Science Fiction and Christian Theology Victoria Lorrimar (University of Notre Dame, Australia) 9781009565585

Theologians often struggle to engage with scientific and technological proposals meaningfully in our contemporary context. This Element provides an introduction to the use of science fiction as a conversation partner for theological reflection, arguing that it shifts the science - religion dialogue away from propositional discourse in a more fruitful and imaginative direction. Science fiction is presented as a mediator between theological and scientific disciplines and worldviews in the context of recent methodological debates. Several sections provide examples of theological engagement in relation to the themes of embodiment, human uniqueness, disability and economic inequalities, exploring relevant technologies such as mind-uploading, artificial intelligence, and virtual reality in dialogue with select works of science fiction. A final section considers the pragmatic challenge of progress in the real world towards the more utopian futures presented in science fiction.

This Element engages science fiction to think theologically about emerging technologies in relation to embodiment and human uniqueness.

Book Information
ISBN 9781009565585
Author Victoria Lorrimar
Format Hardback
Page Count 82
Imprint Cambridge University Press
Publisher Cambridge University Press
Series Elements of Christianity and Science