A multitude of different religions are worshiped by different cultures and peoples in The Known World, across the three continents of Westeros, Essos, and Sothoryos.
Westeros
There are only three religions with significant numbers in Westeros:
- The Old Gods of the Forest - innumerable and nameless spirits of each tree, rock, and stream. The original religion of the continent, it was later pushed back by the Faith of the Seven. In the present day, it is only the majority religion in The North and Beyond the Wall, though there still exist a scattered minority of followers in the south of the continent.
- The Faith of the Seven - introduced to Westeros during the Andal Invasion six thousand years ago, and has for millenia been the majority religion on the continent. In terms of number of followers, geographic spread, and influence on politics, the Faith of the Seven is the overwhelmingly dominant religion in Westeros. It is based on the worship of the "Seven-faced God", a single deity with seven "aspects".
- The Drowned God - the local religion of the Iron Islands. Worshipers of the Drowned God value maritime skill, as well as prowess in combat and in piratical raids. It is the least populous of the three major religions in Westeros as well as the least widespread, being restricted to the lightly populated Iron Islands themselves. Nonetheless, as there are so few major religions on the continent, it is still the third largest religion, and is certainly dominant within the Iron Islands themselves.
Essos
In contrast to Westeros, on the eastern continent of Essos across the Narrow Sea there are a large number of local religions, but few religions that are widespread across large geographical areas. Even so, each of the Free Cities or cities of Slaver's Bay may contain worshipers of numerous different local religions that are not to be found anywhere else in the world. The Free City of Braavos has a very diverse, cosmopolitan religious makeup. The one major exception to this is the Lord of Light religion, which is very widespread, from the Free Cities in the west to Asshai in the distant east. Indeed, in the southern Free Cities such as Volantis, Lys, and Myr, the Lord of Light is the majority religion, and it has at least a plurality in many other major cities of the continent. Still, unlike in Westeros where the Faith of the Seven is often the exclusive religion, in many cities in Essos where the faith of the Lord of Light is the majority religion there are still substantial minorities that worship other religions.
- The Lord of Light - focuses on worship of the "one true god", a fire-god known as the Lord of Light. Espouses strong dualistic beliefs, as the Lord of Light struggles against darkness. Loosely speaking it is the majority religion in many parts of Essos, particularly the major trading hubs such as the Free Cities and Slaver's Bay.
- Dothraki religion - the nomadic Dothraki mounted warriors from the central plains known as the Dothraki Sea possess their own religious beliefs and customs. The deity they most highly revere is known as the Great Stallion.
- Great Shepherd - a local religion in Lhazar, northeast of Slaver's Bay and south of the Dothrai Sea, which holds that all men are part of one flock.
Sothoryos
- Summer Isles goddess - In the Summer Isles, a fertility goddess is worshiped who has sixteen teats.