Religion in Science Fiction - The Evolution of an Idea and the Extinction of a Genre

Religion in Science Fiction investigates the history of the representations of religion in science fiction literature. Space travel, futuristic societies, and non-human cultures are traditional themes in science fiction. Speculating on the societal impacts of as-yet-undiscovered technologies is, after all, one of the distinguishing characteristics of science fiction literature. A more surprising theme may be a parallel exploration of religion: its institutional nature, social functions, and the tensions between religious and scientific worldviews. Steven Hrotic investigates the representations of religion in 19th century proto-science fiction, and genre science fiction from the 1920s through the end of the century. Taken together, he argues that these stories tell an overarching story-a 'metanarrative'-of an evolving respect for religion, paralleling a decline in the belief that science will lead us to an ideal (and religion-free) future.Science fiction's metanarrative represents more than simply a shift in popular perceptions of religion: it also serves as a model for cognitive anthropology, providing new insights into how groups and identities form in a globalized world, and into how crucial a role narratives may play. Ironically, this same perspective suggests that science fiction, as it was in the 20th century, may no longer exist.

Product details

• Authors: Steven Hrotic, Steven (University of Vermont Hrotic, Steven Michael Hrotic, Hrotic Steven, Hrotic Steven Michae
• Publisher: Bloomsbury Academic
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Released: 31.07.2014
• EAN: 9781472533555
• ISBN: 978-1-4725-3355-5
• No. of pages: 240
• Series: Scientific Studies of Religion: Inquiry and Explanation; Scientific Studies of Religion; Scientific Studies of Religion; Scientific Studies of Religion: Inquiry and Explanation
• Subjects: Humanities, art, music > Linguistics and literary studies > English linguistics / literary studies; Non-fiction book > Philosophy, religion > Religion: general, reference works; RELIGION / General, Religious issues & debates, Literary studies: fiction, novelists & prose writers, Literary studies: fiction, novelists and prose writers, Religious issues and debates, LITERARY CRITICISM / Novel as Form