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
Results 1-3 of 51
Page 25
And all the while the question is the same : What are we ? SF writers are surely
no more likely to be able to answer this question definitively than anyone else .
What they do , however , is engage with it through another , more manageable ...
And all the while the question is the same : What are we ? SF writers are surely
no more likely to be able to answer this question definitively than anyone else .
What they do , however , is engage with it through another , more manageable ...
Page 26
I The Primal Question : What Are We ? I think it might be true to say that the
fundamental questions that concern us are questions that concern US . No matter
what field of research we are involved in , at the very root of human enquiry is the
...
I The Primal Question : What Are We ? I think it might be true to say that the
fundamental questions that concern us are questions that concern US . No matter
what field of research we are involved in , at the very root of human enquiry is the
...
Page 27
Questions concerning what actually constitutes human - ness are addressed in a
variety of ways via stories concerned ... This is brought into focus when the
android ' s defence council turns the question around and asks the court to define
...
Questions concerning what actually constitutes human - ness are addressed in a
variety of ways via stories concerned ... This is brought into focus when the
android ' s defence council turns the question around and asks the court to define
...
What people are saying - Write a review
We haven't found any reviews in the usual places.
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