"All the true things I’m about to tell you are shameless lies. My Bokononist warning is this: Anyone unable to understand how a useful religion can be founded on lies will not understand this book either"
2006-12-27 18:46:37 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous in Education & Reference ➔ Quotations
That's a very interesting quote.... I think it means that a lot of times, what we think of as lies contain great truths. For example, in my opinion, it is a lie that the earth was actually created in six days - however, the story of creation is still valuable and gives us an answer to the question of where we came from. Other stories and parables from various religious teachings that are not factual can be useful in that they give people a moral basis for their lives and they call everyone to put others above themselves. A belief in God can also be very good simply because it is comforting to place faith in someone higher than yourself, even if that God may not actually exist.
2006-12-27 18:56:50 · answer #1 · answered by Christina 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Bokononism is the fictional religion practiced by many of the characters in Kurt Vonnegut's novel Cat's Cradle.
It is based on living by the untruths that make one happy, called foma. Many of the sacred texts of Bokononism were written in the form of calypsos.
The quote is the epitome of the religious paradox where some doctrine that is assumed to be true can't hold water to logical scrutiny. The example of Adam and Eve having only son's, where did the son's wives come from? If they didn't come from Adam and Eve, then were they the only humans that God made directly? The real religious truths may die when you read the story in a literal fashion.
2006-12-27 19:06:43 · answer #2 · answered by Mr Cellophane 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think what the quote is trying to say is that in all truths there are lies but overall the meaning or the lesson of these lies is true.
A religion reassures people it comforts them it answers some questions and it opens new ones. So lies or stories are said for truth to be understood. U GET ME?? Take the Bible for example its all '' lies'' (sorry if im ofending any1)its actually metaphorical but what comes out, the meaning e.g God is kind is true.
2006-12-28 02:44:17 · answer #3 · answered by LucyBabyxxx 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
how this person believes a lie can be made to be useful and he believes that some religions are based on lies but have caused usefulness probably by teaching people to be good to each other . and since his book apparently is full of lies if you don't understand about the religion part you won't understand his book
2006-12-27 18:59:38 · answer #4 · answered by RWIZ 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The Book of Mormon
2006-12-27 18:55:47 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I understand it...but it's hard to put it into other words.
2006-12-27 18:57:54 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋