Describing Religion and Science Fiction

August 27, 2009 By 31 Comments

In addition to teaching my Historical Jesus class for the first time this semester, I also plan to work on the course description for the new course on religion and science fiction that I’ll be teaching in the Spring.

The gist of it will be something along the following lines:

This course will explore and critically reflect on religious themes, motifs, concepts and allusions in science fiction (including television and film as well as classic and more recent literature). Philosophical and ethical issues with a religious component will also be considered.

The real question is whether it should end with something like the following:

So join the Dharma Initiative, jack into the matrix, and boldly go where no Butler student has gone before!

Any thoughts?

Filed Under: Uncategorized 31 Comments
  • http://www.blogger.com/profile/12399706958844399216 terri

    "So join the Dharma Initiative, jack into the matrix, and boldly go where no Butler student has gone before!"That might be a bit much! ;-) Students might think they need to show up in a federation uniform….and a few probably would.

  • http://www.blogger.com/profile/08685225014024766175 Eruesso

    I took Religion in Popular Media from Rabbi Rami Shapiro at MTSU and absolutely loved it. The only problem is that there is so much material out there to cover that we couldn't spend a lot of time on one film/tv show. I would love to take a course on Religion and Scifi but MTSU only offers a minor in religion.

  • http://www.blogger.com/profile/03089281236217906531 Scott F

    I took a Science Fiction course taught be someone frmo the linguistics department. I was amazed at the linguistics elements – even discounting Tolkien (not SciFi but unavoidable i the context.)

  • http://www.blogger.com/profile/02561146722461747647 James F. McGrath

    Course materials in Klingon? I'll have to think about that. I did actually have students try to "translate" a religious text into an alien language – in fact what I really did was have them try to write a commentary that explained the religious text to extraterrestrials who could not be assumed to share biology, much less culture, with the text's author(s) and original readers.

  • http://www.blogger.com/profile/10284885669467260512 Shaylin

    I think the closing line will get you a few rolled eyes, but also a few chuckles. I liked it fine, personally.Also, if you haven't considered any of Orson Scott Card's Ender books (particularly Speaker for the Dead, Xenocide, and Children of the Mind – the three direct sequels to Ender's Game), you might want to take a look. The religious/philosophical themes in those books are pretty prevalent.Also, this course makes me wish I were a student at your university – I would love it.

  • Carlos

    One of the religious aspects of the Star Wars series which grabs me is the thought, "what if the Redeemer needs to be redeemed?" That's why you have, in effect, two redeemers in the Star Wars mythos: Anakin Skywalker, who redeems the universe by killing the last Sith Lord, thereby restoring balance to the Force, and Luke Skywalker, who redeems his father. Luke can't do what Anakin can — kill the last Sith Lord — but he can redeem his father, and in that sense, redeem the Redeemer. It might make for an interesting twist on the meaning of redemption.

  • Carlos

    Stargate: SG-1 is also rich along these lines (the series, not the movie). One of the premises is that all the 'pagan' gods of antiquity were in fact aliens (mostly cruel, a few benevolent). These aliens continue to rule over human populations throughout the galaxy and are worshiped as gods. Now, this part fascinates me: the aliens are said to be false gods. But there are no "true gods" anywhere within the Stargate universe. There are beings of vast power, and a few main characters are people of faith, but the true god is a deus absconditus. Yet the concept of a god is so intuitively obvious to all the characters that no one has any trouble identifying some beings as false gods (i.e. as failing to correspond adequately to the concept).

  • http://www.blogger.com/profile/02561146722461747647 James F. McGrath

    I've never really watched Stargate (the TV show; I saw the movie). It sounds like maybe I should get it on DVD and remedy that!

  • http://www.blogger.com/profile/13633407562888054314 Ted

    I like it. And if people show up in Federation uniforms, is that so bad?

  • http://www.blogger.com/profile/18037406583478493064 Erp

    Strictly Science Fiction or also including Speculative Fiction (e.g., Tolkien)? As for the ending. Well the students might be attracted, but, what will the administration think?I wonder if the students are familiar with Dr. Who or Blakes 7. Does the Prisoner count as SF? Frankenstein by Shelley? 20,000 Leagues by Jules Verne (the unexpurgated English version). They probably have read Brave New World. This looks like a course where the term paper should cover one or more works not on the course syllabus.

  • http://www.blogger.com/profile/02561146722461747647 James F. McGrath

    I know the lines can get a bit fuzzy, but I think I'll have more than enough (too much in fact!) that is solidly in the category of sci-fi, that I can leave fantasy (e.g. Tolkien) out. If the students aren't familiar with Dr. Who, they will be before I'm through with them! :)

  • http://www.danielomcclellan.wordpress.com Daniel O. McClellan

    If you're going for specific religious traditions, you've got (in addition to Orson Scott Card) Battlestar Galactica, which is rife with Latter-day Saint ideology.

  • http://www.blogger.com/profile/02561146722461747647 James F. McGrath

    One more thing: I always thought that a class on religion and science fiction at Butler University ought to be called "The Butlerian Jihad", but I'm not sure whether enough students have read Dune to get the joke…

  • http://www.blogger.com/profile/13633407562888054314 Ted

    I suspect not.

  • David

    Babylon 5 is completely about religion, and even has Zathrus as John the Baptist.

  • http://www.blogger.com/profile/09539170598198122642 Chris

    I've read Dune, and I still wouldn't have gotten the joke.

  • http://www.blogger.com/profile/09539170598198122642 Chris

    James,You've never watched Stargate: SG-1!? That's one of my favorites!!

  • http://www.blogger.com/profile/15978901530276696858 Matt B

    Is that picture a statue of Anubis? Where is that?

  • Paul

    I'll second the Stargate SG-1 recommendation – I find GateWorld.net to be an excellent resource for navigating around the Stargate universe. Where is the statue? I actually had a passing thought it could be a screenshot from the Stargate MMORPG (which I've never played).

  • Anonymous

    What about the religion of Bajor (Star Trek: DS9)? Wormhole aliens or gods??That was one cool series.

  • http://www.blogger.com/profile/09539170598198122642 Chris

    Speaking of Stargate, seasons 1-6 can be watched for free on Hulu…

  • http://www.blogger.com/profile/18037406583478493064 Erp

    I would be interested in knowing what the readings/watchings are going to be for this course. The choice is huge even with dropping fantasy (no Harry Potter, LoTR…) and the students do have to sleep/work on other courses.

  • http://www.blogger.com/profile/06788065724877625817 Gabriel Mckee

    Re: that last line: fine for the syllabus, but probably a bit much for the course description in the catalog. I'd love to see the syllabus when it's done, btw…

  • http://www.blogger.com/profile/08014885672703727636 Ken Brown

    Sounds great! Though maybe "plug into the matrix," since hearing "jack" right after Dharma makes me think of Jack!Oh, and I second the recommendation of Stargate SG-1 (and to a lesser degree Stargate Atlantis). The series was constantly dealing with religious themes (though most often negatively), and the first six seasons at least are free on Hulu. Seasons 4 to 8 are by far the most fun of the series, but the religious themes are strongest in seasons 1 to 3 and 9 to 10. Glancing through the episode guide, those that stand out to me for their explicit religious themes are: 1.1 (Children of the Gods), 1.9 (Thor's Hammer), 1.10 (The Torment of Tantalus),2.15 (The Fifth Race), 3.2 (Seth), 3.13 (The Devil You Know), 3.20 (Maternal Instinct), 4.13 (The Curse), 5.3 (Ascension), 5.21 (Meridian), 6.22 (Full Circle), 7.1 (Fallen), 8.18 (Threads), 9.3 (Origin), 9.5 (The Powers the Be), 9.11-12 (The Fourth Horseman), 9.19 (Crusade), 10.1 (Flesh and Blood), 10.10-11 (The Quest), 10.14 (The Shroud). Also the Stargate SG-1 direct to DVD movie "Ark of Truth."Enjoy!

  • http://www.blogger.com/profile/05377158305586280009 Gareth McCaughan

    FWIW, I'm with the eye-rollers rather than the chucklers. It'll sound like you're trying too hard. "See how cool I am!" (I'm sure the actual course will be excellent.)

  • http://www.blogger.com/profile/13599662252662686373 BSM

    How about?"Resistance is futile. You will be assimilated."Or since you now have tenure you can be provocative:"Religion is futile. You will be assimilated.";)

  • Anonymous

    I'd like to see the proposed reading list.I proudly display a bookshelf of Sci-fi among my many volules of theology. Somehow it fits well between pure theology and practicle theology

  • http://www.blogger.com/profile/04862021433983306747 Tim King

    You better get some Philip K Dick in there: Transmigration of Timothy Archer, Even Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep. Phil considered himself a Christian and of course the whole VALIS thing. Also L Ron Hubbard who forsook SCIFI in the 50s because he figured out there was more money in religion (watch out for critics on this one).

  • http://www.blogger.com/profile/02561146722461747647 James F. McGrath

    Thanks for all the suggestions!Matt, the picture is one I found online, connected with a King Tut exhibit, but it looks like it could be a scene from the next season of LOST…

  • http://www.humanistsofmn.org Scott

    Jim, You have crossed over into a place known as the "Totally Nerdy" zone. lol. I love the tag.I'm still miffed that your school is too far away for me to take your classes. Please post the readling list for the class.

  • http://www.blogger.com/profile/02561146722461747647 James F. McGrath

    I've been in the zone a long time. If you want proof, click here.