The Sketchpad world was created at an unknown time by the efforts of several refugees from other realities, all remarkable individuals, each with their own talents. They were all respected as the creators and highest authorities in the land while alive, a respect undeterred by death or disappearance. Time, though, has in some cases turned this respect into something else altogether.

Though most of the world is nominally secular, there have naturally been certain beliefs perpetuated throughout the ages that could qualify, in some sense, as religious in nature. Each of the four nations has a different view on the role of the world's creators. By some, they are merely respected as people of great wisdom; by others, they are reckoned as gods.

Utopia respects Matthias Bloodmoon as one of Second Chance's architects, as the city's first governor, and as the progenitor of the ruling Bloodmoon family. The current regent, Septimus Deus Bloodmoon, is a direct descendant. Within Utopia, though, there are some people who believe that Matthias ascended to godhood upon his death and will intervene to preserve the spirit of Utopia as necessary.

Utopia honors Stonehawk as an architect of Second Chance and a man of great knowledge, and respects Jack Buckley as the discoverer of the seas, but tends to downplay their roles in the world. There are cults within Utopia that describe Stonehawk as a god of magic, or Jack Buckley as the god of the sea, but these cults tend to be underground.

Salamandastron considers Captain Jack Buckley as the creator and ultimate protector of its archipelago home. Though they do not credit him with omnipotence, some believe that he still sails his ship beneath the waves, waiting for his moment of glory.

Salamandastron respects Matthias as a capable man and a soldier at heart. Beyond acknowledging his role in the world's creation, though, Salamandastron does not consider Matthias a deity. Salamandastron fails to acknowledge Stonehawk's role in the Creation Days, which creates considerable friction with Nordenstadt.

Nordenstadt has no gods or religious faith, preferring faith in magic. It does, however, revere Stonehawk as the discoverer of magic. Some go so far as to say Stonehawk created magic, though the prevailing opinion is that such a statement is hyperbole.

Because of the fragmented nature of Sanctus Petrus's citizens' personal beliefs, it might be hard to envision a universal belief. The prevailing opinion, though, is that all of the individual deities are really only manifestations of the Common Deity, a single godlike entity that intervenes as needed for the good of all humanity.

There is considerable debate over the nature of the Common Deity, though. Some claim that the Common Deity is unknowable; other sects claim that somebody from the Creation Days, most commonly Matthias or Stonehawk, is the real Common Deity. Still others claim that to realize the Common Deity, all of the important figures from the Creation Days, including the progenitor of the Invari ravens, must join forces into a greater entity like some cosmic Voltron.

There is also a small group of people who believe in fire. No one really knows where they are, and they are largely outside the conflict over God's Sword. Some suggest, though, that they exert enough influence to prevent the Sword's reunification. It is debated whether or not such an action is a good thing or a bad thing for the world.