Atheists (maybe theists) - are you a science fiction fan?

Question

Just wonderin', I've noticed there tends to be a link between atheism and sci-fi nerdiness :)

If so, do you find ideas in there that affect your world view, discussions of the 'big questions' about life/the universe that 'religion/spirituality' also address? (Obviously there aren't definite answers in fiction as religion claims to have, but I find that the genre addresses these questions and fills the 'gap' that's a result of not knowing the reason for our existence, even if we are learning about the 'how'.)

Favourite books/writers/series and why?

Answer 1

Star Wars is freaking awesome dude.

George Lucas man!

Answer 2

I've always been a fan of Star Trek (It's notoriously morally motivated and positively so. I would sooner let my own Children take their morals from Star Trek than from the Bible.) And some other sci-fi things. When I was in church, I can remember being "warned" about how some of the sci-fi things can take you away from God. Getting too heavy into D&D can welcome the devil into your soul. Oh, and don't get me started on what they think of Ouiji boards. Apparently, Milton-Bradley has demonic influences on young Christians...



But, before I get too heavily into bashing Christianity, I will say that a lot of my sci-fi interests evolved from my interests in physics and astronomy and practically every field of science including psychology and sociology. A lot of sci-fi tends to be fairly close (especially Star Trek) to actual theories. At least close enough to use many of the same words, even if they're not using them correctly. I still find it enjoyable for its entertainment value. For education, I stick to Discovery or the History Channel. Or I read a book. I have two big bookshelves full of science-related subjects that will take years to go through.



I'm not sure if it was my interest in Star Trek that fueled my curiosities in science or if it was the other way around, but I have not a single regret in knowing what I've learned.



I'm very much an atheist since I learned to look at the world through my own eyes and I've never felt more free and clear in my life. To me, Christianity composes the greatest examples and downfalls of group-think and herd-mentality and it shows in their collective ignorance of the world outside of their church doors.

Answer 3

Yep.



Sci-fi is good at pointing the way towards potential issues with future technologies. I think a lot of times it has helped us as a society build moral frameworks for problems that do not but may well exist in the future. Asimov's 3 rules for robots is a great example of this.



Favorites: anything by Philip K Dick, Niven, Ender's Game, etc.

Answer 4

Solaris was a really cool movie, and it did have a strange sort of redemption at the end. I don't believe in any of it, but it's a nice fantasy. Just watched Avatar last night. Awfully corny in places, but I liked their world-view a lot.



Ursula K. Le Guin is an excellent author. Actually I like her Earthsea fantasy more than her sci-fi, but it's all great stuff. She really does explore the spiritual side of things in all of her fiction.

Answer 5

I'll admit I am a 43 y.o. STAR WARS nerd. My world view is not affected by what I read in science fiction stories. I am a skeptic/realist to my very core, I just find the STAR WARS universe very entertaining. Just finished the REPUBLIC COMMANDO novels, Karen Traviss is an excellent sci fi writer.

Answer 6

Yes.

You're right. There is a link. Ever noticed how science fiction sometimes becomes science fact? Like space travel, and solar panels, and PCs, and cars, and skin grafts



Science fiction opened my eyes to other possibilities, other than what we get taught.



I like Douglas Adams, Robert Heinlein, Anne McCaffrey, and a lot of others I can't remember.

Why? They're good writers, good at entertaining and inspiring, and making you ask questions, and seek answers.

Answer 7

Not really, I've always been more of a history dork... I used to be obsessed with LOTR when I was an early teenager. I have played through Mass Effect 1 seven times... that's a lot of hours... does that count? I don't have enough time for ME2, but I'll definitely play it over the summer!

Answer 8

I'm fond of fantastic fiction in general - science fiction, fantasy, and horror.



I don't know how much it shaped my worldview, except perhaps in terms of encouraging critical thinking and giving me a sense that the religious in many ways are simply unable to stop their suspension of disbelief when it comes to the mythology they take seriously.



Amongst my favorite authors would be Roger Zelazny, Fritz Leiber, HP Lovecraft, Larry Niven, and my all-time favorite Ambrose Bierce.

Answer 9

Yes.



I've always found the United Federation of Planets to be a very optimistic, and very attainable vision of humanity's future over the next couple hundred years (minus the alien civilizations, although that would be cool too).

Answer 10

Science fictions the most awesome movie genre and book genre :d

Answer 11

Some, Firefly and X-files are both awsome.

Are all you theists lovers of the fantasy genre? You all love the oldest fantasies created!

Answer 12

Manga, Fullmetal Alchemist, Deathnote big in da game

Answer 13

Yes, it's my favorite genre, especially disecting the "science" behind it. I enjoy the complexity of the explanations and the rigid structure of the universe created.

Answer 14

Neal Stephenson writes some pretty cool, very intellectual stuff. I've been reading a lot of him lately.

Answer 15

I enjoy good science fiction, but I would not classify myself as a fan.

Answer 16

Yes



Stephen Baxter is my favorite sci fi author.

Answer 17

Science fiction is sweet

Answer 18

Yes, I love science fiction and epic stories. Its what makes my life oh so amazing.

Answer 19

Funny you should ask this on a day two days after Douglas Adams' birthday!! I guess that answers all your questions!!!



And, yes, I do know where my towel is.

Answer 20

I was in high school. I rarely read fiction now.

Answer 21

I just think aliens and laser guns are cool. :3

Answer 22

science fiction

is great!



too bad it's called "fiction"

since so much o' it

isn't

Answer 23

I hate sci-fi, and I'm agnostic.

Answer 24

No, I'm not. I like real science

Answer 25

I know atheists are.