I have been working on a number of different screenplays and novels dealing with religion and spirituality the past few weeks. Each of them deals with a non-spiritual person who is forced to survive when thrust into a very devout world. In most of the stories the protagonist/villain character is a very religious person trying to change the hero’s beliefs.
Each of the stories has a problem because the villain is written as a caricature, not as a person.
Always remember that your villain is a hero in their own mind.
Using these stories as an example, consider if your villain or obstacle prayed, what would they say, to whom and in what language?
By deciding what they believe, you’ll have a better chance of determining what they want and who they are.
CLICK HERE to read about the role of prayer in different religions.