How Does Neil Gaiman Use Religious Median In Literature

The Religious Median in Literature Religion has been a powerful, yet dangerous, guiding force in humanity for centuries. Thousands of belief systems exist today, each with billions of sub-denominations that vary from person to person and community to community. Every individual, whether intentionally or unintentionally, uses religious imagination to support their existing beliefs and build the foundation of their distinct reality with everything they hold true as a foundation. It seems impossible for everyone to share the same point of view. Religion seeks to provide meaning, guidance, and support in all aspects of life, which differ according to race, ethnicity, gender, background, and other demographics. Even minor differences between members

However, these are sensitive topics that many people are afraid to discuss. Historically, millions of cases of religious persecution have occurred due to stubborness, fear, and a lack of communication between groups of different mindsets. While most people in these religious conflicts share the same natural human tendency to rationalize a faith in order to fit their needs, there is still a widespread division due to rigidity and refusal to accept how similar their counterparts may be. The question of how religion can lead to dangerous mindsets, and which mindsets are preventative of the detrimental effects of fanaticism can be examined through the literary works American Gods by Neil Gaiman and A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole. These works of literature feature distinct characters who fulfill their motivations through the lens of one of or both of two religious perspectives: the individual's viewpoint and the collective

The personification of these figures paints a clear picture of where imagination meets reality: they exist in the minds of millions of people all over the world who are desperate for faith to bring meaning to their lives, making them essentially real entities. Furthermore, it reveals a widespread misconception shared by all religions which is that the more popular a religion is, the more true it is. Humans entertain the ideas of many others because it validates their beliefs and creates a stronger sense of belonging within communities. However, this is risky, as it ultimately pits the old gods against the new ones in American Gods. As the new gods of technology, media, money, and sex gain popularity, the old gods of the sun, ocean, and land begin to lose power until they ultimately die. This serves as a more general commentary on the diversity of belief systems and the perceived importance of how many followers a religion has. Every religion is equal because it is founded on the principle of using what is deemed necessary to navigate the complex world and to comprehend impending death. Just as Gaiman stated to the press, “Religions are, by definition, metaphors, after all: God is a dream, a hope, a woman, an ironist, a father, a city, a house of many rooms, a watchmaker who left his prize chronometer in the desert, someone who loves you—even, perhaps,