How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph) Note that chapters aren't numbered, so need to be numbered manually, 1 to 14.
Quote #1
Compared with the proliferation of speculative ideas which were triggered off by this problem, medieval scholasticism seemed a model of scientific enlightenment. (2.33)
Medieval scholasticism was devoted to trying to explain or understand the nature of God; it was notoriously confusing and abstruse. Lem suggests that Solaristics (and all science) is similarly involved and meaningless. Science is ridiculous because it's like religion. So, yes, he doesn't have a very high opinion of religion—or at least Kelvin doesn't seem to here.
Quote #2
"Did you try the rope, or the hammer? Or the well-aimed ink-bottle, like Luther? No?" (6.17)
Martin Luther was a monk who lived in the 1500s; he started the Protestant Reformation. He also sometimes saw the devil, and would drive him away by throwing ink bottles at him. You'd think the devil wouldn't be scared of an ink bottle, but then, you wouldn't think an alien ocean would make a simulacra that couldn't get out of its dress. Once you've got miracles happening, it's maybe silly to quibble about the details.
Quote #3
The fact is that in spite of his cautious nature the scrupulous Giese more than once jumped to premature conclusions. Even when on their guard, human beings inevitably theorize. (8.51)
This seems like it applies to science (humans can't help making scientific theories) but it also seems to apply to religion. Humans see things out there, whether gluons or angels or some combination of the two. Glugels? An-ons?