The Sword and Laser discussion

Started this on blind faith in S&L without knowing anything about the book. I'm totally hooked. I lovee the characters-they are so distinct. I am enjoying the present/past pattern of the chapters. The difference with how happy Emilio was and how he currently is has me very curious, and a little anxious, about what's happened in between.

The dinner parties are pretty awesome, aren't they? I love Anne's sense of humor. It's pretty clear that Anne is a stand-in for the author, and George likely a stand-in for her husband. Which makes me want to have dinner with them!

Anne and George were my favorite characters from the novel. Even though I'm an evangelical Christian I could identify with them even more than Emilio Sandoz. There's a powerful scene with Anne in the novel I will never forget.

Marion

I love Anne and George! (I've only gotten through six or seven chapters).

I agree - Anne and George are my favorite characters!

Anne is my favourite character so far (14 Chapters in)

Marion wrote: "There's a powerful scene with Anne in the novel I will never forget."

I wonder if it is the same scene I found powerful. Emilio says something to Anne that made me really angry. Then Anne reacts and says exactly what I would have said in reply.

This occurs in Chapter 13. It's not a plot spoiler but I will hide it anyway.
(view spoiler)[It is the scene where Emilio asks Anne if she believes in god. Anne gives a vague "I don't know" answer.
Then Emilio says "And yet, you behave like a good and moral person"

This sort of statement has always made me angry. Equating morals and doing the right thing to religion and god. As an Atheist this view always makes me angry. It is a slight against both atheist and christians alike. It is saying christians only do the right thing because of fear and/or their faith and it implies that atheist aren't moral and upstanding.

But Anne saves the book by saying exactly what I wanted her or the author to say.
"You know what? I really resent the idea that the only reason someone might be good or moral is because they're religious. I do what I do without hope of reward or fear of punishment. I do not require heaven or hell to bribe or scare me into acting decently, thank you very much."

I couldn't have said it better myself. I have had this same argument in real life. It is amazing some of the questions you get asked when you tell people you're an atheist. It's not so bad these days. (hide spoiler)]

On the subject of that spoiler:

(view spoiler)[What wasn't immediately obvious is that Emilio was questioning his own faith, and trying to figure out if he could be a good and moral person without it. (hide spoiler)]

I liked that scene too - great quote!

John wrote: "On the subject of that spoiler:"


Yes I totally agree. (view spoiler)[Up to that point I was really sympathetic to Emilio and his questioning his faith. Whichever way this leads, questioning is always good. He is still a character I like. I was just mad at him for making a judgement on the need for religion in morality, based on a faith he himself is unsure of fully.

If after exploring his faith, he then came to a belief that he needed religion to be moral and good, then that should not be something he requires of others. Thankfully this view is becoming less and less common. (hide spoiler)]

Tassie Dave wrote: "Anne is my favourite character so far (14 Chapters in)

Marion wrote: "There's a powerful scene with Anne in the novel I will never forget."

I wonder if it is the same scene I found powerful. Emil..."

Tassie Dave,

I remember that scene you've mentioned. That was an honest scene and it made the relationship between Emilio and The Edwardses real. However, it was not the scene I had posted about. With all respect due to you being an atheist, I've heard that back and forth between Christians and non-believers quite a bit. I have always believed that you can be a good and moral person if you are not a believer. The bigger question for me as a Christian where does the goodness and morality come from? I believe that is the biggest issue that atheists have that I've talked to over the years. However, that is another discussion entirely.

My review talks about the scene briefly: http://kammbia1.wordpress.com/2013/01...

I do not have too many spoilers in my review.

Marion

I liked them in a way too. Until they all started preparations to fly to space. I could not believe their sudden motivation to do so, espessially for Anne. Finally i lost my sympathy towards them during their flight to Alpha Cantauri when they had this shameful gravity... thing. Don't know what happened to them next (i'm currently reading 15th chapter) but for now i like non of the characters. Maybe i could think Jimmy is a fine guy, but thats all. Sandoz is charismatic persom but i despise his fanatism and selflessness.

Daniel wrote: "I liked them in a way too. Until they all started preparations to fly to space. I could not believe their sudden motivation to do so, espessially for Anne. Finally i lost my sympathy towards them d..."

That is the way i felt, too. That zero gravitiy was not a nice thing to do, when you got a bunch of either singles or celibates on board.

Anne's dinner parties are one of my favourite things about The Sparrow - I love to cook and plan meals, and her menu plans (oh, he's Southern! Let's have biscuits....) felt so very familiar to me.

Yeah the zero gravity thing was a bit tacky.

A wink and a nod after it's all over would have been ok, but the back and forth during, was a bit much and seemed out of character for the parent figures of the group.

Marion,
I will read your review after I'm finished. I'm always a bit wary of even small spoilers. I am interested to see what affects another reader. It gives perspective to differing reading experiences.

I have those discussions regularly (even with myself). The old "nature versus nurture" debate. (I include religion in the nurture). I still don't fully know where I stand ;-) (Obviously you need both. But which dominates?)
A question for another thread/forum/etc.

Edit: Anne is getting all the great quotes from this book.
There is another one that so fits my life, that I'm going to "borrow" it.

In Chapter 16 (view spoiler)[I have been married at least 4 times, to four different men.
They've all been named George Edwards

Obviously I'll change the name. I'll also need to change men to women, but it reflects a long term relationship perfectly. (hide spoiler)]