Atheists and science fiction/fantasy?

Question

Perhaps my sampling is a bit small, but it seems to me that atheists tend to be fans of science fiction and fantasy. I've noticed this trend both online and in real life.

If my assumption is correct, do you think that that might be due to the fact that everyone LIKES to believe in magic, and/or likes to relate to fantastic stories, but atheists simply get their kicks reading novels. While religious types get their kicks by actually BELIEVING the chosen novel of their religion is real?

What I mean is, I like to imagine things like Harry Potter for example. I often daydream about such things. It would be neat if Hogwarts was a real place.

But theists actually DO believe in a Hogwarts of sorts. And their need for "fantasy" is fulfilled in church, etc. So they are often less interested in fantasy and science fiction?

Edit - Did Nina just prove me right? :) I'm thinking so.

And btw Nina, you don't know me, and you don't know anything about my "relationship" with Jesus. I'd wager I've been a more devout Christian in my life than you have.

Edit- RIF - I didn't insult you. Grow up. And I also didn't say Christians don't like fantasy. I'm talking about trends here.

Answer 1

Atheist and a bit of a fan of various fantasy/sci-fi type things. I find I can enjoy some of them more now than I could when I was religious, since my religious upbringing taught me that things like Buffy the Vampire Slayer were evil.

These days, I watch Buffy and Angel, read Sluggy Freelance, play Final Fantasy and Xenosaga/Xenogears, and enjoy the novels of Haruki Murakami. That's all stuff that appeals to both my imagination and my love of trying to predict what will happen next, based on clues left in the story.

That desire to try to predict the future is a big part of the appeal to me, especially with Xenosaga and Sluggy. I spent far too many hours thinking about the ending to the first Xenosaga after I finished it, wondering what would happen next and tracking down references on the various religious and psychoanalytical references in the game. I ended up getting a few things right (for instance, predicting the future appearance of the character Citrine and her relation to Rubedo).

Sluggy is still like that, since its story hasn't finished yet. If it ever ends, I'll probably need some other outlet for that.

This is probably why I also like my art and my writing. Like everyone else, I have a need to engage my imagination, and I like the storytelling aspects of religions. I just can't bring myself to believe in them as real.



For another example, look at how many people get a kick out of ancient Norse, Greek, Roman, Babylonian, and Egyptian religion, despite no one believing in any of them anymore. The stories can be entertaining and even somewhat meaningful even if they aren't true.



Some here argue that Christians can enjoy these things as well, but I don't think that's the point. The point appears to be that they are especially attractive to someone who does not have a predefined set of stories to revere. So the religious get Jesus and Moses, and we get Luke Skywalker and Frodo Baggins.



However, I still think I should be cautious about attributing a causal relationship here. Atheism tends to be more popular among the young and the well-educated, and that also happens to be the target market of a lot of fantasy and sci-fi these days. It could be that the two overlap because of a coincidence.

Answer 2

I'm not into fantasy at all. A little into science fiction. I loved everything Douglas Adams wrote and I like Red Dwarf, but beyond that I don't get into too much sci-fi. I prefer crime solving forensics shows (the real ones, not the CSI Hollywood crap) and medical shows. I watch much Discovery Health.

Answer 3

Christians like scifi and fantasy too.....I was glad to have read once that Mother Theresa was a scifi nut and that even when she was in the remotest area's where the written word was hard to come by, the Lord always managed to have a scifi book or mag for her everywhere she went. :)

Many Christians do not believe we should read this sort of stuff....but....there is a LOT to be learned from those types of literature and movies....same as reading and researching about anything else that is "not of the Lord".....May not be for everyone, just like with some music....if it interferes with your walk it is not for you....but the time comes when you are free from or covered from being harmed by the "venom" from what some consider "the poisonous snake"....

As in all things, ask God FIRST.

Peace be with you :)

***by the way....I too am a Final Fantasy fan.....and I disagree with your idea of whom like scifi and fantasy.....I think it wouldn't matter if people whom like that stuff would change to Christian or to atheism....it's the type of PERSONALITY one has that seems to decide these things...NOT religious belief or lack of it. :) **LOVE "Xanth" series!!!

Answer 4

Interesting assumption. I am an atheist.
I used to be quite into Sci-Fi in the written form or in TV/movies. For the last number of years though, I've become kind of tired with that genre, although the odd good one will still catch my attention.

Coincidentally, in the last few years my interest in world events, humanity and politics has increased and along with it, I've 'come out' as an atheist.

Answer 5

It might be that if they accepted that fantasy can be fiction they might start wondering about the bible in ways that their pastor would not like.

I don't think they like SF because most of the time there is no god in there at all. Most SF societies are agnostic or atheist.

Then you get SF writers like Harry Harrison who pull no punches in their beliefs - read the short story "The Streets of Ashkelon". Pastor Ted is REALLY going to get angry at that one.


Where is the Dark-sided troll? I would have thought that a mention of Harry Potter would have brought her/him/it out.

Answer 6

I love Harry Potter, LOTR, and Wizard of Oz, and other fantasy books. I guess its because I believe that the Bible is the truth and for me I need the fantasy in my life in the form of fictional novels. However I believe in the truth of God and Jesus because I want to be a good person, I want to live my life for God and Jesus, and I know He wants me to also. I do not believe because I enjoy fantasy.

I think that you statement is partly true however. It makes a lot of sense to why non believes are more interested in fantasy themes.

Answer 7

Wrong. I read Piers Anthony's "Xanth" novels as much as I can. He's the best writer of fantasy I've ever read. So, atheists need their daily illusion to hedge their bets that a "fairy-tale" place like hell doesn't exist, eh? Wow. That's must be real comforting. You people are truly amusing.

Answer 8

Lol I like that hypothesis actually.

But I think it's simpler than that. We're nerds. Nerds like to think about things. We can argue for ours about whether Superman can outrun the Flash, and we can also spend hours thinking about Science.

Answer 9

I'm not an atheist... and I even write fantasy.



So Hogwarts is similar to heaven?... is THAT why everyone thinks God is an old man with a long white beard?


**edit**

Yes, final fantasy all the way. :p

Answer 10

They lose control and can't come back to reality.

Fantasies are fun and a way to explore one's own imagination. This is the first step down the road towards independent thought.

Thinking beyond one's control can inject new and unwanted ideas into the head.