Religious Concepts in Fantasy Literature

Table of Contents

1 Preface

2 Dragonlance

2.1 When Gods Are Bored

2.1.1 Creation Myth

2.1.2 The Divine Pantheon

2.1.2.1 A Modern Approach – Autonomous Worship And Feminist Scholarship

2.1.2.2 Duality Around a Middle

2.1.2.3 Familiar Names

2.1.2.4 Chaos and the High God

2.1.3 The Dragons

2.1.4 Numerology

2.2 Higher Beings and Divine Entities

2.2.1 “And God Created Man In His Own Image”

2.2.2 Ludwig Feuerbach’s Projection Theory

2.3 The Master of The Present And The Past

2.3.1 Twins – A Divine Sign

2.3.2 Creation of Life

2.3.3 How to Become a God

2.4 The Animated Chronicles – Dragons of Autumn Twilight

3 His Dark Materials

3.1 Elementary Particles

3.1.1 The Many-Worlds-Theory

3.1.2 Dust, Sexuality And Multiple Eves

3.2 Pullman’s Deconstruction of Dogmas

3.2.1 The Fall of Mankind – Dammnation or Blessing?

3.2.2 The Heaven-Hell-Deception

3.2.3 The Day The Authority Died

3.2.4 A Human Satan

3.3 Body, Soul And Ghost

3.3.1 The Trinity Within Oneself

3.3.2 Dæmons And Animal Symbolism

3.4 Northern Lights on Screen – The Golden Compass

4 The Force

4.1 A Religious Fantasy Element in Science Fiction

4.1.1 Magic And The Force

4.1.2 Taoism in The Force

4.2 Jedi And Sith – The Chosen Ones

4.2.1 An All-Encompassing Power

4.2.2 Two Sides of a Medal – The Prophecy of Balance

4.3 “… in a galaxy far, far away …” – The Star Wars Universe Expanded

4.3.1 New Generation Jedi

4.3.2 Devoid of The Force

5 Conclusion

Research Objectives and Core Themes

This thesis investigates how religious concepts are utilized and deconstructed within contemporary fantasy literature and film. It focuses on the portrayal of divine systems, the role of creators, and the influence of established mythologies and philosophies on the fictional narratives of three specific series, exploring the convergence of science and religion in these imaginary worlds.

• Analysis of divine pantheons and mythology in the Dragonlance series.
• Deconstruction of religious dogmas and Christian motifs in Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials.
• Examination of the Force as a religious and mystical element in the Star Wars saga.
• Exploration of Taoist and Gnostic influences within science fiction and fantasy.
• Comparison of moral dualism and the concept of balance across different fictional universes.

Excerpt from the Book

Summary of Chapters

Dragonlance: Provides an overview of the role-playing game origins and the divine cosmology of the world of Krynn.

When Gods Are Bored: Discusses the creation myth, the structure of the pantheon, and the integration of traditional mythology and numerology.

Higher Beings and Divine Entities: Analyzes the manifestation of gods in mortal forms and the application of Ludwig Feuerbach’s projection theory.

The Master of The Present And The Past: Examines the narrative significance of twins and the recurring literary motif of creation and godhood.

The Animated Chronicles – Dragons of Autumn Twilight: Reviews the film adaptation and its deviations from the source novel.

His Dark Materials: Introduces Philip Pullman’s trilogy and its fundamental departure from traditional religious frameworks.

Elementary Particles: Explores quantum mechanics-inspired concepts such as the many-worlds theory and the nature of Dust.

Pullman’s Deconstruction of Dogmas: Investigates the portrayal of the fall of mankind, afterlife concepts, and the authority figure.

Body, Soul And Ghost: Analyzes the psychological and ontological division of the human being in Pullman's universe.

Northern Lights on Screen – The Golden Compass: Compares the cinematic representation of religious elements with the original narrative.

The Force: Discusses the mythological and religious implications of the power field in the Star Wars universe.

A Religious Fantasy Element in Science Fiction: Relates the concept of the Force to magical traditions and philosophical systems.

Jedi And Sith – The Chosen Ones: Explores the moral duality and balance between the light and dark sides of the Force.

“… in a galaxy far, far away …” – The Star Wars Universe Expanded: Details the evolution of Jedi doctrine and specific religious practices in the expanded universe literature.

Conclusion: Synthesizes the common religious and philosophical threads identified across the three examined fictional series.

Keywords

Dragonlance, His Dark Materials, Star Wars, Religion, Fantasy, Mythology, Gnosticism, Taoism, Cosmology, Creation Myth, Dust, The Force, Deconstruction, Philosophy, Dualism

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the core subject of this thesis?

The thesis explores the integration and deconstruction of religious concepts, myths, and philosophical systems within popular fantasy and science fiction series, specifically Dragonlance, His Dark Materials, and Star Wars.

Which series are analyzed as the central thematic pillars?

The work focuses on the Dragonlance novels by Weis and Hickman, Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials trilogy, and the Star Wars films and expanded literature created by George Lucas.

What is the primary goal of this research?

The primary goal is to examine how these authors utilize existing religious traditions—such as Greek mythology, Christian dogmas, and Taoism—to construct their own complex, fictional spiritual systems.

Which scientific or theoretical methods are applied?

The author uses literary analysis and comparative mythology, while also incorporating theories such as Ludwig Feuerbach’s projection theory and principles from quantum mechanics to interpret the narratives.

What are the primary topics covered in the main body of the text?

The chapters cover the divine hierarchies and creation stories of Krynn, the scientific and theological reinterpretation of original sin in Pullman's work, and the mystical, philosophical nature of the Force.

Which key terms best characterize this work?

Key terms include mythology, deconstruction, cosmology, divine pantheons, moral dualism, and the intersection of faith and science within fictional world-building.

How does the author analyze the film adaptations compared to the books?

The analysis includes sections dedicated to screen adaptations, such as the animated Dragon of Autumn Twilight and the film version of The Golden Compass, highlighting where cinematic storytelling simplifies or alters religious themes.

What specific theological perspective does Philip Pullman’s work introduce?

Pullman’s work is identified as a deconstructionist approach, which challenges traditional Christian narratives regarding the fall of mankind and redefines them through a humanistic and scientific lens.

How is the concept of the "Force" in Star Wars categorized?

The Force is analyzed as a religious fantasy element that draws parallels to magical systems in other series while being heavily influenced by Taoist principles of balance and all-encompassing energy.

What significance does numerology hold in the context of Dragonlance?

Numerology, particularly the significance of the numbers two, three, and twenty-one, is used to explain the structural organization of the gods and the cosmic balance of the Krynn universe.