Stranger In A Strange Land Religion

Stranger in a Strange Land, written by Robert A. Heinlein, is set in a future United States where organized religions are politically powerful. The book opens up with a ship returning from a trip to Mars with an interesting passenger, Michael Valentine Smith, the son of crewmembers from a previous voyage to the planet. He was born on the ship twenty-five years ago and raised by Martians until he came to Earth. The story focuses on Michael’s adaptation to humans and their culture. In Stranger in a Strange Land, Heinlein questions and criticizes major axioms of western culture by following Michael Valentine Smith as he explores Earth through fresh, naïve eyes and experiences new-to-him but otherwise normal human concepts such as religion, the opposite sex, and sex itself.
One of the most significant aspects of humanity, and western culture in particular, experienced by Michael for the first time is the concept of religion. In Stranger in a Strange Land, religion seems to present itself similarly to how religion is presented in the real world—there are several very popular groups who believe their …show more content…
He specifically highlights the ideas of religion and sex, and uses these two themes to show how humans are resistant to change. In Stranger in a Strange Land people are hesitant to accept Michael’s Martian language and new ideas about sex and religion. The people in the book are meant to be a satire of people in the real world. Religion is meant to be a way to help people get past tough times, but instead it has become a fight over which religion is correct, and therefore superior. Sex is suppose to be a way to become closer to another human and create life and love, yet it is feared and looked on as a shameful act. Heinlein’s beliefs about religion and sex are expressed throughout the book and are true for both the book and the real