Vonnegut

Kurt Vonnegut once wrote about a time when he gave a eulogy at Isaac Asimov’s Funeral. Isaac Asimov was the president of the American Humanist Association, and Vonnegut was a member, too. For those who are unaware, humanists do not believe in supernatural beings, such as gods. Therefore, they do not believe in Heaven or Hell as many Christians do. So Vonnegut stands before a large crowd, honoring Asimov, and he had this to say as he began to speak: “Isaac is in Heaven now.” Vonnegut claims that this had the crowd in stitches and for good reason—it’s Goddamn funny.

I loved reading Vonnegut’s books. His stories, characters, and social commentary are hilarious. Vonnegut is accessible and easy to read, and that’s important. He was a hair shirt for religious quackery and institutions that are wasteful, shortsighted, and dehumanizing. He laid out some complex ideas and critiques, always thinly disguised by absurd and entertaining storylines.

Kurt Vonnegut is in Heaven now.