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 54
The wave upon wave of refugees abandoning their homes in the face of
rapacious and destructive powers which they cannot possibly match has become
one of the characteristic images of both our inhumanity and our impotence . It is
an ...
The wave upon wave of refugees abandoning their homes in the face of
rapacious and destructive powers which they cannot possibly match has become
one of the characteristic images of both our inhumanity and our impotence . It is
an ...
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 111
The consenus of SF is that this would be a bad thing , that individuality is
something to be cherished and fought for in the face of all the Daleks , Cybermen
and Borg . However , and as cyberpunk authors such as William Gibson have
shown us ...
The consenus of SF is that this would be a bad thing , that individuality is
something to be cherished and fought for in the face of all the Daleks , Cybermen
and Borg . However , and as cyberpunk authors such as William Gibson have
shown us ...
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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 |