I believe that it's about religion and god.
They're basically saying that religion is a mere expression of human weaknesses and absurd childish superstitions, which are great to keep people quiet ("This is the lunacy by which we kneel. This is the doublespeak by which we kill. This is the inertia that keeps tradition feared. This is the absurdity by which we walk barefoot with shoes on our heads.") and to make them committ atrocities ("So kill a cat to keep logic at bay").
Additionally, the lines "Ponder this to get nearer to Nothing. On top of the world, think about it, there's Nothing." definitely sound like atheist remarks.
I wonder where the title comes from, though. Any ideas?
The title comes from a Zen Buddhist Koan titled "Nansen Kills a Cat", #14 in the Mumonkan: Once the monks of the eastern and western Zen halls in Nansen's temple were
quarrelling about a cat. As he saw this, Nansen held up the cat and said, "You monks! If one of you can say a word, I will not slay the cat." No one could answer. Nansen cut the cat in two.
The title comes from a Zen Buddhist Koan titled "Nansen Kills a Cat", #14 in the Mumonkan: Once the monks of the eastern and western Zen halls in Nansen's temple were
quarrelling about a cat. As he saw this, Nansen held up the cat and said, "You monks! If one of you can say a word, I will not slay the cat." No one could answer. Nansen cut the cat in two.
I believe that it's about religion and god. They're basically saying that religion is a mere expression of human weaknesses and absurd childish superstitions, which are great to keep people quiet ("This is the lunacy by which we kneel. This is the doublespeak by which we kill. This is the inertia that keeps tradition feared. This is the absurdity by which we walk barefoot with shoes on our heads.") and to make them committ atrocities ("So kill a cat to keep logic at bay"). Additionally, the lines "Ponder this to get nearer to Nothing. On top of the world, think about it, there's Nothing." definitely sound like atheist remarks. I wonder where the title comes from, though. Any ideas?
The title comes from a Zen Buddhist Koan titled "Nansen Kills a Cat", #14 in the Mumonkan: Once the monks of the eastern and western Zen halls in Nansen's temple were quarrelling about a cat. As he saw this, Nansen held up the cat and said, "You monks! If one of you can say a word, I will not slay the cat." No one could answer. Nansen cut the cat in two.
The title comes from a Zen Buddhist Koan titled "Nansen Kills a Cat", #14 in the Mumonkan: Once the monks of the eastern and western Zen halls in Nansen's temple were quarrelling about a cat. As he saw this, Nansen held up the cat and said, "You monks! If one of you can say a word, I will not slay the cat." No one could answer. Nansen cut the cat in two.