The Future of Religion: Between Critique and Utopia. On One Short Story of Stanislaw Lem

Abstract

This article attempts at interpreting one of Stanislaw Lem’s short stories, The 21st Journey. The author is interested in finding an answer to the question of how to understand the monastery faith which does not have much in common with traditional concept of religion. The essay considers the following questions: how is the future religion possible and how will it look like? Can we imagine religious discourse without referring to historical or cultural issues? Is there a possibility to start all over again and constuct a neutral place for faith? Lem’s view on religion is significant as far as the author tries to define the secularism and ‘future’ arguments. But the problem of the story’s ambiguity is crucial, therefore the author of the article tries to follow Lem’s way of thinking and ask more questions about faith and knowledge.