“Live by the foma that make you brave and kind and healthy and happy” (Vonnegut, Epigraph). When discussing the role of religion in human life, Kurt Vonnegut’s novel Cat’s Cradle ties together the concepts of religion and science to show how humans use belief systems to comfort our sense of uncertainty. Vonnegut presents Bokononism as a satirical take on religion, and argues that humans willingly accept comforting lies in order to find a sense of purpose. Through this critique of the human experience, we can see how despite the superficial comfort of religion, the reality persists that no real salvation of any kind is reached.
In Cat’s Cradle, Bokononism is used to parody religion by being a system of lies people knowingly accept and embrace. The opening statement of The Books of Bokonon reveals this— “All of the true things I am about to tell you are shameless lies” (5). Through his bluntness, Bokonon shows how religion is merely a comfort for humans. This parodies real-world religions that claim to offer some sort of universal truth despite the lack of evidence and verified narratives. Specifically, it is often said that Vonnegut is parodying Christianity; this is most likely due to the several allusions to the Christian Bible and Christianity within the novel. In the first chapter we are introduced to the narrator, John—who chooses to go by Jonah—a reference to the biblical story of Jonah and the whale. His real name, John, could also be considered a biblical allusion to the story of John the Apostle—a man given visions from God about the end of the world. Throughout the novel as Jonah recollects his journey to the end of the world, we see his conversion from Christianity to Bokononism. He writes, “I am a Bokononist now. I would have been a Bokononist then, if there had been anyone to teach me the bittersweet lies of Bokonon” (2). Bokonon, like the Christian Jesus, acts like a messiah for Bokononism. Except, Vonnegut parodies this concept by making Bokonon not your typical “messiah”—he is just a man; his reveal at the end of the novel through Jonah does not bring any redemption, salvation, or answers. Just as Bokononism parodies the concept of religion and why it exists in our world, Bokonon himself leaves the reader with essentially nothing of substance. Furthermore, Vonnegut depicts the satire through the Bokononist practices, such as Boko-maru: a seemingly foolish practice that holds deep perpetual meaning to the followers of Bokonism. Though the practices are merely “shameless lies”, the followers of Bokonism hold them dearly as they add to their sense of meaning and existence. Through this Vonnegut argues how the main purpose of religion is to provide comfort, not to provide legitimate truths. Just as Christians follow practices to mirror Jesus’ teachings, Bokononists use Boko-maru to show their peace and love for each other. This represents how humans need stability and comfort—through a system such as religion—even when it is blatantly false, and allows Vonnegut to position Bokonism in a way that is both absurd yet functional.
Vonnegut further explores humanity’s reliance on comforting illusions by emphasizing the human need for meaning in an otherwise chaotic world. The people of San Lorenzo follow Bokononism not because it offers truth, but because it gives them a sense of purpose in place of their bleak reality. In the novel, Vonnegut depicts a world that lacks natural meaning, where events unfold due to random chance—such as the creation of Ice-Nine—and individuals are left with existential uncertainty. As described by Derek D. Miller in his article, “Postmodernism in Vonnegut’s Cat’s Cradle”, he explains the concept of Bokonism as an escape from unavoidable poverty. He writes:
The island is extremely poverty stricken and they have no means of building the island’s economy or natural resources to make it an island worth living on. So instead of attempting to do so, the citizens confide in the hope which their religion can bring them, regardless of whether it’s true or not. It can bring them hope and happiness nonetheless. (Miller)
Bokononism, like real-world religions, provides a narrative that helps the people of San Lorenzo cope with the meaninglessness of their suffering. This need for stability and order is so strong that the followers of Bokononism embrace its lies wholeheartedly, aware of their falsity but still dependent on them for survival. Miller continues with this argument when he writes, “The religion shows its followers that the ideals of a religion can be beneficial to oneself without them being based on ultimate truth”. The religion functions primarily as a psychological coping mechanism, allowing people to escape the anxiety and uncertainty of real life. Through this paradox of Bokononists knowingly accepting lies for comfort, Vonnegut critiques the human tendency to prioritize emotional well-being over objective truth. This need for stability and order is so overwhelming that the followers of Bokononism not only embrace the lies with full awareness, but they depend on these lies to give structure and stability to their lives.
Bokononism’s paradoxical admission that it is built on “shameless lies” also emphasizes Vonnegut’s critique of human’s tendency to cling to falsehoods when given comfort. Despite knowing that the foundation of their religion is fabricated, the people of San Lorenzo continue to practice Bokononism because it offers them a sense of hope and direction in a world that lacks certainty, stability, and comfort. In her essay “Vonnegut’s Bokononism”, Marija Kačavendić critiques this aspect of Bokononism as she declares, “Bokononism, therefore, is presented as an alternative to the harsh truth, an alternative that may be untrue, and yet it allows a happier existence” (Kačavendić 377). Vonnegut’s portrayal of this phenomenon reveals his view that religion functions primarily as a way for communities to escape the anxiety that comes with the unknown. As Kačavendić argues, he is critiquing the human preference for emotional well-being over objective truth. She writes:
Bokononism, in this view, closely resembles the Marxist notion that religion is „opium of the people,” as its only purpose is to hide the truth and numb the people to the pain of everyday life; instead of rejecting it for hiding the truth, Vonnegut suggests embracing it, as „anyone unable to understand how a useful religion can be founded on lies will not understand this book either“. (Kačavendić 378 & Vonnegut 5-6)
Kačavendić highlights this undeniable falsehood that the people of San Lorenzo, and the narrator himself, embrace. By accepting the lies, humans are able to separate themselves from reality—despite being aware of the borderline delusions that they are embracing—hence Vonnegut’s quote about useful religions being founded on lies. Furthermore, the adaptation of destiny in Cat’s Cradle also exemplifies the human need for understanding and comfort. This idea of destiny, or Zah-mah-ki-bo in Bokononist terms, is mentioned frequently by the narrator, Jonah, as he recalls the experiences that led him to Bokononism. We watch Jonah experience his journey towards his “inevitable destiny”: becoming a Bokononist and watching as the world collapses. This aspect comes to life towards the end of the novel both when Frank Hoenikker tells Jonah of this inevitable destiny, and when he meets Bokonon; Jonah realizes the point of Bokononism is not to teach or persuade, but to comfort and give peace. In his article “Hope and Despair: A Carnivalesque Study of Kurt Vonnegut’s Cat’s Cradle”, Dr. A.R.N. Hanuman explores the idea of destiny, and how it relates to finding comfort and satisfaction. He explains:
Everything happens “as it was supposed to happen”, and that no chasing of
destiny will ever fulfill our desires, even if we catch what we are chasing (76). This
phrase is repeated as a refrain throughout the book. John gets Mona, and is not
satisfied; Frank is offered the Presidency, and doesn’t want the responsibility that goes
with the power; all three Hoenikker children buy what they dream of with Ice Nine,
and none are happy. (Hanuman)
This concept is another way for the characters to hide from harsh realities, and blame their conscious decisions on destiny instead of themselves. Zah-mah-ki-bo is a way for Bokononists to justify their choice to ignore the real world and simply just exist, not taking responsibility for actions and unapologetically accepting consequences.
Along with Vonnegut’s acknowledgment of this concept—finding meaning through harmless untruths—he also critiques the consequences that can arise. While Bokononism provides solace to the impoverished citizens of San Lorenzo, its falsehoods expose how blind faith in untruths can lead to catastrophic outcomes. The reliance on comforting fabrications manifests into passivity and ignorance. For example, the citizens’ unwavering belief in Bokonon’s teachings allows them to overlook the irony behind it all: that Bokononism is banned. In turn, the citizens of San Lorenzo fail to pursuit any sort of justice and accountability, which eventually leads to the end of the world from Ice-Nine. With the introduction of Ice-Nine, Vonnegut presents a metaphor for the unforeseen consequences of humanity’s disregard for reality. As the characters cling to their faith in Bokononism, they become detached from the dangers that arise from scientific advancements, and the moral implications of their actions. This disconnect comes together at the end of the novel in a catastrophe that emphasizes Vonnegut’s warning: the acceptance of comforting lies can blind individuals to the real-world dangers that lie ahead. Furthermore, Vonnegut’s portrayal of Bokononism reveals how these untruths can prevent critical thinking and rational decision-making. In a society where comfort is prioritized over truth, individuals may become susceptible to manipulation by those in power, leading to a cycle of dependency and oppression. The citizens of San Lorenzo accept Bokonon’s teachings without question, sacrificing their critical thinking in favor of emotional relief. This is seen through Jonah, who is often unreliable and contradicting to himself and his beliefs as he recalls his life retrospectively throughout the novel. He is the perfect example of this denial of critical thinking. Throughout the book we see his journey of becoming a Bokononist, and we also see his awareness of the lies and made-up nature of the religion. Through Jonah, Vonnegut shows how all the citizens of San Lorenzo must function; that ignoring the lies and foundations of Bokononism is how to practice it. Through the lens of Bokononism, Vonnegut warns that while these “harmless untruths” may offer temporary relief, they ultimately obscure the truth, hinder genuine understanding, and lead to irreversible consequences (such as Ice-Nine). Thus, the danger remains not only in the acceptance of lies, but in the broader societal consequences of forming a culture that values comfort over truth. Vonnegut’s critique is cautionary, urging readers to recognize the delicate balance between the need for comfort and the necessity of confronting uncomfortable realities in order to navigate the complexities of existence.