How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #1
"You will find men like [Wainwright] in all the world's religions. They know that we represent reason and science, and, however confident they may be in their beliefs, they fear that we will overthrow their gods." (2.80)
Seems like a pretty cut and dry religion versus science theme, doesn't it? But if you read between the lines, you'll begin to see that its less a versus kind of dynamic and more a reworking and blending of the two.
Quote #2
[Stormgren] was honest enough to admit that, in the final analysis, his main motive was simple human curiosity. He had grown to know Karellen as a person, and he would never be satisfied until he had also discovered what kind of creature he might be. (3.10)
Many of the main characters in the novel—Stormgren, Rodricks, and Jeff Greggson—share the trait of curiosity. It's no coincidence that this trait is also the one that drives scientific discovery. It's as if the science in science fiction points toward a thematic and philosophical tone rather than the trappings of spaceships, ray guns, and alien invasions.
Quote #3
"We're pretty sure that Karellen can see and hear everything that happens on the surface of the Earth—but unless he uses magic, not science, he can't see underneath it." (3.54)
The third of Clarke's three laws reads: "Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic" (source). While the Overlords' technology is said to be scientifically based, it might as well be magic for how we can wrap our puny human minds around how it works.