(noun) A loosely defined faith, usually compatible with other faiths. Centered around the character Lain Iwakura from Serial Experiments Lain, Lain is a quiet girl who becomes increasingly absorbed by the Wired, a living network of computers and consciousness. Lainism attracts both transhumanists and their critics, sometimes blending gnostic ideas. Most practitioners regard Lain as a demi-god, though many simply see her as a companion with a guiding role rather than an object of worship. Some Lainists have the belief that her well-being depends on the health of individuals and the society they form, this belief is based on C. G. Jung's concept of the collective unconscious.
“In practicing lainism, I often remind myself: ‘Just like I need most of my organs and their cells healthy to not feel like shit and die, Lain needs society—and most individuals in it—to be okay, they and the network they build are her body.’”
by Chisa Yomoda June 24, 2025