Here’s a fun fact about me that you may not know: I’m a big science fiction nerd. In middle school I discovered Ender’s Game, in high school I was amazed by Snowcrash, and as an adult I have read basically the entire catalogue of Philip K. Dick (my favorites are Ubik and Three Stigmata). Most recently, after a friend kindly pointed out to me that women and people of color have also written great sci-fi, I thoroughly enjoyed Rebecca Roanhorse’s Black Sun (more fantasy than sci-fi but still).
So I was delighted to discover that the May issue of the Century has not one but two Voices columns that mention science fiction! In an ode to the genre, Melissa Florer-Bixler compares the work of sci-fi authors to that of Jesus the parable-teller. Then in a piece about re-reading texts, Yolanda Pierce discusses her repetitive reading of the Bible—and books by others like James Baldwin and sci-fi master Octavia Butler.
Our video of the week is an instant classic. Discussing his somewhat controversial recent column in the magazine, Julian DeShazier chats with me about the push for pastors to get PhDs—and how it’s standing in the way of the church’s movement.
Email me: Are you a fantasy or sci-fi nerd? What are some of your favorites?
Jon chats with Voices columnist Julian DeShazier about the push for clergy to get PhDs. Julian shares some ideas for how the church might better skate to where the puck is heading.
“I’ve long believed there’s something beyond a life of mere pleasure or a life dedicated to meaning and purpose. What about being an interesting person?”
“Elizabeth McCracken’s recurring themes are spiritual questions that she meets with just enough humor to carry us from one grave-rubbed page to the next.”
