Week Nine: Space Opera


The Nine Billion Names of God

I really enjoyed this short story by Arthur C. Clarke. It really got you thinking. Religion means different things to different people. To some people, it’s a strict set of rules to follow. To others, just a casual thing they don’t take too seriously. To some it is a crazy group of people who believe in fairytales. To others, a group of fellow believers they call family. To some, it means nothing, it’s taboo. To others it’s everything. There is one truth in the world, just one. Everyone believes in something and everyone thinks they have found that truth. But what if you are wrong? What would be the worst-case scenario if you are wrong in your beliefs? Have you ever thought of that? I have. That is exactly what these two computer technicians did, they missed out. They did not believe in the “crazy” monks in the secluded Tibetan monastery and fell victim to the end of the world.

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