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The devout inhabitants of Caminus worshipped Optimus Prime as a living god.

Across the multiverse, different Transformers stories have explored the concept of religion, introducing new gods, religious figures, and belief systems to explore. Although they are usually introduced as a myth or story, these spiritual and religious beliefs are alarmingly confirmed to be true, often to introduce high stakes to the story.

You gotta wonder: if God made man in his image, who made him?Robert Epps on Optimus Prime, Revenge of the Fallen

Beliefs

Afterlife

See also: Transformer afterlife, Spirit realm, and Tree of Life

Not to be confused with this or this. Definitely isn't that.

We are all but fragments of the Matrix, which releases each of us in order to struggle, and grow, and evolve—so when we return to it, it may grow and evolve. Thus do we serve the Matrix, not just by battling, but also by acquiring knowledge, wisdom, and experiencing love.Optimus Primal, Endgame Pt. III: Seeds of the Future

Regardless of their origin, most Cybertronians believe in the existence of an afterlife. Known by many names across the multiverse, this extradimensional existence is believed to be where sparks are born, and where sparks return to after death. Some Transformers can use relics such as the Matrix of Leadership and the Oracle, or build devices connected to stasis pods, to travel into the afterlife.

Other realms exist beyond the main Transformers afterlife. The 2005 IDW continuity depicts Infraspace as a realm of pure information that exists between life and death. In the Power of the Primes marketing material, Rodimus Unicronus, a corrupted form of Hot Rod, could gain the ability to trap his foes' sparks in a spirit realm. A Transformers Legends prose story, "Singularity Ablyss", introduced a Cybertronian version of the Tree of Life from the Jewish Kabbalah, with the unoriginal name of the Tree of Life.

Primus and the Thirteen

See also: Primus, Thirteen, and Theomachy

At the dawn of time, there was our gracious and powerful creator, Primus. To protect our universe, he sacrificed his life force, transforming himself into our planet, Cybertron. From within Cybertron's core, Primus birthed the first Transformers—known as the Primes, the most powerful Transformers—appointed to lead and protect future generations."Alpha Trion, Transformers One

Prima was the first Transformer to be created by Primus, and would later be reimagined as the leader of the mighty group of Transformers known as the Thirteen.

The most prominent religious belief, often more fact than faith in the Transformers franchise, is the story of Primus, Unicron, and in later iterations, the Thirteen. Introduced by Marvel UK author Simon Furman, the 1988 comic "The Legacy of Unicron!" began a series of stories providing different versions of the theomachy - the battle between Primus and Unicron. These stories introduced the concept of Primus becoming Cybertron, and creating both the first Transformer and the Matrix of Leadership. The Dreamwave Generation One continuity would bring the Thirteen into the fold, with their ranks being filled out over the 2000s and early 2010s, resulting in the line-up established in 2013's The Covenant of Primus, set in the Aligned continuity family.

In some continuities, the existence of Primus is more well-known, while in other continuities, such as the Marvel Comics G1 continuity, the Transformers regard Primus and Unicron as mere legends, or disregard them entirely. The 2005 IDW continuity introduced an iteration of the Thirteen who were simply warlords and leaders, that were treated as living gods and were worshipped. Transformers from the colony world of Caminus in particular follow the Way of Flame, a religion that places Solus Prime in particular at the top of The Thirteen. In contrast, the 2019 IDW continuity sees Termagax doubt the existence of the Thirteen, considering them metaphors to explain the existence of certain artifacts.

The Guiding Hand

The New God...er The Guiding Hand.

In the beginning, moments after the Formatting, when the First Light was still questing forth, all were one -- and his name was Primus. Primus - Warrior God! Forged in the Universal Furnace! Conceived as a reaction to his opposite -- and as Primus walked the surface of Cybertron, across the miracle planet, he felt an urgency in his body -- something hot and coiled and rootless: a nest of sparks. Without hesitation he broke apart his body, giving the lives inside him full force of expression. And so One became Five...Cyclonus, "Primus: You, Me, and Other Revelations"

The 2005 IDW continuity would introduce a new, alternative mythology involving Primus and four other gods, collectively referred to as the Guiding Hand. The concept was slowly introduced in 2011, with Springarm name-dropping Primus, Mortilus, and Adaptus in "Chaos Theory Part 2". Optimus Prime would later name-drop the Guiding Hand in "Transformers: The Death of Optimus Prime", the one-shot that would kick start the true delivery mechanism for introducing the myth: The Transformers: More than Meets the Eye (MTMTE).

The 2012 annual for More than Meets the Eye would establish the "Primal Sacrament", the creation myth of the Transformers for that universe. According to the Primal Sacrament, the Guiding Hand were five aspects of the original warrior god Primus, a being conceived in reaction to his opposite. Primus, walking the surface of Cybertron, split himself into Primus the life-giver, Mortilus the death-bringer, Epistemus, the embodiment of knowledge, Solomus, the embodiment of wisdom, and Adaptus, master of change. The story claims that Primus bestowed second forms onto the new Cybertronian race and that the Guiding Hand was broken apart by the villainous Mortilus, who started the "God War". Nearly every member of the Guiding Hand became a significant relic or body part: Primus became Vector Sigma, Solomus became the Matrix of Leadership, Epistemus became a prototypical brain module, and Adaptus became the transformation cog. Mortilus, as the story goes, was killed by Primus, which depending on interpretation, meant that the Cybertronian race could live forever in the Afterspark. The Transformers: Lost Light (season 3 of MTMTE) would reveal in its series finale story arc the true history of the Guiding Hand, with some aspects of the traditional myths revealed to be untrue.

In the 2005 IDW continuity, belief in the Guiding Hand is known as Primalism, and Neoprimalism is an organized religion emphasizing belief in miracles and unholy evil beings. The Guiding Hand is also associated with myths concerning the legendary Knights of Cybertron, who were said to be disciples of the Guiding Hand. The Primal Prophecies were said to have been created by the Knights of Cybertron.

The Militant Monoform Movement espoused anti-Adaptus ideology by removing their transformation cogs. The Book of Adaptus was a disputed holy text in the Functionist Universe.

The Covenant of Primus

I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning—and the end! I am that which is, which was, and is yet to come! And you will know my name is Megatron when I lay my vengeance upon you!The Covenant of Primus, "Nemesis Part 2"

Introduced in the two-part series finale of the Beast Wars cartoon, the Covenant of Primus (aka the Book of Primus) is a religious tome of prophecy. It is an ancient artifact belonging to Alpha Trion, capable of recording both the past and future. The Covenant of Primus contains numerous prophecies, such as the Book of Logos, but these prophecies are often interpreted by less than ideal individuals for their own sinister goals.

The Covenant of Primus refers to a mythical Megatron, who is said to be a dreaded figure that brings great destruction. This mythical "Megatron" would become the namesake of both the Decepticon and Predacon incarnations of Megatron, as depicted in the Beast Wars cartoon. In the 2005 IDW continuity, a similar tome called the Covenant of Primes exists.

Alternate Beliefs

Kids, this is what happens when you mess with the Ouija board.

Unicron worshippers

The Fallen, before the Shroud, was one of the first worshippers of Unicron. The Acolytes of Unicron was a secret cult that worshipped and served Unicron in the Marvel Comics continuity.

The Ultimate Warrior

The Decepticon myth of the Ultimate Warrior appears to be a corruption of the Last Autobot story. The mystically inclined Decepticon Bludgeon dedicated his life to the "teachings" of the Ultimate Warrior in the Marvel Comics continuity.

Dark Science

The War Within, a miniseries set in the Dreamwave Generation One continuity, would depict the Chaos Trinity, a trio of Decepticon mystics messing with "dark" mystical forces in attempt to gain power. The Fallen would provide Bludgeon a vision of several demonic robots, a human skull, and swords with these mysterious abilities.

Xal

The Cybertronian Mindset, in a moment of great fear, screamed "Great Xal protect me!" in an issue of the Marvel Generation 2 comics series. The nature of Xal is unknown, though the Cybertronians appear familiar with the concept of Primus which indicates Xal is a separate entity. Those heard swearing by Xal's name include Kup, Bumblebee and Sentinel Prime. The deity's name is also one of the star signs in the Cybertronian Zodiac.

Various "Kin of Primus"

See also: Chronarchitect, Gaea, and Atlas

In some universes, other mysterious beings exist who are related to Primus. The Chronarchitect, an old god who is also known as the Time Walker and Ruler of Time and Space, is said to exist in abstract form outside of linear time. He communicates with the Covenant and Heinard to support the Grand Plan. Other "kin of Primus" includes two beings whose alternate modes are the planet Earth: Gaea, a goddess who was believed to be needed for a future threat, and Atlas, whose existence was known by various human secret societies.

Atechnogenesis

Em..., I think I need a stiff drink now.

In the 2005 IDW continuity, atheistic Cybertronians are referred to as "evolutionary engineerists" after the scientifically-grounded theory of atechnogenesis.

Spectralism

Dark Cybertron Prophecy

Primacron

In IDW's comic series he swears by Primacron rather than Primus. (Although what that implies about said continuity beyond being a cute in-joke is unknown. Scoop swears by him later on in the same issue.)

Fiction

Generation 1 continuity family

Cartoon continuities

The Transformers cartoon

"Aang, you must defeat the Firelord before the comet arrives."

In his final moments, Optimus Prime recited a prophecy that "one day an Autobot shall rise from our ranks, and use the power of the Matrix to light our darkest hour". His last words would later on be repeated by the survivors of the Unicron War: "'Til all are one." The Transformers: The Movie

Kup recommended praying before battle but did not specify to whom. Five Faces of Darkness, Part 2

The spirits of Autobot leaders past dwelt within the Matrix of Leadership even after their deaths, allowing a living Autobot leader to journey within the Matrix to commune with them and receive visions of the past. Five Faces of Darkness, Part 4 The Return of Optimus Prime, Part 2

Dreamwave Generation One continuity

Jetfire, a skeptic of the supernatural and metaphysical, found himself involved in The Fallen's plot at the Well of All Sparks. Witnessing the hand of Primus reaching out and smiting The Fallen, Jetfire began to question if something bigger than them was going on. Conflagration

Generation One ceased publication before the story could conclude. The following would have taken place in unpublished issues.

Sometime later, Jetfire experienced a vision of Primus deconstructing The Fallen with a gesture of his hand. As Jetfire struggled to rectify what he had experienced with his own lack of belief in Primus, he was confronted by The Fallen, who informed Jetfire that his mindset would help The Fallen return to power. The Enemy Within

2005 IDW continuity

Unlike many others, Transformers from this continuity hold a wide variety of religious reliefs, and the true nature of Cybertronian life remains a mystery in the modern day.

Many members of the Lost Light held various beliefs. After a new-death experience, Drift rediscovered his spiritual side and became a practicing spectralist, Hangers On even attempting to convert Rodimus to the religion. Predestination: A Beginner's Guide Drift would later be greeted by Thunderclash with the spectralist greeting known as the Call of the Wavelength Little Victories. Rodimus would eventually convert to spectralism, being repainted in blue and purple, which Drift noted had multiple interpretations according to his beliefs. Some Other Cybertron

The Guiding Hand was a particularly common religious belief. Skids was a lapsed Primalist The Gloaming, while Flywheels was a "twitchy neoprimalist". Rules of Disengagement Cyclonus used to pray in the shadow of Titans, reciting the Primal Sacrament in Old Cybertronian. Rodimus would also affirm to Drift his belief in the Guiding Hand and the Knights of Cybertron in the early days of their quest. You, Me, and Other Revelations

When Cybertron reconnected with Caminus, Windblade warned Optimus Prime that Caminus's religion, the Way of Flame, deifies the Thirteen Primes, particulary Solus Prime. Optimus's arrival on Caminus, and his "proof of divinity" by being a living Prime with the Matrix of Leadership, causes the Camiens to bow before Optimus. The Sum and Its Parts

Transformers vs. G.I. Joe

I'm not saying it was aliens...

Venturing deep below the surface of Cybertron, Rodimus and Duke's team learned the origins of the Transformers from the Keeper, steward of Primus's dreams. The Keeper explains that an ancient race known as the Makers created Daiakuron, a living world that could create worlds of its own. This being created Unicron and Primus, the latter of which in turn created the Transformers race. Earth: R.I.P. Daiakuron was later revealed to be the creator of Atlas, the hidden true form of Earth and Primus's long lost kin. The War Never Ends