Religion as Literature

            Text is often the backbone of religion.  This can range from an ethical or moral written code, to fables and myths—which may be written or shared orally.  Often times, when others (who are not within the religion) read these texts they interpret them and examine them as if it were literature. While Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse is not a religious text, it is a text that is very much about religion. It shows the journey of the young man, Siddhartha and his friend Govinda. They align themselves with different spiritual groups such as the Samanas and then learn the teachings of Gotama. But what is important about this text is that it focuses on the oral aspect of Buddhism because all of the education comes from oral teachings. The other crucial part of this novel is the focus on Siddhartha’s questioning of Gotama’s teaching.

             But as important a comment on the oral tradition of religion this novel is, it also sheds light on the fluctuation that happens in religion. Throughout the course of the novel (and therefore the course of Siddhartha’s life) as Siddhartha matures and questions, his morals don’t exactly flip, but they shift. This is true for religion as well because as times change, religion must shift to fit the needs and the capabilities of the individuals that follow it.

            This can be applied to how we read literature on both an individual and cultural level. When we return to books we have loved in the past, our perception of these books change. We pick up on different details and understand the motivations of characters differently. Additionally, books have different political implications. This is an interesting parallel to religion because our understanding of it changes—just as it did for Siddhartha.