Strange Religion: Speculative Fiction of Spirituality, Belief, & Practice (Strange Concepts: Big Ideas Explored Through Speculative Fiction)

Strange Religion thoughtfully explores religious traditions and ideas through speculative science fiction and fantasy. Here are twenty stories about the rituals, theology, and identity of practitioners of the future, alternative histories, and the fantastic worlds depicted by scripture and religious folklore. Diverse narratives depict religion with the complexity it has in the real world, where gods aren’t just plot devices to create political tension or to give characters magical powers. These stories put religion in dialogue with other human activities, including science, philosophy, and law.Find out if a Filipina-Catholic witch can overcome the allure of blood magic to save her coven and her family. Delve into a history of the world according to Jewish mysticism. Watch the war on terrorism unfold in Time's Square—in a world where the United States is a Muslim-majority country. Follow a Hindu teen in Bangladesh as she tries to escape the corporate tycoon seeking to reincarnate into the body of her unborn son.Accompanying discussion questions by religious studies experts probe deeper into the stories and encourage further reflection. Experts who contributed through consultation and discussion questions include Douglas E. Cowan, Professor of Religious Studies at the University of Waterloo; Rory Lindsay, Assistant Professor at the University of Toronto; Shoshana Razel Gordon-Guedalia, PhD candidate in comparative theology at Harvard University; Som Pourfarzaneh, Assistant Professor of Islamic and Digital Media Studies at Starr King School for the Ministry; James H. Thrall, Knight Distinguished Professor for the Study of Religion and Culture at Knox College; and Laura Ammon, Associate Professor of Religion at Appalachian State University.“Al-Muftiyah,” by Jibril Stevenson“Samsara,” by J. A. Legg“Shattered Vessels,” by Robert B. Finegold and Kary English“The Gods Also Duel,” by Andrew Majors“Father Jake’s Teen Demon Prevention Lesson,” by Brenna Harvey“They Smile,” by Nicki Vardon“Jizo Rides the Bus,” by Karl Dandenell“Irwin and Roskwin Make a Discovery of Universal Importance,” by Terryl M. Asla“The Rebbetzin Speaks,” by Daniel M. Kimmel“The Devil is a Shape in the Brain,” by Joachim Glage“The Man Who Misused His Manhood,” by Chukwu Sunday Abel“Bio-Mass,” by Mike Adamson“Deep Play,” by Andy Dibble“The Life That Comes After,” by Lauren C. Teffeau“Fate and Other Variables,” by Alex Shvartsman“The Other War on Terror,” by Michael H. Hanson“Dying Rivers and Broken Hearts,” by Gabriella Buba“*lr*d,” by Doug Hawley“The Fireflies of Todaji,” by Russell Hemmell“Before the Evolution Comes the Smoke,” by Terri BruceNote: the initial release of this book contained a production error in the discussion questions following The Fireflies of Todaji by Russell Hemmell. This error has since been corrected.