Cat’s Cradle might become the staple of this course. The entire story is built on lies, but that foundation makes for an excellent story. Kurt Vonnegut tells us from the first page to “Live by the foma [lies] that make you brave and kind and healthy and happy”. This quote not only means that you should choose the lies you live by, but that you should, in some way, live by lies. I do not think that this book is an attack on religion. A satire, maybe, but I am of the opinion that Vonnegut is in support of religion. His true enemy is science—meaning truth.
Within the book, both the apocalyptic events of the atomic bomb and Ice-nine are caused by science; these are truths that kill thousands upon thousands of people. Bokononism, the religious aspect, that we are told on multiple occasions is nothing but lies and more lies to keep those lies alive, does nothing but bring comfort to the people of San Lorenzo, Jonah, and even Newton Hoenikker. As Julian Castle says, “I couldn’t possibly run that hospital of mine without aspirin and book-maru”. (p 171)
If the characters in the book are examined, Mona is found to be the most serene and at peace. She knows nothing of science as demonstrated when Jonah tells her of oxygen and carbon dioxide. (267-8) Her devotion to Bokononism keeps her “brave and kind and healthy and happy” right until she takes her life with a smile. She is a sort of foil to “Papa” Monzano who lives by the false pretentions of bringing science to San Lorenzo, suffers, and dies in pain from the very thing he desired.
Felix Hoenikker handed down the end of the world to his children. Bokonon gave a country a purpose. What we have here is Vonnegut pitting comforting lies against the cold, hard, truthful world under the names of religion versus science and asking us, “Which would you rather?” Should we live in the safe shroud of purpose given to us falsely, or should we accept the destruction that comes with seeking the truth? These are questions we are answering every time we read a fictional story and feel an emotional response.
It is interesting that you so easily equate science with truth... is it not also true that religion can both save and harm the "thousands upon thousands of people" you mention above as being killed by the truth of science? Is "comfort" not valuable? These I pose as "devil's advocate" questions, b/c I wonder if you have not fallen slightly into the Vonnegutian trap of _choosing_ a truth. Who says one has to choose at all? (Just some thoughts to expand an already thoughtful post.)
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