Blurring the Boundaries of Religion and Popular Culture : Implicit Theology, Secular Spirituality, and Speculative Fiction

Employing theoretical lenses of implicit theology and secular spirituality, this book blurs the boundaries between religion and popular culture to develop meaning-making in science fiction, fantasy, and horror media. In an era shaped by increasing levels of religious non-affiliation and social polarization, Karen Trimble Alliaume and Maryellen Davis Collett explore religious ideas and practices that empower practitioners to meet universal yet deeply personal human needs and desires by engaging with popular culture. The authors integrate insights gleaned from the oft-siloed approaches of theology and religious studies to analyze works of literature, film, and television in the science fiction, fantasy, and horror genres. These works of speculative fiction prompt emotionally charged experiences that reveal the paradox at the heart of being human.