well as The Valentinos gang donning many crosses.
Post collapse Judaism has not fared well. With Mideast turmoil and Israeli relations under-pressure under the wake of the Meltdown, Jews in the US feel isolated. Although Israel does offer a homeland for American Jews looking to make the trip, the means of getting there is not readily available to all.
There has been a renaissance in the Islamic Faith in the 2020s and there is a mosque in almost every American city. People of all colors and backgrounds flock to this religion. During the collapse, dietary laws and restrictions saved many Muslims from the septic conditions, and both sects the Sunni and Shi’ite are thriving. Islam is popular among the poor, which make up the majority of Americans.
Buddhism has also grown significantly in America despite it being one of the more complex ideologies as it is an amalgamation of religion, philosophy and psychology. Cyberpunks of the West have trouble grasping its concepts due to its heavy emphasis on non-violence, and the dissociation from the self in quest for enlightenment. Buddhists have a fascination with the net, which lays out an ideal setting for exploration of thought, and in 2020 many Buddhists meditate using exploration of the net as their medium.
