2013 World Orthodoxy, Sci-Fi, and Fantasy Conference

[Lydia]

Pilgrim's Progress is a religious allegory. Interestingly, Bunyan wrote it in jail where he was placed for violating the Conventicle Act.
I have no objection to literature that instructs and edifies, but the purpose of Science Fiction (especially) is to replace the revealed truth with an alternate explanation.

I'm not judging anyone who enjoys fantasy and Sci-fi; It's fine escapism. But to place it side by side with The Holy Gospels to find "common themes" is ridiculous. And giving such an exercise the blessing of St. Basil is wrong.

[jgress]

Pilgrim's Progress is a religious allegory. Interestingly, Bunyan wrote it in jail where he was placed for violating the Conventicle Act.
I have no objection to literature that instructs and edifies, but the purpose of Science Fiction (especially) is to replace the revealed truth with an alternate explanation.

I'm not judging anyone who enjoys fantasy and Sci-fi; It's fine escapism. But to place it side by side with The Holy Gospels to find "common themes" is ridiculous. And giving such an exercise the blessing of St. Basil is wrong.

I might still disagree with you there, since in general I'm in favor of finding common ground between worldly literature and the Gospels as a tool for reaching out to people, but I would agree one should be careful about how one goes about such a project. One shouldn't give the impression that fantasy novels have the kind of spiritual authority that the Gospels have.

[jgress]

I also think you're quite right about at least some science fiction and fantasy. On the one hand you have CS Lewis' science fiction, written in within a Christian (even if heterodox) view of the world, and science fiction written by atheists like Arthur C Clarke, who often incorporated specifically anti-religious messages into his stories, e.g. "Childhood's End", which I would probably stay away from unless I were very strong in my faith. Similarly in fantasy, I think there is a big difference between conservative Christian authors like Tolkien and anti-Christian authors like Philip Pullman.

[frphoti]

I know this is a bit late in the game but if I could...

St. Basil's quote can apply to those who are studying for the betterment of themselves. If he was mentioning fantasy, who knows? He was fluent in all the "classics" so it is a sure thing he had read all the ancient Greek fables, which could be compared to modern fantasy, though the fables often were moral tales.

I personally think that one should be well versed in their enemy, but to be discerning in the quest to acquire that knowledge. Just as with the learning of Theology (which St. Gregory the Theologian states is not for everybody, nor simple, but for those who are purified) the person's spiritual state is important. Not everyone should attempt to learn their "enemy's" ways.

Having a lot of children, I take a middle of the road stance on it. Some things we definitely will not let our children read due to the obvious demonic intent of the author or subject matter. Others we will filter for them; translate, if you will. Some we let them discern in order to learn how to do so. We will ask questions along the way. Some things they have left alone after only reading a chapter or two, once they realized that it probably isn't something they should read. We also tell them that that kind of reading is most definitely a waste of time; they could fill their hours reading better things.

I personally think it is a waste of time to compare the various generas of fiction with our faith. It won't change a thing, nor better the reader in the way that reading the fathers or prayers would.