What If?: Religious Themes in Science FictionWho am I? Why am I here?Where am I going?What if . . .?Science fiction delights in asking old questions in new ways. Rather than being primarily about advanced technology and the imagined future, science fiction novels and films are more fundamentally about issues of human nature and destiny. They provide a unique perspective on the same questions that have dominated theology and philosophy throughout history. In this fascinating book, Mike Alsford aims neither to give a history of science fiction, nor to systematically identify specific religious motifs within the genre, but to create an interdisciplinary, exploratory space where we can engage with the primal themes in new ways. Whether we are already well-versed in science fiction, or have had only the briefest encounters with Frankenstein’s monster and Doctor Who, this book will provide exciting insights into questions of identity, the human condition, our relationships and our destiny. |
From inside the book
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Page 44
One of the best - known instances in which context begins to define identity is
within Ray Bradbury ' s Martian Chronicles written during the early 1950s . In this
sequence of stories the human beings who colonise Mars eventually begin to ...
One of the best - known instances in which context begins to define identity is
within Ray Bradbury ' s Martian Chronicles written during the early 1950s . In this
sequence of stories the human beings who colonise Mars eventually begin to ...
Page 75
In Independence Day a scene which calls to mind the beatific vision sequence in
Close Encounters – one in which an alien ship hovers above a group of
exceptional human beings and begins to communicate in light and sound -
similarly ...
In Independence Day a scene which calls to mind the beatific vision sequence in
Close Encounters – one in which an alien ship hovers above a group of
exceptional human beings and begins to communicate in light and sound -
similarly ...
Page 89
As the departed no longer possess physical bodies , with all the attendant glands
and hormones , they soon begin to lose the capacity to feel emotions ... It seems
that the loss of the body ' s emotionproducing system begins to show up .
As the departed no longer possess physical bodies , with all the attendant glands
and hormones , they soon begin to lose the capacity to feel emotions ... It seems
that the loss of the body ' s emotionproducing system begins to show up .
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Contents
What Are | 31 |
Aliens | 49 |
Where Are We Going and How Do We | 82 |
Copyright | |
2 other sections not shown
Common terms and phrases
actually alien answer appear argues attempt become begins belief body central century Christian clearly concerning condition considered context course created creature culture deal define dependent Descartes destiny Earth effect encounter Enlightenment environment establish ethical example existence experience explored fact fear film future genre human idea identity important individual interesting issues Kant kind knowledge live look Machine matter means mind nature never notion novel once ourselves particular past perhaps person philosopher physical planet possible potential present produced question reality reason referred regarded relating relationship religion religious represents science fiction seek seen sense significance simply social society space speaks Star Star Trek story theme theology things thought tradition true ultimately understanding universe utopia variety virtual whole writers
References to this book
Bibliographic information
| Title | What If?: Religious Themes in Science Fiction |
| Author | Mike Alsford |
| Publisher | Darton, Longman & Todd, 2000 |
| Original from | the University of Michigan |
| Digitized | 27 Feb 2008 |
| ISBN | 0232523479, 9780232523478 |
| Length | 164 pages |
| Export Citation | BiBTeX EndNote RefMan |