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“In Personhood in Science Fiction, Juli L. Gittinger does more than merely survey or even analyse the treatment of persons human, alien, and android across some of the most popular sci-fi franchises of recent years. She engages with one of the most puzzling and ethically challenging questions there is, in conversation with everyone from philosophers to neuroscientists to theologians—and yes, of course, our most beloved science fiction authors. Although engaging with highly technical matters, Gittinger does so in a way that is impressively accessible. The result is a book that is of great significance for all the aforementioned fields and many others, and deserves to be read and discussed widely. Juli L. Gittinger skilfully leads readers on a quest for the souls of androids and aliens, and in the process helps us discover and explore our own.” –James F. McGrath, Professor of Religion, Butler University, USA This book addresses the topic of personhood—who is a “person” or “human,” and what rights or dignities does that include—as it has been addressed through the lens of science fiction. Chapters include discussions of consciousness and the soul, artificial intelligence, dehumanization and othering, and free will. Classic and modern sci-fi texts are engaged, as well as film and television. This book argues that science fiction allows us to examine the profound question of personhood through its speculative and imaginative nature, highlighting issues that are already visible in our present world.

Science fiction --- History and criticism. --- Religion and sociology. --- Popular Culture. --- Religion. --- Philosophy. --- Ethics. --- Religion and Society. --- Popular Culture . --- Popular Science in Religious Studies. --- Popular Science in Philosophy. --- Deontology --- Ethics, Primitive --- Ethology --- Moral philosophy --- Morality --- Morals --- Philosophy, Moral --- Science, Moral --- Philosophy --- Values --- Mental philosophy --- Humanities --- Religion and society --- Religious sociology --- Society and religion --- Sociology, Religious --- Sociology and religion --- Sociology of religion --- Sociology --- Culture, Popular --- Mass culture --- Pop culture --- Popular arts --- Communication --- Intellectual life --- Mass society --- Recreation --- Culture --- Religion, Primitive --- Atheism --- Irreligion --- Religions --- Theology

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This book explores the provocative religious and philosophical questions that arise in the HBO series Westworld. Utilizing a variety of hermeneutical lenses, the contributors examine themes of personhood, free will, ethics of technology, divine creation, biblical parallels, and other topics.

Television programs --- Émissions télévisées --- Religious aspects. --- Aspect religieux. --- Westworld (Television program)

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"Apocalypse is as American as apple pie, and if you've ever wondered why - from prepping to pandemics - you have come to the right book. Since the atomic blasts at Los Alamos, America has always had a special twist, a special take, on the end of the world, and Gittinger's audit of America's apocalyptic practice in this moment is more than just great fun and games, it's a revelation all its own. These apocalyptic anxieties teach us about ourselves, who we are, who we hope to be, and what we think is real and meaningful. Here is cultural philosophy as entertaining as it is enlightening." --Robert J. Joustra, Professor Politics & International Studies, Redeemer University, Canada In this book, Juli Gittinger argues that America’s fascination (obsession?) with the apocalypse is a synthesis of religion, popular culture, and politics in a way that is particular to the US and consonant with mythological-historical narratives of America. As a result, wecan identify American apocalypticism as a sort of religion in itself that is closely tied to “civil religion,” that has a worldview and rituals that create identifiable communities and connects American mythology to apocalyptic anxieties. Gittinger discusses how various cultures and groups form as a result of this obsession, and that these communities form their own rituals and responses in various forms of “prepping” or survivalist practices. She lays out an argument for a broad eschatology prevalent in the US that extends beyond traditional religious designations to form an apocalyptic worldview that is built into our narrative as a country, as well as furthered by popular culture and media’s contribution to apocalyptic anxieties. Subsequently, Gittinger uses case studies of apocalyptic events—current or speculative—that reveal how our anxieties about the end of the world (as we know it) inform our culture, as well as religious narratives that emerge from such crises. Juli Gittinger is an Assistant Professor of Religion at Georgia College, USA.

Religion and sociology. --- Religions. --- America. --- Sociology. --- Ethnology --- Culture. --- Sociology of Religion. --- American Religions. --- American Culture.