(SF, fantasy, sword and sorcery, horror, ...)
..seeing that so many authors can also write crazy stuff, speak of god(s), ...
take Terry Pratchett...how many of you believers, like his books?
(I expect quite a lot..except for the fundies) ( but do they read anything ? )
2007-11-02 04:17:41 · 16 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I am an atheist, and rarely (if ever) read science fiction... but I know some who do. I've heard just recently about Terry Pratchett. It would be interesting to know if there is a correlation.
2007-11-02 04:20:58 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
No it doesn't.
Many christians dislike the Harry Potter books because they are about witchcraft and sorcery but they quite happily read The Chronicals of Narnia which are about witchcraft and sorcery.
The fact that the second was written by a prominent christian probably has something to do with this double standard.
2007-11-02 11:23:21 · answer #2 · answered by darwinsfriend AM 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I am a Christian an enjoy a lot of Sci Fi and Fantasy. I am intelligent enough to know that is is fiction - that means made up and has nothing to do with the real world.
There are several excellent authors who mix their Christian faith into their Sci Fi/Fantasy works. Such as:
CS Lewis with his "Chronicles of Narnia" and his Space Trilogy,
Tolkien's "Lord of the RIngs",
Steven Lawhead's "In the Hall of the Dragon King" trillogy, his Pendragon (King Aurther) series, his Emporium series, "Dream Thief", and others.
Roger Elwood, a long time Sci Fi editor and publisher, has several Christian Sci Fi books such as "Angle Walk".
George McDonaldson, one of the original creators of "fantasy" literature, has Christian themes all through his fantasy works and his historical novels.
Gilbert Morris, best know for his prolific writing of Christian historical fiction has also produced several Christian sci fi novels.
Charles William's "Descent into Hell" is a fantasy novel set in everyday life with strong Christian themes. He was part of Lewis and Tolkien's writer's group). Evident also in what he little he completed of his Arthurian poem (died before it was completed).
Shall I continue?
It is not only possible to read sci fi and be a Christian, there is actually a lot of excellent sci fi out there design to promote Christian beliefs and ideals.
(And like "Golden Compass", others designed to attack religion.)
2007-11-02 11:36:32 · answer #3 · answered by dewcoons 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The funny thing is, I've always hated Sci-Fi because it makes you learn new rules about life so that you can deal with its internal logical framework, and I prefer to (perhaps because I'm lazy, perhaps because I want any "lessons" I learn to actually be applicable to real life) work within the reality that I already know about. I also have a problem with suspension of disbelief, even for entertainment's sake.
But for years I was an Xian.
Eventually I began to work on this contradiction in myself.
2007-11-02 11:22:53 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I grew up reading and loving SF...
In fact, I laughingly tell folks that most of my education came from guys like Isaac Asimov...and I'm not so sure that is very far from the truth, either.
However, I am a very devoted Christian.
....go figure.
EDIT:
Yes, I have also read the Bible through...several times.
An avid reader, when I got my first big girl Bible for Christmas at 12, I had it read by Easter.
2007-11-02 11:29:47 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I'm an atheist, and really don't like most sci fi or fantasy books.
Edit: Terry Pratchett, well, that's more comedy, isn't it?
2007-11-02 11:22:05 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
I doubt it's more likely to make you an atheist, but I can see why fundies would rather avoid sci-fi and fantasy. Their loss, tbh. Just as long as they don't try to stop us reading them.
2007-11-02 11:37:48 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I read sci-fi/fantasy but I also read books in science, politics, psychology, current events, history, sociology, and many other areas.
2007-11-02 11:22:59 · answer #8 · answered by genaddt 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I'm an atheist, but I don't read much SF... but that doesn't answer your question.
I don't know if reading SciFi promotes atheism, but I'm pretty sure reading The Bible does.
2007-11-02 11:26:35 · answer #9 · answered by battleship potemkin AM 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I think if you are grounded in your beliefs (one way or the other) that reading a fiction book would not change your mind.
2007-11-02 11:26:12 · answer #10 · answered by mikala m 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋