"Anathem" and the Role of Religion on Arbre

Neal Stephenson's rather dense new novel posits the notion that the mere existence or lack of religion within a society does not beget social strife. In the "speculative" world that Stephenson creates, religion is exercised not by "avouts" in "concents", but by a section of the society "extramuros". The analogical monks in this society devote, or avoute, their lives to empirical research in science and mathematics. This is reason alone to make "Anathem" such a refreshing read.

The discussions that are put forward among the characters that represent different sections of the society are based on rational thought and reason, rather than theological musings on notions that can neither be proven theoretically, nor practically. Whenever a character that has theistic leanings, the narrator/orator silences him by pointing out the fallacy of his/her reasonings (for want of a better word).

This is a perfect world realized by Stephenson and I have to admit I admire the role of reasoning and science plays in the society of Arbre, the planet of "Anathem". However, one wonders whether Stephenson would have been better off by decrying the weak foundations of theological thinking compared to logic. By avoiding the discussion, he eludes the reader from an essential discussion point and this, in turn, makes the "dialogs" within the narrative anti-climactic.

The role of religion within a society is to bring together the members of the said society and bind them by means of fear and absolution. It leaves everything that lies beyond the boundaries of its thought-system devoid of meaning. Hence, there is no salvation by any other means. Devoting one's intellectual functions to an omniscient creator/seer/being manifests itself as the solitary right way of living one's life. However, it ignores the numbing effect of this blind devotion, as the so-called intellectual functions mutate into tools with one-track functions - and that is an anomaly, considering the nature of "thinking". To think is to wander freely through a non-existing space, whose boundaries are translucent.

Stephenson's "Anathem" sadly misses this dichotomy between reason-thinking and god-thinking. Instead of being a brilliant work of fiction (or a philosophical treatise) it falls short of, well, divine.