Science Fiction and the Bible

Programme

This group invites papers which engage with the possibilities of discussing biblical literature informed by Science Fiction (SF). Proposals for papers are invited that apply specific works, tropes, or theories from SF to consider whether new insights can be derived from applying concepts of SF to biblical concepts or passages.

Using the concept of SF is a multidisciplinary approach. We encourage proposals from Bible scholars with an interest in SF, but also particularly from scholars in disciplines such as cultural studies, literature, sociology, film/media studies or even engineering and physics. In 2014 we expand our scope to also include considerations about religion and ethics, which may not be directly linked to a specific biblical passage or concept.

Chairs

Frauke Uhlenbruch  

Sessions

Cordoba 2015

In Cordoba, three papers were read:

Carlos Santos: "Jewish Apocalyptic in Japanese Pop Culture: Neon Genesis Evangelion and Shin Megami Tensei"

Eva Miller: "Local Apocalypses: The Wicked City and Human Abundance in the Hebrew Bible and in Science Fiction and Popular Science of the 1960s-1970s"

Eliza Rosenberg: "'Let Us Go into the Field:' Genesis 4 in 'Dexter' and 'The Walking Dead'"

Vienna 2014

The SF&B group met for the first time as a research group (and the second time overall) at EABS/ISBL in Vienna in July 2014.

Papers read:

Harold Vedeler: "Science Fiction, the Bible, and the Narrative Method"

Collin Cornell: "Making Strange the Bible: Historical Criticism and Science Fiction"

Frauke Uhlenbruch: "Genesis 22 with Rushkoff and Auerbach: Rebelling with the Bible, Rebelling against the Bible"

Francis Landy: "Seers, Fictions, and Other Worlds"

Steven Schweitzer: "Teaching Science Fiction and Theology: Reflections and Possibilities"

Rebecca Raphael: "Shining Like Stars: Bodies of Light in Second Temple Literature and Science Fiction"

Eva Miller: "Invasion of the Body Defiler: Impurity and Contagion in Leviticus and Science Fiction"

Paraskevi Arapoglou: "'Blind but Seeing'? Illusioned Sight or Disillusioned Blindness in Biblical Narratives and Saramago's 'Blindness'"

Call for papers 2014

For our meeting in Vienna in 2014 (July 6th-10th), we accept proposals for papers which look at a specific passage or concept in biblical literature informed by SF (theory or a specific work or genre within SF). In addition to this, we expand our scope to invite considerations about religion and ethics (in conjunction with SF), which may not be directly linked to a specific biblical passage.

Leipzig 2013

The SF&B workshop met for the first time at EABS' Annual Meeting in Leipzig in July 2013.

Papers read:

Ian D. Wilson (University of Alberta): "Faster than a speeding bullet, more powerful than a locomotive, able to rule by the sense of smell! Superhuman kingship in the prophetic books"

Tom Hull (Monash University): "Anamnesis and intercession in 3 Enoch and Philip K. Dick's The Divine Invasion"

Raymond Edward Morehouse (University of St. Andrews): "Pauline Theology and Ice-Nine: How Kurt Vonnegut Jr. helps us articulate the importance of theological anthropology"

Ryan Higgins (Jewish Theological Seminary): "Of gods and monsters: supernatural beings in the Uncanny Valley"

Paraskevi Arapoglou (Aristotle University of Thessaloniki): "Apocalyps(e)ing Apocalypto: reception of eschatological hope on the verge of environmental degradation"

(Trailer for 2013: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RsU5dfACAYM)