"The incalculable potency of community”: The Role of Science Fiction in Religion and Science

Lehmann Imfeld, Zoë (2019). "The incalculable potency of community”: The Role of Science Fiction in Religion and Science. Philosophy, theology and science, 6(2), pp. 148-163. Mohr Siebeck 10.1628/ptsc-2019-0016

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This article describes a role for science-fiction literature as a tool with which to explore the shared concerns of science and religion. Science fiction is not, however, simply a servant to theological or scientific truth claims. Science fiction demands a particular set of ontological rules, and it challenges both theology and science to carefully consider their own methods and claims. In describing a role for science fiction in science and religion studies, we will re-evaluate the terms 'fabulation' and 'myth,' as described by Henri Bergson and Paul Tillich. Through this I will suggest ways in which theology as an academic discipline can participate in what I will term 'speculative empiricism,' reinforcing the need for creativity. This speculative empiricism will require a hospitality towards 'fabulation' that understands it not as invention or 'making up,' but as part of reconciling knowledge and understanding. I will use readings of Olaf Stapledon's Star Maker and Last and First Men as models for this endeavour.

Item Type:

Journal Article (Original Article)

Division/Institute:

06 Faculty of Humanities > Department of Linguistics and Literary Studies > Institute of English Languages and Literatures

UniBE Contributor:

Lehmann, Zoe Christina

Subjects:

100 Philosophy > 140 Philosophical schools of thought
200 Religion > 210 Philosophy & theory of religion
200 Religion > 230 Christianity & Christian theology
400 Language > 420 English & Old English languages
800 Literature, rhetoric & criticism > 820 English & Old English literatures

ISSN:

2195-9773

Publisher:

Mohr Siebeck

Language:

English

Submitter:

Zoe Christina Lehmann Imfeld

Date Deposited:

18 Jun 2021 08:49

Last Modified:

05 Dec 2022 15:48

Publisher DOI:

10.1628/ptsc-2019-0016

URI:

https://boris.unibe.ch/id/eprint/152915

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