Postmodernism and Cat's Cradle, yes.

The Lyotard and Postmoderism introduction includes Ihab Hassan’s table of differences between Modernism and Postmodernism.  Though he lists a number of defining characteristics, one difference that relates the most to Cat’s Cradle is the comparison between design and chance.  Modernism favors the focus on the purposeful design of all aspects of the universe.  This supports the notion of religion because such religions usually depict one almighty creator becomes the “designer” of everything that occurs.  This creator defines the reason and meaning to life; everything that happens is due to this creator’s will and purpose. 

However, in Cat’s Cradle,  Kurt Vonnegut presents a satirical view towards religion and the concept of design in Modernism.  Vonnegut describes a new religion in his novel called Bokononism.  As the narrator explains the religion as the novel progresses, the religion becomes the center of satire towards creation and purpose.  One of the characters, Julian Castle depicts The Books of Bokonon, the religion’s bible, that is “hard to come by” and is never complete because “Bokonon is adding new things everyday”.  To this description, Little Newt mockingly asks “See the cat? See the cradle?”.  Here, Vonnegut emphasizes the faults to organized religion as he alludes to the fact that the Books of Bokonon may not even exist.  Vonnegut perhaps suggests that religion, in a sense, is nonexistent altogether.  The only way religion plays a role in society, according to Vonnegut, is through the believers of religion.  He also highlights the constantly changing concepts in the Books of Bokonon that further suggests the lack of concrete direction and purpose in religion.  Vonnegut again implies the instability of a true religion with an ultimate “designer” of the universe.  Instead, Vonnegut argues for the concept of chance that defines the reason to life, and this supports the idea of Postmodernism. 

Vonnegut also includes a training camp for soldiers named “Fort Jesus” in the novel to present his sarcasm towards religion.  The narrator Jonah asks Stanley, Frank Hoenikker’s major domo why they named the camp such a name, and Stanley replies, “Sure. Why not?”  Vonnegut uses the name of Jesus to label a camp that does not support the ideals and morals of religion to mock the meaning behind Jesus’ name.  Stanley sees nothing wrong with labeling the camp after Jesus, and Vonnegut suggests again that religion is only a name and nothing more.  Vonnegut supports the notion that chance dictates the happenings in the universe as opposed to the concept of design and purpose. 

I’m not entirely sure if this makes sense, and I’m sorry if I caused any confusion…