[shadow9d9]

Originally Posted by littlemissattitude

Maybe it's just me, but I think all those different, sometimes almost violently different, opinions about "Stranger" prove that Heinlein knew exactly what he was doing, and that the folks who skimmed all the religous/philosophical/political passages really shortchanged themselves. I have no idea how much of the book was Heinlein's wishing it were so, how much he believed himself, and how much was just put in for effect. But it is obvious that those who really read "Stranger", whether the ideas in the book attract them or put them off, are actually stimulated to think about what they've read. And speaking as a writer myself, I think that most writers probably have making their readers think about what they've written as an important goal.

I've read the book multiple times, and while I find some of the ideas archaic (to say the least), there is an important critique of religious thought in America at the time Heinlein was writing and, sad to say, much of that critique is still valid these several decades later.

You are missing a huge point. Many people do not read science fiction to be lectured to. I do not CARE what his beliefs are. I read sci fi/fantasy for story and characters... To me it is laughable that you think that people who skimmed the preaching missed out... If I want to read philosphy, I'd get philosophy books. I think it is the epitome of egotism that lead Heinlein to think his views are so important that he must lecture and repeat himself to his readers instead of creating an actually good story and characters. My problem isn't with his actual views.. I don't care about them to be honest. What I care about is the fact that he felt it necessary to sneak his views and lecture to his audience hidden under the veil as a "science fiction" book.