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books:scifi:canticlesofleibowitz [2025/01/04 11:43] – created nyetbooks:scifi:canticlesofleibowitz [2025/01/04 12:09] (current) – nyet
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 +=== Canticles of Leibowitz ===
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 Finished 1/4/2024 Finished 1/4/2024
 Rating: 3 bishops and a priest / the surviving members of the catholic church Rating: 3 bishops and a priest / the surviving members of the catholic church
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 Lastly there was the section about the future. Humanity has taken it's first steps into the stars with early colonies being established. The world has coalesced into two relevant global powers that are both armed with nuclear weapons, and there's a cold war on. This was probably the weakest part of the book. It dragged a bit more than I would have liked--perhaps a Catholic would have gotten more out of it than me. It does contain one of my favorite sections of the novel though. The abbot spars with a doctor and society writ large over euthanizing people. He wants to prevent this as they'll suffer eternal damnation as a result of the suicide. These folks have severe radiation poisoning and are terribly burned, the rest of their short lives will consist of torturous pain as their flesh rots. While the abbot is wrong, imo, and his point of view is disgusting, it's well argued and forces you to empathize with the religious on this matter. He doesn't win and is nearly thrown in prison over the matter; contrasting nicely against the rest of the book where the monastery is empowered.  Lastly there was the section about the future. Humanity has taken it's first steps into the stars with early colonies being established. The world has coalesced into two relevant global powers that are both armed with nuclear weapons, and there's a cold war on. This was probably the weakest part of the book. It dragged a bit more than I would have liked--perhaps a Catholic would have gotten more out of it than me. It does contain one of my favorite sections of the novel though. The abbot spars with a doctor and society writ large over euthanizing people. He wants to prevent this as they'll suffer eternal damnation as a result of the suicide. These folks have severe radiation poisoning and are terribly burned, the rest of their short lives will consist of torturous pain as their flesh rots. While the abbot is wrong, imo, and his point of view is disgusting, it's well argued and forces you to empathize with the religious on this matter. He doesn't win and is nearly thrown in prison over the matter; contrasting nicely against the rest of the book where the monastery is empowered. 
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 +I have complicated feelings on the thrust of it's argument though. The Church absolutely preserved  and propagated knowledge after the fall of Rome. During the Enlightenment it got maligned as anti-science, which is not fair. I'm not confident that the morality that comes from the Church would prevent nuclear holocaust. Perhaps that's it's point--the Church is ineffectual holding back tsunami or horror humanity perpetually unleashes on itself. Probably one of the strongest arguments for the faith that I've read, despite it being so pessimistic about it's ability to prevent societal harm. Really pointed commentary that wisdom is as vital as knowledge in governance and technological advancement.
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 +Contains a [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wandering_Jew | Wandering Jew]], which is the first time I learned of the myth. Was a really great addition to the novel. 
  
 tl;dr: worth a read. You'll know within 100 pages if it's for you or not though.  tl;dr: worth a read. You'll know within 100 pages if it's for you or not though.