How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #4
Despite Loonie mixture of Muslims, Jews, Christians, Buddhists, and ninety-nine other flavors, I suppose Sunday is commonest day for church. But Greg belongs to sect which had calculated that sundown Tuesday to sundown Wednesday, local time Garden of Eden (zone minus-two, Terra) was the Sabbath. (8.27)
Like so many others, freedom of religion is paramount to the novel's ideal of liberty. What's interesting here is that the Loonies have managed to break from the Christian traditions and each denomination decides for itself when the Sabbath is, suggesting Loonies have taken that freedom and run with it. Because why can't the Sabbath be on a Tuesday? Seriously, we don't know.
Quote #5
"We don't have laws," I said. "Never been allowed to. Have customs, but aren't written and aren't enforced—or could say they are self-enforcing because are simply way things have to be, conditions being what they are. Could say our customs are natural laws because are way people have to behave to stay alive. When you made a pass at Tish you were violating a natural law … and almost caused you to breathe vacuum." (11.114)
Wait… is he saying that Luna's natural environment prescribes what its version of freedom is? That is, true freedom would be different given the "natural laws" of another place? Or, is he saying that Luna's environment allowed them to discover the natural laws of freedom? Wow, that was a difficult question to ask. We'll let you enjoy answering it.
Quote #6
One female (most were men, but women made up for it in silliness) had a long list she wanted made permanent laws—about private matters. No more plural marriage of any sort. No divorces. No "fornication"—had to look that one up. No drinks stronger than 4% beer. Church services only on Saturdays and all else to stop that day. (14.138)
Ah, good old blue laws. Blue laws are laws that have been created to enforce religious beliefs through government. They are not exactly freedom of religion and yet several states of the United States still have them on the books.