Earthseed as a religion?

 As Lauren tries to convert more and more of the people she meets to her religion, we learn more about what Earthseed really is. She told Travis that Earthseed is not about worshipping a god, but they are kind of creating their own god and own destiny. Both Travis and Zahra agree with choosing a different way of life on earth to support yourself and your community, but are iffy on the part where the “Destiny” is to colonize other planets. That part does not seem like a religion to me because it seems very technologically heavy and quite impossible. I wonder if the people who join Earthseed later will be against or for Lauren’s wish to colonize other planets because right now it just sounds like a crazy idea to them. The whole religion seems very foundational, especially when Lauren mentions that she doesn’t really know what Earthseed will be in the future and a lot of the other travellers critique it. What are your thoughts on Earthseed? How do you think Lauren can improve it?

Comments

  1. L. MoffittMay 14, 2021 at 7:21 AM

    Earthseed is so hard to get my brain around. The colonizing planets thing threw me, but maybe Butler is suggesting this more as a metaphor?? Colonization has been destructive on earth, so maybe she's suggesting a way that colonization could be a positive thing? I am intrigued at the idea that a "religion" could be flexible and adaptable and changing -- the opposite, perhaps, of a fundamentalist view -- but it's still a hazy concept to me.

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