Earthseed
Encyclopedia
Earthseed is a fictional religion
based on the idea that "God
is Change." It is the creation of Octavia E. Butler
, as revealed by her character Lauren Oya
Olamina in the books: Parable of the Sower
and Parable of the Talents
. (A third book of the trilogy, Parable of the Trickster, was not completed before Butler's death.)
The main character in Parable of the Sower, Lauren Olamina, is the daughter of a Baptist minister who serves their walled-in neighborhood. Because of her mother's addiction to a prescription drug, Olamina suffers from hyperempathy, which causes her to share pain or perceived pain with any living creature she sees. When her community is attacked, burned, and looted, seventeen-year-old Olamina barely escapes with her life. She travels, at great danger, into northern California in search of a haven where she and others can build the first Earthseed community.
The beliefs of Earthseed are recorded in the fictional book Earthseed: The Books of the Living. Olamina "writes" in short, poetic passages. Portions of this text are presented at the beginning of each section, some chapters, and occasionally throughout the text. The philosophy of Earthseed also underlies the motivations of some of the characters in these novels.
Although Olamina is raised as a Baptist, she does not feel comfortable with "her father's God." Instead, she develops ideas that seem to better fit the reality she knows.
Because "God is Change", humans are able to direct God's malleability. Believers are enjoined to "shape God". By shaping themselves, they can save themselves. Believers are to accept the central tenet that "God is Change" primarily so that they will recognize their own power to affect and direct Change/God. Only by conscious effort can they avoid being God's victims.
Earthseed also promotes the belief that "The Destiny of Earthseed / Is to take root among the stars" (The Parable of the Sower, Octavia E. Butler). The Destiny is necessary because, eventually, we will outgrow Earth
(i.e., use up its natural resources).
The central verse of Earthseed is given in the following:
The central paradox of Earthseed is:
Religion
Religion is a collection of cultural systems, belief systems, and worldviews that establishes symbols that relate humanity to spirituality and, sometimes, to moral values. Many religions have narratives, symbols, traditions and sacred histories that are intended to give meaning to life or to...
based on the idea that "God
God
God is the English name given to a singular being in theistic and deistic religions who is either the sole deity in monotheism, or a single deity in polytheism....
is Change." It is the creation of Octavia E. Butler
Octavia E. Butler
Octavia Estelle Butler was an American science fiction writer, one of the best-known among the few African-American women in the field. She won both Hugo and Nebula awards. In 1995, she became the first science fiction writer to receive the MacArthur Foundation Genius Grant.- Background :Butler...
, as revealed by her character Lauren Oya
Oya
In Yoruba mythology, Oya , is the Undergoddess of the Niger River. Oya has been syncretized in Santería with the Catholic images of the Virgin of Candelaria.-Aspects:...
Olamina in the books: Parable of the Sower
Parable of the Sower (novel)
Parable of the Sower is the first in a two-book series of science fiction novels written by Octavia E. Butler and published in 1993.-Plot summary:...
and Parable of the Talents
Parable of the Talents (novel)
Parable of the Talents is the second in a series of science fiction novels written by Octavia E. Butler and published in 1998.-Plot introduction:...
. (A third book of the trilogy, Parable of the Trickster, was not completed before Butler's death.)
Background
Parable of the Sower is a futuristic, dystopian, science-fiction novel. In its reality, the United States has devolved back into states and/or city-states warring for the few remaining resources. Life is cheap, and the economy is becoming reborn as company towns.The main character in Parable of the Sower, Lauren Olamina, is the daughter of a Baptist minister who serves their walled-in neighborhood. Because of her mother's addiction to a prescription drug, Olamina suffers from hyperempathy, which causes her to share pain or perceived pain with any living creature she sees. When her community is attacked, burned, and looted, seventeen-year-old Olamina barely escapes with her life. She travels, at great danger, into northern California in search of a haven where she and others can build the first Earthseed community.
The beliefs of Earthseed are recorded in the fictional book Earthseed: The Books of the Living. Olamina "writes" in short, poetic passages. Portions of this text are presented at the beginning of each section, some chapters, and occasionally throughout the text. The philosophy of Earthseed also underlies the motivations of some of the characters in these novels.
Central Tenets
The word "Earthseed" comes from the idea that the seeds of all life on Earth can be transplanted, and through adaptation will grow, in many different types of situations or places. "The Books of the Living" is chosen in direct contrast to many other religions' use of the phrase "The Books of the Dead". Earthseed is a religion of the present and the future, of the living, not of the dead or the past.Although Olamina is raised as a Baptist, she does not feel comfortable with "her father's God." Instead, she develops ideas that seem to better fit the reality she knows.
Because "God is Change", humans are able to direct God's malleability. Believers are enjoined to "shape God". By shaping themselves, they can save themselves. Believers are to accept the central tenet that "God is Change" primarily so that they will recognize their own power to affect and direct Change/God. Only by conscious effort can they avoid being God's victims.
Earthseed also promotes the belief that "The Destiny of Earthseed / Is to take root among the stars" (The Parable of the Sower, Octavia E. Butler). The Destiny is necessary because, eventually, we will outgrow Earth
Earth
Earth is the third planet from the Sun, and the densest and fifth-largest of the eight planets in the Solar System. It is also the largest of the Solar System's four terrestrial planets...
(i.e., use up its natural resources).
The central verse of Earthseed is given in the following:
Consider: Whether you're a human being, an insect, a microbe, or a stone, this verse is true.
All that you touch
You Change.
All that you Change
Changes you.
The only lasting truth
Is Change.
God
Is Change.
(Parable of the Sower, Octavia E. Butler)
The central paradox of Earthseed is:
Why is the universe?
To shape God.
Why is God?
To shape the universe.
(Parable of the Sower, Octavia E. Butler)