On the surface, Cat’s Cradle and Slaughterhouse-Five are dramatically different novels, each with its own characters, symbols, and plot. However, a close examination reveals that both contain common themes and ideas. In the end, both novels reveal Vonnegut’s genius for manipulating fiction to reveal glaring, disturbing, and occasionally redemptive truths about human nature. One of the most prevalent themes in Vonnegut’s novels is religion. In the early pages of Cat’s Cradle, Vonnegut submits his contention that "a useful religion can be founded on lies” (Cradle 16), meaning that, fundamentally, religion is about people, not about faith or God.
Critically evaluate Wittgenstein’s language games theory as an approach to religious language. God’s transcendence means there is widespread discussion as to how any statements in regards to his existence or nature can be deemed as ‘meaningful’. Influential philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein 1889 - 1951 was heavily involved in studies of Language and developed the idea that the purpose of philosophy was to clear up the conceptual confusions that arose through our unexamined use of language (including statements of religious significance and any religious language) and that words are a function of language, not just simply a signifying of an object. 'Whereof one cannot speak, therefore one must be silent.' Wittgenstein believed, in opposition to Rene Descartes’ Cogito Ergo Sum (I think, therefore I am) that language was a social product, and that statements made about the world were basic and 'groundless' and believed that judgement through opposing 'language games' was not possible, as they are parts of different discourse.
That being said anyone who is religious would feel uncomfortable while watching “Religulous”. The name to me was well thought out but offensive, “Religulous” a portmanteau or blend of the two words, religion and ridiculous. To me the movie should have actually been called “Christian Bashing Featuring Some Other Religions for Split Seconds” by Bill Maher. I wrote down many of his questionable quotes that are almost intelligent. Bill Maher is a smart individual but an agnostic can only promote what they know which means not very much when it comes to religion.
The argument from religious experience states that if we can experience God, then surely God must exist because what we experience must be real. There are many philosophers that try to explain this but the one I am going to focus on in this essay is William James. James defines religious experience as though it should be the primary topic in the study if religion rather than religious institutions, since institutions are merely the social descendent of genius. He also defines a religious experience as, 'The feelings, acts and experiences of individual men in their solitude, so far as they apprehend themselves to stand in relation to whatsoever they may consider divine.’ To James a prominent feature of religious experience is mysticism. He says, '...propose to you four marks which, when an experience has them, may justify us in calling it mystical...' The marks to which he is referring to are inefficiently, notices quality, transiency and passivity.
Critically assess with reference to William James the arguments from religious experience. William James, in his book ‘The Varieties of Religious Experience: a study in human nature’ concludes that religious experiences are at the heart of religions whereas religious teachings, practices and attitudes are ‘second hand’ religion, and develop later as individuals reflect on their common experience. The experiences are true religion. William James aims to show that religious experiences are telling of some kind of divine order which transcends normal reality. James analysed a range of religious experiences, though in particular mystical experiences.
Just like how we can deduce something about an artist by looking at his work of art. And this approach to express human understanding is something we possibly do on a daily basis unknowingly, the idea of using evidence to working backwards in order to derive information. And so this approach seems practical. Moreover, through myths we can express a human understanding of God because of the truths they portray and the fact that it takes us closer to the religious nature of belief. And so if poetry is the way to express understanding of a love affair, then perhaps myth in religion is best seen as an expression of the truth of faith to the believer, written from the perspective of faith.
(Aldridge, 2005, p.60) Marx found what he believed to be a full explanation of religion in Ludwig Feuerbach’s work entitled ‘The Essences of Christianity’. The argument set forth by Feuerbach was that God was an extension of humanity; therefore Christianity was the vehicle to fulfil aspirations for perfection. Thus, the masses, in their worship of God, could project their wishes onto benevolent supernatural being. (Aldridge, 2005, p. 61) According to Karl Marx in his “Contribution to the Critique of Hegel’s Philosophy of Right: “Religion is the sigh of the oppressed creature, the feeling of the heartless world, the soul in a place without soul. It is the opium of the people”.
For example, on Damascus Road, Saint Paul’s religious experience transformed his moral outlook. It would appear that all religious experiences demonstrate a revelation of truth, but one could argue that this does not indicate they are true. As Freud would argue that religious experiences are a way of externalising deep, repressed personal truths. In such a view, religious experiences are unverifiable and cannot be thought to prove the existence of God, as they are merely manifestations of the human subconsciousness. A transient experience short, and cannot be sustained for a long duration of time.
Throughout the novel, Life of Pi, Pi practices three religions. All the three religions that Pi practices believe that their religion is the only true way to heaven and contradict each other in certain ways. Martel says a lot about religion in the novel. “It was as I listened to that tape that I agreed with Mr. Adirubasamy that this was, indeed, a story to make you believe in God” (Martel xi). This quote from the authors note tells us that one of the major points in the story is to make the reader believe in God.
Carter believes that their spiritual attachment to their social group is what provided their pathway to terror. "Setting up these divisions based on faith and religion is the starting point for people thinking of themselves as separate and distinct and part of some out-group. "(Professor David Canter) Canter believes that although religion is associated with terrorism, it is the spiritual feeling of belonging that ultimately makes the terrorist. [It seems to me perfectly feasible to have multiple faith schools that recognize and encourage the good things in religion without creating the idea that one way or another