Comments on: Why Story is important to life; why SFF is important to theology http://marscreativeprojects.com/brotherosric/2007/04/why-story-is-important-to-life-why-sff-is-important-to-theology/ A webcolumn by Michael Spence, wherein science fiction and fantasy meet "the queen of the sciences" Mon, 19 Apr 2010 16:56:47 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Chris Lester http://marscreativeprojects.com/brotherosric/2007/04/why-story-is-important-to-life-why-sff-is-important-to-theology/comment-page-1/#comment-69 Chris Lester Thu, 17 Jan 2008 16:39:10 +0000 http://brotherosric.marscreativeprojects.com/2007/04/23/why-story-is-important-to-life-why-sff-is-important-to-theology/#comment-69 Thanks for the compliments, Michael! I do indeed try to make the moral/ethical playing field somewhat fuzzy in Metamor City -- and if you think the Lothanasi are ambiguous, wait until you see the Psi Collective in action. :) One of the things I tried to demonstrate in "The Sentinel" (episode 3) was the clash between ethical alignments -- not the question of right and wrong, per se, but the question of how the moral code of right and wrong is to be adjudicated in society. Both Agent Starson and Ms. Fallon claim to have the best interests of the child at heart, but each accuses the other of using the child as a pawn to advance their larger political agendas. Are they both right? Both wrong? A little of both? What's the proper use of the sort of authority that has been invested in the Lothanasi, and who watches the watchers? I leave that for the listener to think about, at least for now. As a wise man once said, questions are more useful than answers. :) Thanks for the compliments, Michael! I do indeed try to make the moral/ethical playing field somewhat fuzzy in Metamor City — and if you think the Lothanasi are ambiguous, wait until you see the Psi Collective in action. :) One of the things I tried to demonstrate in “The Sentinel” (episode 3) was the clash between ethical alignments — not the question of right and wrong, per se, but the question of how the moral code of right and wrong is to be adjudicated in society. Both Agent Starson and Ms. Fallon claim to have the best interests of the child at heart, but each accuses the other of using the child as a pawn to advance their larger political agendas. Are they both right? Both wrong? A little of both? What’s the proper use of the sort of authority that has been invested in the Lothanasi, and who watches the watchers? I leave that for the listener to think about, at least for now. As a wise man once said, questions are more useful than answers. :)

]]> By: Michael http://marscreativeprojects.com/brotherosric/2007/04/why-story-is-important-to-life-why-sff-is-important-to-theology/comment-page-1/#comment-68 Michael Thu, 17 Jan 2008 08:29:55 +0000 http://brotherosric.marscreativeprojects.com/2007/04/23/why-story-is-important-to-life-why-sff-is-important-to-theology/#comment-68 To my delight, it was received very well. But then, the Other Voices Study Group by definition deals with issues on the margin of current evangelical activity, so I knew I could go "farther out" with them than with the rest of ETS. I would be curious to know what visitors to this site think of it — provided, of course, that they've made it this far. :-) (Don't be shy, folks! Comments can be entered below.) Incidentally, your own <a href="http://www.metamorcity.com" rel="nofollow"><cite>Metamor City Podcast</cite></a>, with its mix of good, evil, and ambiguous characters, is an excellent example of the kind of stories I'm talking about (plus, it's a lot of fun!). Janus Starson of the Lothanasi Order pursues his guardianship of humanity according to a strict ethical code, but sometimes we're not sure we'd endorse every element of it. The Lothanasi are called "Lightbringers" by the general populace (and hey, "son of the star" — how much more illumination can a name invoke?), and they do appear to be the Good Guys; but exactly what kind of light is it they're bringing? And there's Jenna of "Troubled Minds": can a supernatural being of a kind we've defined through the centuries as evil be something else? If so, how and why? There's plenty of action, intriguing people, and not a little playfulness (Santa Claus as a Sidhe-lord? What the hey—?), so listeners can have a good time and then go on to consider issues such as these. A deftly balanced piece of storytelling indeed! To my delight, it was received very well. But then, the Other Voices Study Group by definition deals with issues on the margin of current evangelical activity, so I knew I could go “farther out” with them than with the rest of ETS.

I would be curious to know what visitors to this site think of it — provided, of course, that they’ve made it this far. :-) (Don’t be shy, folks! Comments can be entered below.)

Incidentally, your own Metamor City Podcast, with its mix of good, evil, and ambiguous characters, is an excellent example of the kind of stories I’m talking about (plus, it’s a lot of fun!). Janus Starson of the Lothanasi Order pursues his guardianship of humanity according to a strict ethical code, but sometimes we’re not sure we’d endorse every element of it. The Lothanasi are called “Lightbringers” by the general populace (and hey, “son of the star” — how much more illumination can a name invoke?), and they do appear to be the Good Guys; but exactly what kind of light is it they’re bringing? And there’s Jenna of “Troubled Minds”: can a supernatural being of a kind we’ve defined through the centuries as evil be something else? If so, how and why?

There’s plenty of action, intriguing people, and not a little playfulness (Santa Claus as a Sidhe-lord? What the hey—?), so listeners can have a good time and then go on to consider issues such as these. A deftly balanced piece of storytelling indeed!

]]> By: Chris Lester http://marscreativeprojects.com/brotherosric/2007/04/why-story-is-important-to-life-why-sff-is-important-to-theology/comment-page-1/#comment-66 Chris Lester Tue, 15 Jan 2008 20:40:25 +0000 http://brotherosric.marscreativeprojects.com/2007/04/23/why-story-is-important-to-life-why-sff-is-important-to-theology/#comment-66 An excellent monograph, very thoughtful and insightful. I'd be very curious to hear how it was received by its intended audience. :) An excellent monograph, very thoughtful and insightful. I’d be very curious to hear how it was received by its intended audience. :)

]]> By: Martin LaBar http://marscreativeprojects.com/brotherosric/2007/04/why-story-is-important-to-life-why-sff-is-important-to-theology/comment-page-1/#comment-73 Martin LaBar Wed, 14 Nov 2007 04:25:26 +0000 http://brotherosric.marscreativeprojects.com/2007/04/23/why-story-is-important-to-life-why-sff-is-important-to-theology/#comment-73 Thanks! This will take a while to digest, I'm sure, but it looks like it will be worth it. Thanks! This will take a while to digest, I’m sure, but it looks like it will be worth it.

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