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. |
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Page 59
14 It is not just our culture ' s preoccupation with youth and beauty that has been
recast in the mode of something dangerous and alienating ; SF has a unique
capacity to take the idols and icons of a culture and expose their disturbing and ...
14 It is not just our culture ' s preoccupation with youth and beauty that has been
recast in the mode of something dangerous and alienating ; SF has a unique
capacity to take the idols and icons of a culture and expose their disturbing and ...
Page 63
Other cultures are regarded as quaint or underdeveloped or even primitive in
comparison to our own . Western colonialism has often been spoken of as
bringing ' civilisation ' to these other cultures and yet what is actually meant is that
we are ...
Other cultures are regarded as quaint or underdeveloped or even primitive in
comparison to our own . Western colonialism has often been spoken of as
bringing ' civilisation ' to these other cultures and yet what is actually meant is that
we are ...
Page 94
The recognition that other cultures might have achieved a level of enlightened
civilised existence without excessive use of ... themselves out of sync within a
culture that values physical substance and the power to manipulate it above all
else .
The recognition that other cultures might have achieved a level of enlightened
civilised existence without excessive use of ... themselves out of sync within a
culture that values physical substance and the power to manipulate it above all
else .
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Contents
What Are | 31 |
Aliens | 49 |
Where Are We Going and How Do We | 82 |
Copyright | |
1 other sections not shown
Common terms and phrases
actually alien answer appear argues attempt become begins belief body central century Christian clearly concerning 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 give hope 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 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 |