Daily Archives: August 28, 2011

Sci-Fi and Religion

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I’m not a big fan of the sci-fi/fantasy genre which might be surprising given my demographic (you know, a white guy, kinda geeky, who reads and has always read a lot). But there have been a recent uptick of interest in the blogs I read about the relationship between sci-fi and religion (or Christianity), so in case you are a sci-fi freak and haven’t seen them, I’m providing you with the links to follow.

First up, a few weeks back, The Guardian’s Comment is Free blog asked the question: What can science fiction teach us about God? Answers from British sci-fi authors.

Then came Julie Clawson’s blog post on Sojourners. Of high quality sci-fi, Clawson writes, “they are the stories that mean something. Stories that through their imaginings of alternative worlds tap into the power of the prophetic to deliver the message that our world too is not absolute, but imagined and therefore capable of change.”

On a related note, the annotated Bible of Philip K. Dick, the prolific and talented author of Blade Runner and many other works, is up for sale on ebay. In 1974, Dick had the first of a series of visions. His last novel is an imaginative retelling of Episcopal Bishop James Pike’s spiritual quest and death in the desert, The Transmigration of Timothy Archer.

Rick Perry, Michele Bachmann, Dominionism, and the pundits

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Julie Ingersoll defends the coverage of Dominionism by herself and others here. Douglas Groothuis, of Denver Seminary, challenges the media’s narrative concerning Bachmann’s relationship to Dominionism.

Meanwhile, outgoing NYTimes editor Bill Keller wrote a piece in the Sunday Times Magazine in which he calls for close scrutiny of the religious beliefs of candidates. The list of questions is here. Pascal-Emanuel Gobry’s takedown of Keller is well-worth the read.

And it’s rather unfortunate that in a piece advocating questioning of presidential candidates’ concerning their religious belief and practice, Rick Santorum was identified originally as an Evangelical, not a Roman Catholic.

Islamophobia

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The full report can be found through links here. But the summary itself is chilling.

The report’s authors write:

This report shines a light on the Islamophobia network of so-called experts, academics, institutions, grassroots organizations, media outlets, and donors who manufacture, produce, distribute, and mainstream an irrational fear of Islam and Muslims. Let us learn the proper lesson from the past, and rise above fear-mongering to public awareness, acceptance, and respect for our fellow Americans. In doing so, let us prevent hatred from infecting and endangering our country again.

The defend their use of the term Islamophobia in this way:

We define it as an exaggerated fear, hatred, and hostility toward Islam and Muslims that is perpetuated by negative stereotypes resulting in bias, discrimination, and the marginalization and exclusion of Muslims from America’s social, political, and civic life.

They conclude:

It is our view that in order to safeguard our national security and uphold America’s core values, we must return to a fact-based civil discourse regarding the challenges we face as a nation and world. This discourse must be frank and honest, but also consistent with American values of religious liberty, equal justice under the law, and respect for pluralism.

Well put!

Other perspectives at Religion Dispatches.