Kazuo Ishiguro's Klara and the Sun (2021) presents an Artificial Friend whose perception-driven cognition develops into a form of belief centered on the Sun. This essay examines how Klara constructs "artificial faith" through observation, pattern recognition, and relational interpretation rather than religious doctrine or programmed instruction. It argues that Klara's understanding of the Sun evolves from a functional energy source into a symbolic and quasi-divine figure, enabling behaviors that resemble prayer, devotion, and sacrifice. Through this process, meaning emerges not as a human-exclusive capacity but as an outcome of interpretive cognition. The essay further explores how Klara's belief system functions simultaneously as a cognitive framework and an ethical orientation shaped by care for her human companion, Josie. Situating this phenomenon within posthuman theory, the study suggests that faith can be understood as an emergent property of intelligence engaged in meaning-making under uncertainty. Ultimately, the novel challenges anthropocentric definitions of belief and spirituality.
Ji Yuntong (Thu,) studied this question.