I found the metaphor of The
Secularist very thin, but still interesting. Just from the name of the
story it seems clear that this will be looking into secularism and religion,
and it doesn’t disappoint. I found it interesting that anyone who has contact
with the devil has to be killed. Almost as if anyone that is contacted by a
deity or supernatural power can no longer be trusted. The girl’s people do not
call on gods for help because praying didn’t do anything. And the secularist
travels around to free people of their bonds and ties to gods and devils;
almost like a reverse missionary. I’m not saying the message is bad or should
be removed, but as I said before, the metaphor is very thin. Just because it
sounds like a mystic world, with elders and sacrifices does not disguise what
the hidden meaning of the story is.
I enjoyed the character arc of the woman. It felt real how
she could go from scared and shy to brave and ready to die for her people. It
was a slow build that took the entire story to unfold, so it didn’t seem rushed
in any parts, but a natural progression. And the secularist was simply there to
help her get to that point, and he did.
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