What is the Difference between Christian Fantasy and Christian Science Fiction
By suspenseful
@suspenseful (40192)
Canada
December 6, 2007 11:25am CST
I know all about Science fiction, that there are space ships involved, strange and weird aliens, and futuristic weapons. I also know about fantasy, that there are strange beasts, magicians and wizards who can by their will or using magical wands fight against dragons and mythical creatures, but what about Christian science fiction and or fantasy? What is the difference?
If someone lands in a strange land that is in a different galaxy, yet there are no futuristic weapons or space ships and he has to live a life more primitive and he is a Christian, there are some animals, but no one there has magical powers or can by the force of his will cause someone to disappear, that there may be a few creatures with unusual powers, is that still Christian Fantasy, or is it Christian Science fiction since Science Fiction is usually about possiblities that happen in the future?
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6 responses
@newzealtralian (3930)
• Australia
7 Dec 07
I think Science Fiction is usually more futuristic. Fantasy is more with unicorns and other magical beings. And example would be Terry Brooks Sword of Shannarah series is Fantasy. Frank Herbert wrote the Dune series and they are science fiction. Both brilliant authors and great books. Does that make it a little clearer for you?
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@suspenseful (40192)
• Canada
7 Dec 07
That makes it clear. I always wondered about Dune. I guess it is science fiction since it has to be with gene manipulation, breeding, etc. to get the right results. With fantasy, all you have to do is wave a wand and say "grabagrada= dubly dubly do."
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@suspenseful (40192)
• Canada
8 Dec 07
I do not know when mine will be ready. It depends on how much it costs to send it out and what publishing company accepts it.
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@newzealtralian (3930)
• Australia
8 Dec 07
I'm glad I could help a little. I too am writing a book, and I've not yet decided if it is Fantasy or Realism. That is, the story is totally fictional, but there is going to be a lot of facts on animals, plants etc. I'm sure your book will be on shelves long before mine is. I've put a time limit of another 25 years on mine! lol.
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@ElicBxn (64169)
• United States
7 Dec 07
C. S. Lewis pretty much defined Christian Science Fiction - Out of the Silent Planet, Perelandra, and That Hideous Strength. I never could work my way through the last one, but remember reading the first 2 in high school. Then, of course, Narnia, the 7 books that began with The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe and ending with The Last Battle.
You can have the Apocalyptic fiction of the Left Behind series by Tim LaHaye.
There's a history of Christian sf/f, its just not as well known as some of the other stuff.
Why?
Probably because it is Christian....
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@suspenseful (40192)
• Canada
7 Dec 07
I did read the Lion, Witch, and the Wardrobe and I figured it was something like books like Pilgrims Progress, in that it represented overcoming and reaching towards the goal of eternal life, each character representing a section of Christian life.
It is the same with the Left Behind that explains that part of Revelations where the good people go to heaven and the bad people suffer supposedly the wrath of Satan.
I do know that fantasy and Christianity is an oxymoron since we Christians do not believe that there are fire breathing dragons, or witch maidens called Elyria, who can charm youths with a magic stone.
Yet I hear little of stories where the main character is a Christian other than the easy to read (as if they believe Christians are devoid of higher education and have a limited vocabulary) romances, mysteries where no one gets killed, etc.
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@paul8675 (750)
• Australia
11 Dec 07
I am not sure where this discussion was headed to so I opened up the page. I see that in all fantasies there appears to be an element of guesswork about the future that is based upon the premises of what we can interpret now. I think that the lion, the witch and the wardrobe is more of an interpretation of the gospel than fantasy. Left behind could also be thought of in the same manner.
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@suspenseful (40192)
• Canada
11 Dec 07
I did not think the Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe nor Left Behind as fantasy. I thought fantasy was going off to another planet, another dimension, the past or the future or an alternate universe where Hitler won the war, but this time the hero is a Christian and he does not think it quaint that the natives on the planet Xerfi sacrifice their oldest daughters by slitting off their blue feathery skin to the great and terrible god XErftyul.
@Transformed (1259)
• United States
8 Dec 07
Christian science fiction can work. It usually entails some slant of traditional Christian thought. For example, a Christian science fiction piece can deal with the Apocalypse, the Four Horsemen, Satan and the verses in Revelations in creative ways, ie. Left Behind. Christian fantasy usually involves Christians journeying to some bizarre world. The only difference is usually that Christian fantasy should be longer and may not be able to focus on the Christian aspects as much as the fantastic aspects of the story.
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@suspenseful (40192)
• Canada
8 Dec 07
I suppose mine would be traveling to a strange world, only it is not that fantastic, no one flies through their air and there are no dragons, except since this world has a large population of evil people, that the powers of Satan are more manifest.
@artemis432 (7474)
• Abernathy, Texas
15 Dec 07
I would guess sci-fi if it occurs in the future.
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@suspenseful (40192)
• Canada
15 Dec 07
It is based in modern times, but there are some fantastic elements, such as a way to get there without the use of space ships. This is the first of a series of novels and I have to get the first one right, oh and make enough money to send out the manuscripts when I am finished without it being rejected. Since the main market is in the States, I have to buy lots of stamps.
@betsyraeduke (2669)
• United States
7 Dec 07
This is an interesting discussion. I can not really say to much because to be honest, I am not 100% sure what you are asking. I know what science fiction is, and I know what fantasy is, and I know the difference between the two of those. However, I have never heard of Christian science fiction or Christian fantasy before, at least not in the way you are referring, that is, I have never heard of stories or movies that were labled "Christian" science fiction or fantasy. I have seen the "Left Behind" movies, but they were just labled "Christian" and not "Christian science fiction or fantasy" in the place I rented them from and I never thought of them as either, I only thought of them as someone's interpretation of certain bible scriptures. I have heard the word fantasy associated with Christian beliefs and or bible scriptures, but it was not in the story or movie sense of the word. I have heard the word fantasy used by non believers/atheist to describe many Christian beliefs and speculated translations of bible scriptures. I know that isn't what you were asking, but it is all I know.
@suspenseful (40192)
• Canada
7 Dec 07
I was rather confused about Christian fantasy, because when I thought of fantasy I thought of dragons and witches with specific powers and fantastic beasts that flew thew the air. But I was wondering whether a better word would be Speculative fiction with a Christian outlook rather than a worldly outlook.
The reason is that when one thinks of Christian fiction they do not think of a
Christian character overcoming odds or solving a mystery, but the end of the world, a lion representing Christ, in other words an allegory. So mayhe if I post different, it might work.
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