Earthseed
| Earthseed | |
|---|---|
| Family | Fictional / Modern inspirational religion |
| Origin region | United States literary culture |
| Founding period | 1990s CE as fictional religion; later inspirational influence |
| Estimated adherents | No formal census; mainly a fictional religion with influence on readers, artists, and some real-world spiritual discussions. |
Earthseed is the fictional religion created by Octavia E. Butler in the Parable novels, centered on the teaching that God is Change and that humanity's destiny is to take root among the stars.
Overview
Earthseed is best known as a fictional religion in Octavia E. Butler's Parable of the Sower and Parable of the Talents. It is not an ancient or institutional world religion, but it has influenced real readers, activists, artists, and technology-spiritual movements. Its inclusion on Wikitheism is useful for documenting modern invented, fiction-based, and inspirational religions, while clearly identifying it as literary in origin.
Key beliefs
- God is Change
- Human beings can shape God by adapting to change
- Community, survival, literacy, and preparation are sacred duties
- Humanity's destiny is to take root among the stars
- Belief is framed as practical, ethical, and future-oriented
Practices
- Reading and discussion of the Parable novels
- Community-building inspired by Earthseed verses
- Reflection on change, resilience, and survival
- Artistic or activist use of Earthseed language
- Speculative spiritual writing
Places of worship
- Reading groups
- Online communities
- Art and activist spaces
- No universal temple or church
Sacred texts
- Parable of the Sower
- Parable of the Talents
- Earthseed verses within the novels
- Commentary on Octavia E. Butler's work
Holidays and observances
- No universal observances
- Book anniversaries or reading-group dates
- Community-defined rituals of change and remembrance
Branches and related traditions
- Terasem - A technology-spiritual movement partly inspired by the name Earthseed.
- Matrixism - Another modern religion influenced by popular culture and fiction.
- New Religious Movements - A broad category for modern religious innovation.