If you’re not already a fan, it’s easy to reduce science fiction as a genre to its stereotypes: a bastion for nerds, science geeks, and people that get wayyy too into imaginary languages and worlds while maybe ignoring our own.
But Dave Walton, author of Three Laws Lethal, The Genius Plague, and other award-winning, bestselling science fiction novels, makes that case that science fiction presents a huge opportunity for Christians to learn about other people who are unlike us and put ourselves in their shoes.
With the freedom to build new worlds also comes the freedom to explore really big questions about who we are as people, where we’re going, is the human race getting better or worse, and other profound issues of life and death. These are the same questions that everyone around us is asking.
Plus, even if you don’t peruse the SF section in your library on a regular basis, chances are you’ve already read some great science fiction or fantasy. And you probably loved it. Think of classics by J.R.R. Tolkein, or C.S. Lewis. More recent series like The Hunger Games. Far from a niche genre for people who go to “cons,” this important branch of the literary tree can provide an unparalleled opportunity to live and look through other’s eyes or other futures. In turn, this can open whole new realms right here and now in God’s earthly kingdom where we can grow spiritually, intellectually, and find new ways to share Gospel truths. Or in other words, share the answers we’re each seeking.
