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 12
... Reason , Kant seeks to establish confidence in the capacity of human reason via a careful defi- nition of its limits . In essence Kant maintains , following Locke , that all true knowledge is dependent upon sense experi- ence but , he ...
... Reason , Kant seeks to establish confidence in the capacity of human reason via a careful defi- nition of its limits . In essence Kant maintains , following Locke , that all true knowledge is dependent upon sense experi- ence but , he ...
Page 16
... reason that SF ought properly to be seen both as a product of the Enlightenment , in that it seeks to engage with these questions , but also as transcending the Enlightenment , in that it is the questions themselves that are central ...
... reason that SF ought properly to be seen both as a product of the Enlightenment , in that it seeks to engage with these questions , but also as transcending the Enlightenment , in that it is the questions themselves that are central ...
Page 79
... reason ) , or unwilling to deal with what is emerging as the disintegration of the justification traditionally provided for such idols , he has taken refuge in another form of security , a ' last ' form of justification . What he now ...
... reason ) , or unwilling to deal with what is emerging as the disintegration of the justification traditionally provided for such idols , he has taken refuge in another form of security , a ' last ' form of justification . What he now ...
Contents
What Are We? | 26 |
Aliens We | 49 |
Where Are We Going and How Do We | 82 |
Copyright | |
1 other sections not shown
Common terms and phrases
Aldiss alien android argues Arrakis attempt Augustine become Blade Runner body Borg Brian Aldiss century Christian classic concerning context created creation creature culture cyberpunk define Descartes destiny divine Earth Emmanuel Levinas encounter Enlightenment environment episode essence ethical example experience explored fear film Frankenstein genetic genre of SF Gernsback human condition human existence human nature humanity's Ibid individual Invaders Invaders from Mars issues Kant Karl Barth Klaatu Levinas live Machine Mars Attacks Martians Masterpiece Society means Merleau-Ponty mind modern motif movie Neuromancer novel ourselves Pannenberg particular person perspective philosopher physical planet post-modern potential present question rational reason relationship religion religious Relph science fiction scientific seek seen sense SF writers significance simply SISKO Snow Crash social society space speaks species Star Trek theme theologian theology things thought tradition ultimately understanding utopia virtual reality virtual world William Gibson Wolfhart Pannenberg world-view