So let it be written...

In Supernatural, religion is viewed as an absolute truth. God creates the world, and as He does, it's written down by Chuck, a prophet. In the context of the series, these words are now destined to manifest themselves in "reality." That is, they are a complete certainty: none of the characters can escape their predicted fate. God's word is law, to the point that it takes away the most basic free will.

Cat's Cradle, in contrast, deals with the religion Bokononism, which is based on total lies. In fact, the founder of the religion is completely forthright with this information. The religion itself is transparent in the most basic sense, and its followers are encouraged to "live by the foma [harmless untruths] that make you brave and kind and healthy and happy" (Vonnegut vii). The entire belief system is a construction, manufactured in the mind of a fictional character...but is that really so bad? Personally, I think it's better to live by a doctrine that resonates with you (even if it is a lie) rather than live with fate looming overhead, inevitable. In the case of Cat's Cradle and Supernatural, lies create a lot more happiness than truth.

And what is "truth," anyway? In George Orwell's 1984, history changes on a daily basis because the government continually edits the nation's records, destroying evidence of the actual past. This means that, effectively, lots of real people and events never existed. History itself, the most basic truth, becomes a construction. And at the same time, there's no way to prove it's false when it's all that exists. Whether fact or fiction, the written word becomes reality. This is true in Supernatural, where prophetic stories will become gospel to future generations. And it is true in Cat's Cradle, where Bokononist lies will become truths to those who find meaning in them.

So let it be written, so let it be done.