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Religion in
Science Fiction:
Does religion have a
place in our far
future?
Johnny Zapata
Eng 2420 2016
Professor Belli
Consequences of No Conflict between Religion and Science
Role of an Antagonist
Antagonist ≠ Villain
In Robert Mckee’s guide to
screenwriting Story, he
states,
“A protagonist and his [or
her] story can only be as
intellectually compelling as
the forces of antagonism
make them” (317).
TRUE CHARACTER can
only be expressed through
choice in dilemma. How the
person chooses to act under
pressure is who he [or she] is
– the greater the pressure,
the truer and deeper the
choice to character. (375)
In his Book The Anatomy
of Story, Fellow
screenwriter John Truby
writes in:
“It is only by competing
for the same goal that the
hero and the opponent
are forced to come into
direct conflict and to do
so again and again
throughout the story”
(52)
James Blish, A Case of Conscience
(1958)
A Jesuit priest is sent to communicate
with aliens who exhibit ideal Catholic
morality, but do not believe in god.
The protagonist faces the dilemma of
either introducing humanity to the
enlightened aliens, and potentially
challenging Catholicism or banishing
the alien race to further contact with
humans.
Should religion be allowed to
propagate to other planets, other
forms of life?
Should we mettle at all in the lives of
other beings?
Isaac Asimov, Reason (1941)
A new robot name QT-1 is employed
to work in a space station collecting
energy to for human use. QT-1
doesn’t take the humans explanation
of the universe at face value. It
decides Energy Converter he was
built to overlook is indeed God itself
and that it, QT-1 is a prophet.
As the creators of intelligent life, do
we have the right to dictate their lives
or beliefs?
Moreover, should we act as “gods” to
the robots? As perfect beings, are they
superior to us or should we treat
them as equals?
Lester Del Rey, Into Thy Hands
(1945)
A scientist foresees the end of
humanity and creates robots to carry
on the human race. He builds three
robots with unique roles in recreating
human life on earth. One robot, SA10, has knowledge of religion.
Another, Eve has knowledge of
science and another the raw materials
for recreating life.
Why does the scientist deem both
religion and science necessary for the
survival of humanity?
Could humanity forgo one or both?
Could the two work together or is
humanity’s fate cyclical?
For now, these novels seem like quaint musings. However, in the
indeterminable future, either near or far, the conflicts in the aforementioned
science fiction stories may become our problems.
Were we to find other life in the universe, as “superior beings” do we have any
right to influence their lives through religion or science?
Sooner or later we will create artificial intelligence. Do we have any right to
dictate it’s life?
Neither science or religion are perfect, were humanity given a second chance,
should we pass on knowledge of either to ourselves?
Should we ignore the questions science fiction proffers, we may find ourselves
unprepared to deal with the consequences of creating life and finding
ourselves with the responsibilities of a god.
The unending conflict with religion in the genre of SF will help spark these
questions that may be of great importance to us in the future.
Rudy V. Busto Relgion/Science/Fiction: Beyond the Final Frontier
Robert M. Geraci. Robots and the Sacred in Science and Science
Fiction: Theological Implications of Artificial Intelligence
Steven Hrotic. Religion in Science Fiction: The Evolution of an Idea
and the Extinction of a Genre
Paul J Nahin. Holy Sci-Fi! Where Science Fiction and Religion
Intersect
James F. McGrath. Religion and Science Fiction
Adam Roberts. The History of Science Fiction