I realize the story is fiction and it does not represent Clarke's views.
In fact, the plot might even be considered sarcasm because it is based
on a simple-minded attitude that many people have about humans being
God's chosen people. Clarke might well have been poking fun at people
who think God is just waiting for us to do certain tasks. He chose
naming God as the task, but various religions very seriously choose
other tasks. If these tasks are not done a certain way, God will take
vengeance or provide rewards if they are done correctly. To me, the
story is a simple allegory that pokes fun without stirring up trouble.
Whether this was Clarke's view is unknown.
Ed
Jed Rothwell wrote:
Edmund Storms wrote:
Thanks Terry for making this story available. Although Sir Clark
provides a cute tale, it resets on the hubris of the human belief that
God cares what we do and has any more or less interest than for the
billions of other aware life forms in the universe.
Yes, but Clarke did not believe any such thing. The story is a lark.
Clarke was an atheist. See:
http://www.secularhumanism.org/library/fi/clarke_19_2.html
- Jed
