Katholikins

Katholikins is a fictional ethnic and cultural group used in speculative fiction to explore religious hybridity. The name combines a stylized form of "Catholic" with "kins" to evoke kinship and shared heritage in a world-building context.

In depictions, Katholikins inhabit coastal and riverine regions and are noted for a distinctive arts tradition, including textile work and ceremonial dress that blends Catholic iconography with local motifs. Their religious life is portrayed as syncretic, fusing Catholic liturgy with ancestral rites, seasonal ceremonies, and saints reimagined in regional forms.

The historical frame for Katholikins is primarily a narrative tool in alt-history or speculative worlds, with origin stories set in late medieval to early modern periods. Diaspora communities are frequently placed in port cities, highlighting themes of migration, assimilation, and pluralism.

Scholars discuss Katholikins as a device for examining hybridity, symbolism, and representation in world-building, while noting risks of essentializing real-world religious or ethnic identities. The concept emphasizes nuance and context, and is widely used in fiction, academic thought experiments, and media studies.