The Importance Of Religion In Octavia Butler's The Parable Of The Sower

During the middle 1990’s the African-American female writer, Octavia Butler, published a series of dystopian novels, which served as social commentary on modern problems including the environment, the wealth gap, poverty, unemployment, scarcity of resources and political inefficiency. In “The Parable of the Sower”, Butler deftly utilizes the protagonist to question the efficacy of religion and the importance of philosophy in the face of the impending destruction of civilization. The protagonist, Lauren Olamina, invents a new religion in order to create a new future for humans on another planet. Throughout the book, Lauren asserts that her new religion, Earthseed, is in fact a religion. However, when measured against various definitions it can

In the Earthseed religion “God is Change” and it does in fact demand reverence (Butler, 1993). According to Merriam Webster, Religion is “the belief in a god or in a group of gods; an organized system of beliefs, ceremonies, and rules used to worship a god or a group of gods; an interest, a belief, or an activity that is very important to a person or group; a personal set or institutionalized system of religious attitudes, beliefs, and practices”. When measured against this definition of religion, Earthseed does meet the criteria for consideration as a religion. Earthseed has a God, a system of beliefs and specific practices. According to Clifford Geertz, an anthropologist from Princeton: Religion also has aspects “that give meaning to the practitioner 's experiences of life through reference to a higher power, God or gods, or ultimate truth” (Julita, 2011) The Earthseed religion gives meaning to their follower’s actions by rationalizing that the future of the human survival depends on their ability to be self-sustaining and exercise accountability. Earthseed also touts reverence and those who are not respectful of Change will be subject to negative changes, which they are unprepared for and do not know how to cope with. Lauren’s argument for the creation of Earthseed as a religion is further strengthened by the similarities Butler draws between Lauren and her people and Jesus and his followers. The title of the book is similar to the New Testament parable (Luke 8: 5-8) “about a sower who sows seed, some of which falls by the wayside, or on rocks or thorns, or is eaten by birds, but some falls on fruitful ground and springs up and bears fruit”( Parable of the Sower: Metaphor Analysis). In Lauren’s case her followers are like seeds, and some listen to her message and flourish while others fall to the wayside. This biblical likeness also adds merit to Lauren’s new religion. Earthseed is centered around