Cat's Cradle Religion Essay

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As the train of humanity chugs along in its ceaseless enterprise for knowledge and advancement, it typically elects to continue to refine and augment the engine while abusing the maintenance needs of the cars that it pulls. As humanity repairs some cars, it borrows material from other cars to their detriment. The problems that plague humanity are weeds, others rise to assume the place of ones that have been extinguished. To put it simply, the world is a mess. No author seems to enjoy pointing out the flaws inherent in this Earth, or to laugh at humanity’s shortcomings more than Kurt Vonnegut. After personally witnessing the human race at their worst, Vonnegut assumed his cynical and satirical persona for which he is so famous. Cat’s Cradle …show more content…
Regardless of one’s own personal beliefs, one must question the allure that it has had on the human race and why it has maintained such ubiquity. The short answer provided by Vonnegut is this: people enjoy comfort and guidance. Whether or not a religion is true is irrelevant, as Vonnegut so eloquently states: “Anyone unable to understand how a useful religion can be founded on lies will not understand this book either” (Vonnegut 5-6). Within the novel, Vonnegut creates a religion known as “Bokononism”; a religion that is based entirely upon, as Vonnegut puts it, harmless untruths. However, the aforementioned lies would provide a follower with a sense of purpose. It gives an explanation to the infinite number of questions coming from an infinitely curious species. This is precisely the primary purpose held by religion within human society. Many humans have not made peace with their own mortality, and they seek solace. Such solace, along with meaning, is provided by religion. Vonnegut does not seek to dismiss religion, only to show its true purpose within life. Life is an inherently pointless endeavor, and religion provides for what a certain species desires greatly, but does not have nor
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