The Nature of Religion in Iain Banks’s Novels: The Wasp Factory and Consider Phlebas

• Authors: Fetlińska Katarzyna
• Languages of publication: EN

Abstracts

EN

The aim of this paper is to use cognitive approach in order to analyse the topic of religion in two novels by Iain Banks. I argue that in both The Wasp Factory and Consider Phlebas Banks presents divine thoughts as cognitively natural for humans, since, according to neuroscience, the propensity for religiosity is inborn and universal. Banks’s novels show that people have an innate need to fill space with agents, and cannot refrain from ascribing illusory purpose to the cruel chaos of the surrounding world.

Keywords

EN

Iain Banks; novel; cognitive; approach; religion

• Publisher: Institute of English Studies, University of Warsaw
• Journal: Anglica. An International Journal of English Studies
• Year: 2015
• Issue: 24/1
• Pages: 147-160

Contributors

author

Fetlińska Katarzyna

• University of Warsaw

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