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 24
both the past and the future in the hope that we might gain greater control over
the present . We are constantly exhorted not to live in the past , to lay to rest the
ghosts of the past and to look towards the future , to live our lives looking forward
...
both the past and the future in the hope that we might gain greater control over
the present . We are constantly exhorted not to live in the past , to lay to rest the
ghosts of the past and to look towards the future , to live our lives looking forward
...
Page 41
In many respects every time - travel story speaks to our anxiety over the future ,
the intractability of the past and our struggle to master the present . Once we are
aware of the process of our own becoming we can look back in anguish over ...
In many respects every time - travel story speaks to our anxiety over the future ,
the intractability of the past and our struggle to master the present . Once we are
aware of the process of our own becoming we can look back in anguish over ...
Page 101
Renaissance humanists , therefore , tended to look to a lost golden age in the
past rather than forward to some new paradise never before experienced by
human beings . It was during the seventeenth century that a belief began to
develop in ...
Renaissance humanists , therefore , tended to look to a lost golden age in the
past rather than forward to some new paradise never before experienced by
human beings . It was during the seventeenth century that a belief began to
develop in ...
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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 |