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I've been kinda wondering this lately. When I started 40k I read something along the lines of marines being somewhat religious but not overly because they know that the emperor is a man with fantastical powers.

But I'd be really appreciative if someone more familiar with the lore could give me a better answer, especially with the influx of Primaris marines which were from when the emperor was up and walking.

Bonus points for details on Ultramarines.

Thanks in advance!

Zealot is the word when it comes to marines, they are religious in the extreme. What you read probably was in reference to 30k where the Emperor was still around and preaching the Imperial truth and back then he used to claim not to be a god, and all forms of religion were frowned upon. It was Lorgar that believed the Emperor a god and it caught on.

However in 40k the marines are complete zealots and consider this to be a good thing, some chapters like the Dark Templars for example being more extreme than say the Ultra Marines. (basically meaning the Ultra marines will probably want to know you have done something wrong before they kil you...and Dark Templars will kill anyway just to be sure)

Marines are zealots, but they also dont all follow.the normal imperial creed. Some chapters do, but most are said to revere the emperor as a father figure rather than the immortal godhead that the Ecclesiarchy requires. Hence there can be friction between those branches of the imperium. The Ecclesiarchy have no authority over the chapters and dont really want to pick a fight with a marine chapter unless they are very sure they can get away with it, so they just have to tolerate it.

Older and more experienced Marines might temper their Zealous nature with the practicalities of war and the reality of the universe. So you get marines who will ally with Xenos when the situation requires it.



Of course if a marine falls to far from the teachings of the Emperor then they can fall all the way down to chaos. It's a little like how in Starwars you're either a Jedi or you fall to the Dark Side.

Amd it's not even the same between chapters - Black Templars are full-on religious zealouts. Generic Space Marines worship the Emperor, but not as a deity, more like, as said, a father figure.
Space Wolves revere the Emperor and Russ as heroes of a time long past, shining examples to be followed, but attach no religious aspects to it.
Or at least they used to. Don't know if it's been retconned.

The 3rd edition codex details the typical daily routine of a codex compliant marine, this includes three daily prayers to the Emperor and their Primarch. However it suggests the worship focusses on the recitation of Chapter oaths, giving thanks and praise for the inception of the Chapter and creation of the geneseed and the veneration of Chapter standards and relics.

To me this sounds like a different emphasis than the Ecclesiarchy, which would focus on veneration of the Emperor, requests for intersession into worldly matters or the salvation of the faithful.

To put this in context, real world monks following the rule of St Benedict pray 7 or 8 times a day.

Most don't believe that the Emperor is a god, but they're almost universally deeply religious with their own chapter cults and belief in spirits and the like.

Very, very, very religious.

The vast vast majority, including Primaris, are deeply religious. However, that doesn't mean they worship the Emperor as a god - in fact, that's actually the minority.

Most Chapters have a lot of rituals, rites, and general traditions, a lot of it to do with offering praise to the Primarch and Emperor as father figures and as their ancient heroes, to the machine spirits of their wargear and equipment, and generally in contemplation of their lives in service to the Emperor and Chapter. The Ultramarines specifically would be more inclined to worship the Emperor as a father/hero figure, rather than an actual god.

These rituals and rites are generally the kind of ritual oils, incense, and prayer affairs, but other Chapters may introduce things like bloodletting, branding, or tattooing into their culture. And, even the most "logical" Chapters like the Raptors are still very much in the grip of offering prayer, devotion and ritual action in their daily lives.

I’d never thought of it this way before this great thread: The distinction between “worshiping the Emperor as God” and “revering the Emperor as an ancestor” is subtle but profound. The Ecclesiarchy very much follows how the Abrahamic religions — Judaism, Islam, and above all Christianity, which equates a historical figure to God — believe in one Lord of All whose dominion has no limits and whose morality allows for no compromises. The Marines’ cults are similar to most traditional beliefs around the world, where people attribute holiness and supernatural powers to the figures they worship, but not absolute moral authority or cosmic dominion; instead, a patron deity or deified ancestor can belong to one group and them alone, with no claims to authority over non-believers. (That’s simplified; things like patron saints blur the line, especially since so many started as pagan gods).
I’m a Christian myself, and I personally believe in a single God who commands me to “love my neighbor” and treat them justly regardless of their beliefs. But historically the more limited “pagan” idea of divinity makes it a LOT easier for different faiths to coexist.
I’d rather live on the same planet as a Marine chapter than an Ecclesiarchy hierarch, because the Marines don’t care what I believe; they may think I’m a moron for believing it, but they don’t think I’m a heretic, and they are willing to leave me alone in my ignorance. The Adeptus Ministorum and the Adepta Sororitas, not so much (cue heavy flamers, stakes, screaming, burnt pork smells).

Which confirmed chapters subscribe to the Emperor as a god? Black Templars for sure, and I’ve heard Red Hunters?

Sons of the Phoenix are!

The Hospitallers chapter also subscribe to the Imperial Creed and view the Emperor as a god.