We are all nerds: The literary works of Neal Stephenson
My favorite Stephenson&#x27;s novel is Anathem with superb world building (as usual) but also a pretty good story and ending.<p>But it&#x27;s also a book whose world (specifically the avout society) attracts me. I&#x27;ve grown up in a Catholic setting, but &quot;converted&quot; to atheism&#x2F;agnosticism pretty early. But even with its many failings, there are certain aspects of religions which seem worth preserving - the focus on community, the rituals, a particular rule framework, meditation (prayers) and introspection.<p>The book presents a (on a certain level) pretty attractive model of society which combines the practical religious patterns with a full rationalism.<p>I kind of understand why such &quot;atheist religion&quot; is unlikely to get off in the real world, but it&#x27;s still something I would wish for.