Earthseed

Overview
Earthseed, a fictional religion, is based on the idea that God is change. The beliefs of Earthseed are recorded in the fictional book Earthseed: The Books of the Living in short, poetic passages meant to appeal to those who abandoned the idea of waiting for a divine being to save them. Instead, those who follow Earthseed are supposed to "shape God" by taking control of their lives and saving themselves. Those who follow Earthseed also believe that it is the destiny of mankind to "take root among the stars" because eventually, we will outgrow Earth (i.e. use up important natural resources).

Earthseed has spawned an actual religion named Solseed.

Origin
Earthseed is referred to in two books by Octavia Butler: The Parable of the Sower and The Parable of the Talents. The main character in The Parable of the Sower, Lauren Oya Olamina, is the daughter of a Christian minister who preaches in their post-apocalyptic walled-in neighborhood. When the neighborhood is attacked, Lauren barely escapes with her life and ends up travelling in search of both a haven and of followers to the religion that she has secretly created.

Passages
"All that you touch

You Change.

All that you Change

Changes you.

The only lasting truth

Is Change.

God

Is Change."

"The Destiny of Earthseed

Is to take root among the stars."

"Why is the universe?

To shape God.

Why is God?

To shape the universe."

"Any Change may bear seeds of benefit.

Seek them out.

Any Change may bear seeds of harm.

Beware.

God is infinitely malleable.

God is Change."

"God is neither good

nor evil,

neither loving

nor hating.

God is Power.

God is Change.

We must find the rest of what we need

within ourselves,

in one another,

in our Destiny."

"Your teachers

Are all around you.

All that you perceive,

All that you experience,

All that is given to you

or taken from you,

All that you love or hate,

need or fear

Will teach you---

If you will learn.

God is your first

and your last teacher.

God is your harshest teacher:

subtle,

demanding.

Learn or die."

"Respect God:

Pray working.

Pray learning,

planning,

doing.

Pray creating,

teaching,

reaching.

Pray working.

Pray to focus your thoughts,

still your fears,

strengthen your purpose.

Respect God.

Shape God.

Pray working."

Other Resources
The Omidyar Network

Interview with Octavia Butler on Earthseed

--Etherealclarity 16:14, 18 May 2006 (UTC)