The most famous and epic manga of all time, One Piece, has entered its final saga, but many mysteries are still yet to be uncovered. One such mystery has lingered since the series’ early days: Are there religions in the One Piece world?
Drawing inspiration from real-world history and cultural texts, Oda-sensei has crafted a world that leaves room for speculation on this topic.
In this article, we’ll explore the clues and hints scattered throughout One Piece’s lore to shed light on the presence—or absence—of religious elements in its world.
Also Read: Are Devils Finally Making Their Debut in One Piece? – Explained
Are There Religions in One Piece?
The general and most significant question about the religions in the world of One Piece is about their existence. Do they even exist, to begin with?
To answer the question many hints have been noticed by fans worldwide, and they are enough to answer this anticipated question.
Looking back at the Skypiea arc, we are introduced to a villain named Enel. According to the myth, Enel is a thunder god profoundly inspired by Zeus, the Greek god in mythology.
Enel is a self-proclaimed God who the people of Skypiea worshiped.
In the One Piece world, there are characters who claim to be gods and have their own followers. At the same time, the series also includes references to religions that exist in the real world.
Explaining Major Characters’ Religion: Christianity
The entirety of the Skypiea arc was focused on the existence of self-proclaimed gods and their worshippers.
However, the story goes beyond these self-proclaimed gods and encourages readers to think more broadly about the concept of religion itself.
Besides the characters who declare themselves as gods, the One Piece world also drops subtle hints about the presence of real-world religions like Christianity, Islam, and Buddhism.
However, it’s important to note that these are unconfirmed theories based on subtle clues from Oda-sensei, so take this information with caution.
Mihawk is one of the most famous antagonists of One Piece whose full potential is yet to be revealed. If you are unfamiliar, Mihawk carries a huge sword in a cross shape and wears a cross sign, which represents the holy sign of Christianity, certainly proving Christianity exists in One Piece.
For more evidence, Kuma used to carry a bible every time he was seen, the holy book of Christianity. Back in the Whisky Peaks arc, we witnessed the arrival of the first few characters dressed up as Nuns, and Mother Caramel herself was dressed like a Nun.
Sanji’s character also adds another layer to this discussion. In a conversation with Zoro about beliefs, it’s implied that Sanji is religious. While the series doesn’t explicitly state his faith, the clues suggest that he could either be a Gypsy or a Christian.
Also Read: One Piece: The Gender Identity of Yamato and Kiku Explained
Explaining Major Characters’ Religion: Buddhism
Apart from the other religions, Oda-sensei has taken several references from the innate Japanese religion, Buddhism. There are multiple hints of numerous characters who believe in Buddhism, including the strawhat member, Zoro.
Although Zoro mentioned that he does not believe in the existence of gods, all of his attack phrases derive from historical Buddhist phrases. Zoro’s background most likely revolves around the roots of Buddhism.
Except for Zoro, there is another significant character who shows interest in Buddhism. Sengoku, the former Admiral of the Navy, was considered the embodiment of Buddha himself in One Piece, for the marines.
His devil fruit, Gura Gura no Mi is a mythical zoan type of fruit that lets him transform into a Buddha. This seemingly confirms the existence of Buddhism in the world of One Piece. Uroge, the captain of Fallen Monk Pirates is also a follower of Buddhism.
Also Read: Top 19 Strongest One Piece Characters of All Time, Ranked
Explaining Major Characters’ Religion: Islam
Last but not least, Oda-sensei has clearly drawn inspiration from Islamic history.
Unlike Christianity and Buddhism, the presence of Islam in the world of One Piece is somewhat more noticeable. Reflecting on the Dressrosa saga, there are subtle clues and unexplained hints that catch our attention.
In Dressrosa, two characters seem to have Islamic influences. Jeet, a standout character from the saga, donned a turban, a dark striped shirt, and a black necklace.
Accompanying Jeet is another character named Abdullah. For those who may not know, Abdullah is a name frequently found in Islamic culture. In Arabic, Abdullah translates to “Servant of God.”
Both Jeet and Abdullah were observed discussing their “God,” adding to the intrigue.
While nothing is officially confirmed, these intriguing hints act as indicators that various religions do have a place in the diverse and unique world of One Piece. Beyond these well-known faiths, several characters in the series follow their own individual belief systems.
In the One Piece universe, multiple gods are worshipped, each having a dedicated following with specific rituals.
Also Read: One Piece Actors Current Ages And How Old They Will Be In Next Seasons
Considering the clues we’ve examined, it appears that Oda-sensei has incorporated elements from real-world religions to enrich the characters and make the story more engaging.
So there you have it, a comprehensive look at the religious undertones in One Piece. While these are merely educated guesses backed by observations, it would be truly exciting if Oda-sensei were to confirm these elements officially.
