“I believe that [science fiction] is an invaluable tool in envisioning the future of our science, our society, and our spirituality. SF tells us not only what the future may bring, but what we want the future to bring, and what we can do to make it happen. It is not only prophetic, but providential; it wants not only to see into tomorrow, but to build it. This need not apply to our science alone. SF can teach us how to keep our belief alive and relevant in a rapidly changing world. It can teach us how to stay human, how not to lose our meaning in the face of technologies that change the way we live our lives. SF can be a spiritual tool. It is my hope that the believers of today can use it to create the faith of tomorrow. SF is shaping how we think of God, and changing what religion can be. It is forging the faith of the future.”
—from the introduction
In this thorough and engaging book, Gabriel McKee explores the inherent theological nature of science fiction, using illustrations from television shows, literature, and films. Science fiction, he believes, helps us understand not only who we are but who we will become. McKee organizes his chapters around theological themes, using illustrations from authors such as Isaac Asimov and H. G. Wells, television shows such as Star Trek and The Twilight Zone, and films such as The Matrix and Star Wars. With its extensive bibliography and index, this is a book that all serious science fiction fans—not just those with a theological interest—will appreciate.
Gabriel McKee is the author of Pink Beams of Light from the God in the Gutter: The Science Fictional Religion of Philip K. Dick, as well as articles on religion in popular culture for the Revealer and Nerve, and is the founder of the weblog sfgospel.com. He earned his Master of Theological Studies from Harvard Divinity School and lives in Brooklyn, New York, with his wife, Gwynne, a playwright.
