A Case of Conscience

Main Ideas

• Conflict between science and religion: The book explores the contradiction between scientific understanding of the world and religious beliefs, particularly through the character of Father Ramon Ruiz-Sanchez, who is both a scientist and a priest.
• Moral and ethical dilemmas: The main characters face difficult moral choices, especially regarding the alien race of Lithians and their society.
• Nature of evil: The book raises questions about the nature and origin of evil, examining whether a society can truly be free from sin and evil.
• Cultural relativism: It explores the idea that moral and ethical norms can be relative and dependent on cultural context, especially in the case of an alien civilization.
• Impact of contact with alien civilizations: The consequences and changes that may occur in human society and psyche upon contact with alien races are considered.