Religion in Science Fiction

<i>Religion in Science Fiction </i>investigates the history of the representations of religion in science fiction literature. Space travel futuristic societies and non-human cultures are traditional themes in science fiction. Speculating on the societal impacts of as-yet-undiscovered technologies is after all one of the distinguishing characteristics of science fiction literature. A more surprising theme may be a parallel exploration of religion: its institutional nature social functions and the tensions between religious and scientific worldviews. <br/><br/>Steven Hrotic investigates the representations of religion in 19th century proto-science fiction and genre science fiction from the 1920s through the end of the century. Taken together he argues that these stories tell an overarching story-a 'metanarrative'-of an evolving respect for religion paralleling a decline in the belief that science will lead us to an ideal (and religion-free) future.<br/><br/>Science fiction's metanarrative represents more than simply a shift in popular perceptions of religion: it also serves as a model for cognitive anthropology providing new insights into how groups and identities form in a globalized world and into how crucial a role narratives may play. Ironically this same perspective suggests that science fiction as it was in the 20th century may no longer exist.