Brave New World: Chapter 17

1)      Why does Mond want John alone?  So he can show him copies of The Holy Bible, The Imitation of Christ, and The Varieties of Religious Experience.

2)      The discuss religion, why is this significant?  Mond considers religion to be the most destabilizing force in society.

3)      What are their different positions of religion?  Mond says religion is irreverent and John says it is natural to man.

4)      Mond says God has a specific role, what is it? Mond says that God is a reality, an absolute and everlasting truth that we embrace once we’ve neared death.

5)      John argues civilized man is degraded.  What was he before, what is he now?  John says man was once a happy, hardworking, goods-consuming citizen, now they are patient and courageous.

6)      How do you describe self-denial, chastity, and heroism?  Self-denial: Not being self-indulgent and not taking care of yourself Chastity: instability which is the end of civilization  Heroism:  symptoms of political insufficiency

7)      Mond says soma plays a role, what is it?  It gives you a holiday from the facts, calms your anger, to reconcile you from you enemies to make you patient and long suffering.   Christianity without tears.

8)      What does ‘it’s an opiate of the masses’ mean?  Marx sees religion as the opiate, whereas soma is the Brave New World hope.  It is something for the public to rely on for hope. 

9)      John says no to civilization and what does he say yes to?  He says yes to being unhappy.  No we do not agree, unhappiness is not something you must feel.