So where did all the religiousness come from on Aeneas? Chunderban Desai and Tatiana Thane discuss this issue. He thinks that the Aeneans are "'...a deeply religious people.'" (7, p. 127) Taken aback, she replies that the colony:
"'...began as a scientific base, remember, and in no age of piety.'" (ibid.)
Jowett had reminded Desai that human survival on Aeneas had required efficient management of large land areas. The Landfolk were a community distinct from the University and there were more religious believers among them. Hence, as we saw, Peter Berg grew up as a Christian in the outback. Church-going increased in reaction against Imperial decadence and against subsequent problems but Tatiana thinks that people do not find what they seek. Her fiance, Ivar Frederiksen, the heir to the Firstmanship of Ilion, seems to epitomize his people's quest: converted to Christianity when young but then disillusioned with it.
Desai concludes that the Aeneans are a people of faith - in the value of knowledge, the duty of survival, service, honour and tradition. Tatiana explains her Cosmenosis to him. She says that it is a philosophy, not a religion, but this does not prevent her from succumbing to the prevalent millenarianism.
3 comments:
Kaor, Paul!
One gap in our l=knowledge is that we are not told what forms of Christianity are known and practiced on Aeneas--whether Jerusalem Catholicism or the "Christian variants" of Nyanza (in "The Game of Glory").
If it was some kind of evangelical Protestantism Ivar briefly converted to, I can see why he became disenchanted with it. See Anderson's essay "Science and Creation" for his tactful explanations for why he believes "evangelicals" are just plain wrong about science and evolution.
I recall you mentioning how hard it has been to talk to evangelical Protestants in Lancaster.
Fr. Axor, like most (I hope) real world Catholics, was far more sensible and nuanced about such things!
Ad astra! Sean
Sean,
Ivar Frederiksen refers somewhere to Bible and blaster backwoodsmen on Aeneas.
Paul.
Kaor, Paul!
That interests me, the idea of "Bible and blaster" evangelicals on Aeneas!
Ad astra! Sean
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