Small Gods

This book discusses, as the title says, gods. In a world where there are small gods and large gods, and even microscopic gods, the book uses wit and humor to deliver an interesting tale around the Great God Om, who has taken the form of a tortoise. Pratchett makes an interesting observation on gods and religion–why do humans need gods? Why do they believe in them? Why do gods, assuming they exist, need humans?

To me, this book asks questions, but doesn't necessarily push an anti-religion or even a pro-religion stance. The book is just making observations–Do people actually believe or do they go through the motions? Will people actually follow a god just based on a book and is that enough? Do religion books/prophets say things that are from God or do they use their position and power to push their own agenda?

I can see the connections between the Church of Om with the Catholic church, however, I really think it is meant to connect to any religion, especially any high-demand or old religion. I know I found many connections to the religion of my youth.

This book was great, but the story itself was a bit boring to me and things jumped around without really explaning things, which sometimes made it difficult to follow, but otherwise, fun, witty, and an interesting premise and look at religion and belief.


Quotes:
Belief, he says. Belief shifts. People start believing in the god and end up believing in the structure.

Fear is strange soil. Mainly it grows obedience like corn, which grows in rows and makes weeding easy. But sometimes it grows the potatoes of defiance, which flourish underground.

May as well tell you,' muttered Om. ‘It's not as though we're going to survive... See, every god's a Great God to someone.'

What lolling around all day while slaved do the real work? Take it from me, whenever you see a bunch of buggers puttering around talking about truth and beauty and the best way of attacking Ethics, you can bet your sandals it's because dozens of other poor buggers are doing all the real work around the place while those fellows are living like—' ‘—gods?' asked Brutha.

“Just because you can explain it doesn't mean it's not still a miracle.”

“Gods don't like people not doing much work. People who aren't busy all the time might start to think.”