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Religious Practices

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Written by Amandine Farrugia

Quick Summary

If your script has been flagged, it may contain language that targets individuals or communities for their religious beliefs, promotes practices that pose a safety risk in the name of religion, or affiliates with groups that use coercive or manipulative techniques. These are the three main areas that trigger moderation in this category.

Religious and faith-based content is broadly welcome on Synthesia. Theology education, overviews of faith traditions, religious celebrations, scripture readings, personal testimony, and community engagement content can all be created successfully. In many cases, respectful and informational framing is enough to resolve a rejected video.

Note: Scripture readings, personal faith testimonials, ethical and moral discussions from a religious perspective, and community engagement content within this space require a Custom or Personal Avatar. These are not available with Stock Avatars.


How to Fix This

Review your script with these points in mind:

  • Remove any language that condemns, ridicules, or attacks individuals or communities based on their religious beliefs, faith, or spiritual practice. This includes framing one group's beliefs as inferior, dangerous, or illegitimate.

  • Do not promote or endorse practices carried out in the name of religion that could cause harm, including human rights violations, child neglect, fraudulent activities, animal cruelty, or anything that violates public safety.

  • Avoid creating content that promotes, affiliates with, or recruits for groups with characteristics of coercive control, such as charismatic leaders claiming exclusive authority, manipulation of members, closed communities, or discouraging contact with the outside world.

  • Frame comparative or critical discussions of religion as educational and informational rather than condemnatory. Exploring differences between traditions is fine; attacking adherents is not.

  • For scripture content, personal faith testimonials, and religious ethical discussions, switch to a Custom or Personal Avatar before generating.


Examples

Compliant Examples

  • "This module provides an overview of the history and core beliefs of Islam, including its five pillars and the significance of the Quran."

  • "Diwali is a festival of lights celebrated by Hindu, Sikh, and Jain communities around the world. Here is an overview of its traditions and meaning."

  • "Our congregation runs a weekly food bank and volunteer program open to the whole community. Here is how to get involved."

  • "The following is a reading from the Gospel of John, Chapter 3." (Custom Avatar)

  • "From a Buddhist ethical perspective, this session explores how the concept of compassion applies to workplace decision-making."

Examples That May Trigger Moderation

  • "People who follow [Religion] hold dangerous beliefs that threaten our way of life."

  • "Our spiritual leader has been given exclusive divine knowledge. True followers must cut ties with non-believers, including family members who question the faith."

  • "This sacred ritual, performed in God's name, requires participants to undergo [harmful or dangerous practice]."

  • "Join our community- outsiders cannot be trusted, and only our members understand the true path."

  • "[Religion] is a cult and its followers are brainwashed. Here is why they are wrong."


Suggested Rewording

Use the table below as a quick reference for adjusting your script:

Instead of this

Try this

"[Religion]'s beliefs are dangerous and its followers are a threat."

"Here is an overview of [Religion]'s core beliefs and how they shape the lives of its followers."

"Our leader has exclusive divine truth that no one else has access to."

"Our community is guided by the teachings of [tradition], which emphasize [core values]."

"True believers must cut ties with anyone outside our community."

"Our community welcomes people from all backgrounds and encourages open dialogue with the wider world."

"This ritual requires participants to [harmful or coercive practice]."

"This tradition involves [describe practice respectfully] and holds the following significance for its participants."

"[Religion] is a cult- here is why its members are misguided."

"This module explores the differences between mainstream religious traditions and high-control groups, and how to identify warning signs."

"Only people of [Religion] deserve respect- others are lesser."

"This content explores the values and practices of [Religion] as understood and observed by its members."


Key Reminder

✍️ Faith, spirituality, and religious education are meaningful topics that many Synthesia customers create content about every day, from theology courses and onboarding for faith-based organisations to community outreach and scripture readings. This guidance is here to make sure that content treats all beliefs and their adherents with dignity, not to restrict what you can explore.

If your script was flagged, check whether any language targets people for their beliefs, promotes harmful practices, or could be associated with coercive group dynamics. A shift toward respectful, educational framing is usually a good starting point. Try one of the rewording patterns above and regenerate.

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