History Main / SinglePreceptReligion

* ''Series/DoctorWho'' features the Silence, which is basically a vast secret that features one single solitary belief: that "[[spoiler:Silence will fall when the question, "Doctor Who?", is asked]]". That's it. Why do they call it a religion? No idea.

->''"You know what this Dragon Code reminds me of? A fad religion. You know what I'm talking about, like, when people latch onto a new religion or philosophy, and they only apply the ''surface'' tenets in the extreme, without looking into the how or why."''

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In RealLife, religions tend to be built up of a vast number of different things and can take such a variety of forms that it can be very hard to pin down exactly what the word 'religion' ''means''. As such, when someone needs one for a story, it can be very easy for them to to throw together any old thing and call it a religion. The reasoning is that as long as it ''looks'' the part people will fill in the details for themselves. This generally leads to a lot of works featuring religions that look an awful lot like [[FantasticCatholicism Christianity]], [[Franchise/StarWars Buddhism]], or similar, with what those people believe [[CrystalDragonJesus roughly copied]], though, in some cases, the writer will choose to create their own from scratch to suit their needs. Either route can result in vast and detailed histories and belief systems that are complex enough (or at least seem to be), to draw us in and immerse us in the writer's vision.

A Single Precept Religion is one where the writer created the look of a religion, but none of the substance. They may be grand and [[BuffySpeak religiony-looking]], but if you actually stopped one of the adherents and asked them what they actually ''believe''....they can't really tell you. Or, if they can, the entire totality of their beliefs can be written on the back of a matchbook. Of course, they ''could'' be members of a MysteryCult, in which case initiates actually ''won't'' know what they have gotten themselves into and the inner circle won't be keen on telling you ([[MysteryCult but that is another trope entirely]]).

[[folder:Film]]

* ''Literature/TheDarkSideOfTheSun'', also by Terry Pratchett, features a less comedic version - the religion of Arte Sadhim has the "One Commandment", which is eventually stated to be "You Will Not Waste". There ''is'' a bit more to the religion than that, but it neatly sums up that Sadhimism is, basically, ''Whole Earth Catalog''-era environmentalism.

[[folder:Live Action TV]]

* On ''{{Series/Dinosaurs}}'' the Elders start looking for a belief system simple enough to be understood by the dumbest individual. The winning entry is one based on the world being created by a potato.

--> '''Kira''': I miss [First Minister Shakaar], but the last time we were on Bajor we went to the Kenda shrine, and we asked the prophets if we were meant to walk the same path.
--> '''Dax''': ...And?
--> '''Kira''': We're not.
--> '''Chuck''': Well... that's certainly a quick, neat, and ridiculous explanation. I'm surprised it wasn't revealed that he was a Leo and she was a Sagittarius, and their ''signs clashed''. If they ''do'', I don't know, I don't respect astrology enough to even look it up to accurately mock it. But they're really keeping it vague for such a life-changing decision, I mean, do they make use of one of the orbs to get some vision of the future? Is that how they found out? Or is this just asking some Vedec who was trying to take a nap?
--> '''Vedec''': *sleepy* Huh? What? No, you're not compatible, now go away, prophets be with you.
--> '''Random Bajoran''': Uh... Vedec? My father just died...
--> '''Vedec''': He's rotting in hell. Prophets be with you. Go away.

---> '''Chuck''': Ah. Well, I have to credit them this much: I suppose dying 200 years in the past is a definite sign that you're not destined to be with somebody.
---> '''Vedec''': Ha! Told you! Prophets be with you. Fuck off.

* ZigZagged by the Imperial Cult in ''TabletopGame/Warhammer40000''. The Imperial Creed itself is only a few lines long (the GodEmperor is the one true god, the Imperium is an extension of His will, and heretics must be purged), to ensure easy compatibility (and conversion) with every culture. The beliefs of specific planets can be quite elaborate.

* WebVideo/DoorMonster: This is PlayedForLaughs in the "Civ 6: Theological Combat". The sketch revolves around a member of Boat Mormonism and a member of the Denouncing Venice religion trying to convert the same guy (leading to the titular combat). When the man asks what the actual tenets of the religions are, the Denouncing Venice guy simply says "We hate Venice" while the Boat Mormon admit he doesn't know what the tenets of his religion are. According to him, Boat Mormonism was founded because it sounded funny.

* PlayedForLaughs on ''Series/GoodnessGraciousMe'', which had skits where a young British Asian would ask his elders for guidance on the true meaning of their faith, only to be told that their entire religion revolved around the single stereotypical tenet that the average white viewer could be expected to know about, i.e. Hindu = "no beef", Sikh = "wear a turban", etc., "Oh, and [[ADateWithrosiePalms that thing you do with your hands]]? Very bad."

* ''ComicBook/GuardiansOfTheGalaxy:'' The Church of Universal Truth worship life, and are fuelled by their relentless faith in it. Of course, they were founded and led by an AxeCrazy nigh-unkillable demi-god to summon a group of [[EldritchAbomination Eldritch Abominations]].

In RealLife, religions tend to be built up of a vast number of different things and can take such a variety of forms that it can be very hard to pin down exactly what the word 'religion' ''means''. As such, when someone needs one for a story, it can be very easy for them to to throw together any old thing and call it a religion. The reasoning is that as long as it ''looks'' the part people will fill in the details for themselves. This generally leads to a lot of works featuring religions that look an awful lot like [[FantasticCatholicism Christianity]], [[Franchise/StarWars Buddhism]], or similar, with what those people believe [[CrystalDragonJesus roughly copied]], though, in some cases, the writer will chose to create their own from scratch to suit their needs. Either route can result in vast and detailed histories and belief systems that are complex enough (or at least seem to be), to draw us in and immerse us in the writer's vision.

** ''Literature/TheDarkSideOfTheSun'', also by Terry Pratchett, features a less comedic version - the religion of Arte Sadhim has the "One Commandment", which is eventually stated to be "You Will Not Waste".

And then there are these ones.

* In the ''WesternAnimation/{{Futurama}}'' episode "[[Recap/FuturamaS3E20Godfellas Godfellas]]" Bender, while drifting through space, is [[{{Panspermia}} hit by a meteorite that develops into tiny life forms]] that form a civilization on his body. They eventually come to view him as a god and ask for his guidance, resulting in...

* IN ''Film/BillAndTedsExcellentAdventure'', the (future) Church of Bill and Ted has but one single commandment: [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WVXGC896Jdw "Be excellent to each other and party on, dudes."]]

** Arguably justified, as many previously-core tenets, such as the strict caste system, were dropped during the Cardassian Occupation and are now viewed as quaint dogma by most. It's portrayal is also rather hampered by the fact that big chunks of the religion that '''had''' been matters of faith were proven to be nothing but the literal truth in the show's pilot. The Prophets are real, they can really see and affect events across time (existing outside of it), the Orbs really are a way to communicate with them, and their "celestial temple" is a real place you can get in a ship and fly to (although they may or may not actually speak to you there).