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 14
A great deal more could be said about the Enlightenment , its themes and its
thinkers , but I believe enough has been said to support the view that a great deal
of the most significant early works in SF deal with traditional Enlightenment
issues ...
A great deal more could be said about the Enlightenment , its themes and its
thinkers , but I believe enough has been said to support the view that a great deal
of the most significant early works in SF deal with traditional Enlightenment
issues ...
Page 62
19 It is always more difficult to deal with a person face to face than it is to deal
with them via some more anonymous means . Hence we make use of mediators ,
lawyers , memos , notices , answer - phones , letters , e - mail , and of course ...
19 It is always more difficult to deal with a person face to face than it is to deal
with them via some more anonymous means . Hence we make use of mediators ,
lawyers , memos , notices , answer - phones , letters , e - mail , and of course ...
Page 121
Many SF stories that appear to deal with alien worlds or extraterrestrial visitors to
our own world are concerned , at least in part , with the issues of place and
belonging - Spielberg ' s ET ( 1982 ) was famously concerned with ' phoning ' and
...
Many SF stories that appear to deal with alien worlds or extraterrestrial visitors to
our own world are concerned , at least in part , with the issues of place and
belonging - Spielberg ' s ET ( 1982 ) was famously concerned with ' phoning ' and
...
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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 |