Sci-fi and the Essentials

As promised in my hamburger post, here are some thoughts I have about science fiction and Christians. Incidentally, per suggestion of a friend, I will be testing out what happens when the burger starts out as an oval. But back to science fiction. I love science fiction. I've become an avid reader of fantasy literature as well. Both genres have been considered suspect at best and absolutely sinful and evil at worst by many people who consider themselves very conservative Christians. My profile states that I hope to publish the next great sci-fi or fantasy novel. Like many others, I do not see how being on a Christian faith journey is incompatible with a love for these genres of literature.

I've tried to discern why this disparaging view exists in some people's mind. I can certainly understand some of the opposition by Christian groups. Some fantasy literature does border on promoting the occult, but not all. References to multiple gods also trouble some. Science fiction (or science in general) has a reputation for being totally naturalistic, humanistic, and altogether anti-God. But these wide sweeping generalizations wipe out examples of this literature that come nowhere close to exhibiting these characteristics. And even if they exist, should a good story be ignored and not seen as just that, a good story?


C.S. Lewis and The Chronicles of Narnia are always the exception. These books are allowed in, but none other. It has been said, however, that these books would have never been "accepted" if published for the first time in today's society. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings have enjoyed a recent admission to the list. The funny thing is neither author claimed to have inserted overtly Christian themes into these, at least not purposefully. I'll admit that's hard to argue when reading Lewis, but not so with Tolkien. Could it be that Christians are reading into these stories that which they want to see, so they can justify liking them?


Before we go down a postmodern path where truth is relative and we begin pondering who really determines what something is saying, let's come back to the science fiction antipathy. Why are Christians afraid of it? Does the possibility that life exists in other parts of the universe really contradict God so much, just because Genesis does not mention it? Is the notion, even without extraterrestrial life, that humans might explore and colonize the outer reaches of our galaxy and beyond, hundreds of thousands of years from now so great a challenge to the predominant view of the end time as many interpret the book of Revelations?


These thoughts should not be construed as an attack on interpretations that disagree with mine. I'm just curious as to why the disagreement can become some energized. What is it about sci-fi and fantasy that scares many Christians, beyond those things I mentioned above? By the way, I think this will eventually lead us down the postmodern path. What do you think?