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What role does religion play in the society depicted in Fahrenheit 451?
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In the society depicted, religion is largely absent or commercialized. Books, including the Bible, are banned, and intellectual pursuits are discouraged. Faber's comments highlight how religion has been commodified, with figures like Christ turned into entertainment. This reflects a broader trend where religious values are overshadowed by constant entertainment, leaving little room for genuine religious contemplation. Thus, religion's traditional role of encouraging self-reflection and spiritual growth is undermined in this dystopian world.
Religion does not play a significant role in Bradbury's dystopian society, where literature is censored and intellectual pursuits are illegal. The Bible is considered an illegal text and Montag is fortunate enough to possess one of the last remaining copies. When he visits Faber's home, the former professor is astonished to hold a Bible and makes several comments on the state of religion and spirituality in the dystopian society. Faber tells Montag,
It's been a long time. I'm not a religious man. But it's been a long time . . . It's as good as I remember. Lord, how they've changed it—in our "parlours" these days. Christ is one of the "family" now. I often wonder if God recognizes His own son the way we've dressed him up, or is it dressed him down? He's a regular peppermint stick now, all sugar-crystal and saccharine when he isn't making veiled references...
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to certain commercial products that every worshipper absolutely needs. (38)
Faber's comments are significant and illustrate the way that the dystopian society has commercialized the Christian religion to sell products, which is satirical of the way modern society has marketed religious holidays to consumers. In Bradbury's dystopian society, the government does not want people to contemplate or analyze their lives, which is the primary foundation and function of religion. Instead of using religion as a self-examination tool to better oneself and become closer to God, the dystopian society has corrupted and commercialized religion into a commodity and entertainment option.
I do not believe that religion plays any role in this society. I do not think that the values of this society are really compatible with religion.
This society is based on the idea that you live your life without thinking. It says that people should keep themselves entertained at all times by watching the parlour walls or by going to amusement parks or things like that.
Religion is something that really requires people to be still and contemplative at times. You cannot have religious experiences with the White Clown yelling at you. So I do not think that this society can really have much of a real religion.