Christianity and Science Fiction Conference

Christianity and Science Fiction Conference July 29, 2021

The website is now up, and registration is now open, for a conference that I am involved in organizing:

Christianity & Science Fiction: A Virtual Event (11-13 October, 2021)

The Michigan Center for Early Christian Studies, in partnership with the Department of Middle East Studies (University of Michigan), is pleased to announce a four-day virtual conference that explores the symbiotic relationship between Christianity and science fiction. The meeting is chaired by James McGrath, Gabriele Boccaccini, Jason von Ehrenkrook, Deborah Forger, and Joshua Scott.

Registration

Sign up for the event here: https://tinyurl.com/cfzkd72c

Keynote Speaker

Keynote: Maurice Broaddus
My Spiritual Journey as a SF Writer

Bio: Maurice Broaddus is an accidental teacher (at the Oaks Academy Middle School), an accidental librarian (the School Library Manager which part of the IndyPL Shared System), and a purposeful community organizer (resident Afrofuturist at the Kheprw Institute). His work has appeared in Magazine of F&SF, Lightspeed Magazine, Beneath Ceaseless Skies, Asimov’s, and Uncanny Magazine, with some of his stories having been collected in The Voices of Martyrs. His novels include the urban fantasy trilogy, The Knights of Breton Court, the steampunk novel, Pimp My Airship, and the middle grade detective novel series, The Usual Suspects. As an editor, he’s worked on Dark Faith, Fireside Magazine, and Apex Magazine. His gaming work includes writing for the Marvel Super-Heroes, Leverage, and Firefly role-playing games as well as working as a consultant on Watch Dogs 2. Learn more about him at MauriceBroaddus.com.

Speakers & Provisional Presentation Titles

Rudy Busto (University of California, Santa Barbara), TBA

Maria Doerfler (Yale University), Amatka, Ritual and World-Building

Jason Eberl (St. Louis University), “I See a Suite of Armor around the World”: Tony’s Stark’s Techno-Idolatry

Juli Gittinger (Georgia College and State University), Diving Deeper into DEVS

Amanda MacInnis Hackney (University of Toronto), Shore Leave: The Theological Significance of Rest in the Star Trek Universe

Paul Levinson (Fordham University), Jesuits in Science Fiction about Space Travel

Laura Lieber (Duke University), Masks and Mimesis: Gideon the Ninth, The Memory Theater, and the Power of Words

Gavin McDowell (PhD École Pratique des Hautes Études), Paris Sciences & Lettres Canon and Apocrypha in Neon Genesis Evangelion

Gabriel McKee (New York University), Utopia and the Kingdom of Heaven in the Legion of Super-Heroes and Miracleman

Kelly Jean Murphy (Central Michigan University), Nostrum Remedium: Apocalypse and Science Fiction

Roger Sneed (Furman University), Far Beyond Those Distant Stars: Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and an Afrofuturistic Approach to Religion

 

Take a look at the presenter bios and other information on the Michigan Center for Early Christian Studies website!

Of related interest:

I was interviewed by the author of this really fascinating recent article on Mormonism, pageants, cosplay, and science fiction. Although I’m not quoted in it, the conversation influenced it, while I’ve also learned a lot from the article and trust that you will too.

The Star Wars website has a great new piece about religions of the Force in the Star Wars universe. Reading it made me realize how much Ahsoka Tano might be viewed as exemplifying the rejection of organized religion, yet without abandoning everything that constitutes religion per se.

There is an event today featuring four authors talking about Star Trek

Existential Comics brings together academics, philosophy, science fiction, and superheroes

A presentation about the intersection of ancient Egypt and Star Wars:

There’s a new Doctor Who trailer for the upcoming season, revealed at a panel at San Diego Comic Con

Finally, a poster you can share:


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