Stephenson on Anathem

SF Gospel points out an interview with Neal Stephenson (author of Snow Crash, The Diamond Age, and Cryptonomicon), who has come out with a new sf novel called Anathem. As you might guess from the title, it's got something to do with religion: future "science monks" in conflict with a devoutly religious society.

In both Snow Crash and Cryptonomicon, Stephenson included some despicable religious characters but also some admirable ones. I always got the sense that he knew quite well that both science and religion were complex, often ambiguous, human endeavours, situated in specific historical (and political!) contexts. The interview includes an exchange which sheds some light on his thinking in this regard:

Since Stephenson's already mentioned that the novel is at least a tip of the hat to Earthly politics, I wondered whether he sees any reconciliation possible between science and religion in our own culture. Does he believe this "reconciliation" would be like on Arbre, where a few Deolaters can work with the avout, but the two cultures remain essentially hostile to each other? Stephenson replied:

"There are many, many examples of legitimate scientists who espouse some form of religious faith, so I don't see any essential hostility. I grew up in a community of church-going scientists and engineers. The recent science/religion fireworks are driven by a theological movement that is as controversial within Christianity as it is in secular culture."

That mention of his upbringing is interesting, and certainly fits with the impressions I'd picked up from his books. I look forward to reading Anathem, and to hearing SF Gospel's reactions... maybe even a review, hmm?