Top-5 Tuesday- Most Influential Early Utopias

The concept of Utopia has been around since long before Thomas More coined the word. From as early as the construction of the Tower of Babel, mankind has been looking to regain the world of perfect harmony it lost at the fall. Since sci-fi offers speculative commentary on the human condition, it makes sense that the subgenres of utopia and dystopia are prominent within the genre. Utopian fiction was, in fact one of the best represented subgenres of sci-fi in the first century of science fiction.

So, here are some of the most thought-provoking and influential perfect-world stories, which shaped fiction and society in the years following their release.

5. A Crystal Age by W.H. Hudson (1887)-

A strange and fantastic tale of a simple, peaceful, post-apocalyptic world, and the modern man who struggles to adapt. A Crystal Age is notable for defining the pastoral utopia- a perfect world free from technology and industrialization- and for predicting the ecological spiritualism which is prevalent in our century.

4. The Crater by James Fenimore Cooper (1847)-

Written by all-American Romanticist James Fenimore Cooper, this lost-island utopian story comments on the struggle between colonialism and native peoples.

3. Erewhon by Samuel Butler (1872)-

Erewhon, an anagram of ‘nowhere’, is not a utopia in the traditional sense of the word. The world of Erewhon is not perfect, though it is also not bad enough to be classified as a dystopia. Samuel Butler used his story to poke fun at Victorian society.

2. Utopia by Thomas More (1516)-

Long before science fiction was an established genre, Thomas More gave later writers something to think about when he coined a new word for an old idea. Utopia, meaning both ‘good place’, and ‘no place’, was the title of his fictional depiction of his idea of the perfect society.

1. Looking Backward: 2000-1887 by Edward Bellamy (1888)-

Bellamy’s novel depicted a future American utopia governed by the principles of socialism. Not only was it one of the best-sellers of its time, but it also inspired a movement to implement the ideas contained within. Readers were attracted to the harmony and order found in the book, and some even started experimental communities in an attempt to build utopia from the ground up.

The study of utopian fiction is a fascinating, though sad one. People have striven for millennia to find peace with themselves and their fellow men. Utopian literature gives us a well-preserved peek at some of the tried-and-failed ideas of past visionaries. We see questions without answers- questions that cannot be answered apart from reconciliation between humanity and its creator.

Keep on glowing in the dark,

Elora

Staring at the Sun

Hey all! I wrote this post as a reflection on a book I read for school called Conformed to His Image, by Kenneth Boa. It’s a great read, and it taught me a lot. I recommend it! These are a few of the things I learned…

     I’ve been told my whole life not to stare at the sun, but I still do. I don’t literally stare at the sun, of course. Otherwise I wouldn’t be able to see. I do, however, perform the mental equivalent of staring at the sun when my puny, human brain tries to wrap itself around the concept of eternity. I hear the charge in Colossians 3 to “set your mind on things above”, and take it as a call to completely understand what my life will be like after death. In my current state, I can’t imagine anything without an end, so the thought of eternity can be blinding and paralyzing. The question remains, however. How do I “set my mind on things above”? Through the book Conformed to His Image, by Kenneth Boa, I learned that pursuing God is meaning enough for my life now, and throughout all of eternity.

  In 2003, the Hubble telescope photographed galaxies over 13 billion light years away. Some of these galaxies contained eight times as many stars as the Milky Way galaxy, defying current physical theories by their sheer size. God knows every one of the stars in those galaxies by name.  In 1968, Physicists discovered that the proton, one of the three particles that makes up the atom, is itself a composite particle. They observed an even smaller particle called a quark, which makes up both protons and neutrons.  In the scientific world, the quark was groundbreaking and revolutionary. God, however, knew about these incomprehensibly small particles since the beginning of time, when he spoke them into being. He transcends everything that we can see and that we know exists. Our God is one, but also three persons. From His character flow virtues like love, faithfulness, holiness and truth. Without Him, morality would have no foundation, and therefore, no substance. As Kenneth Boa reminds us, “Ultimate reality is not the cosmos, or a mysterious force, but an infinite and loving person” (pg 153). In short, God is wholly other. He is infinite. His understanding and knowledge literally have no end.

    Though we are not infinite, our souls are created to learn and seek after God. When He made humanity, He made us intellectual, emotional, and volitional, like Himself. We are meant to relate to Him on each of those levels. Only when we relate to Him are we truly whole on each of those levels. This is one of the most incredibly, ineffably beautiful things about God. This is one of those concepts that we will forever be learning about and trying to understand more fully. Boa defines this mystery well, “He [God] has designed to seek intimacy with the people on this puny planet, and has given them great dignity and destiny” (pg 29). Not only did God create us, He also knows us, and fulfills us. Ingrained in our nature is a longing for the truth. God- the God who created the smallest subatomic particle, and the largest supernova- offers that truth freely to whomever will seek Him. However, there is too much truth for us to learn in our short earthly lives. The learning must go on into eternity. As Tozer says, “There is simply not enough time to think, to become, to perform  what the constitution of our natures indicates we are capable of” (pg 62).

    The application of these facts to my everyday life encourages my soul, and quells my nagging doubts about living in a future without end. In my humanity, I am created to seek and worship God. As long as that is my focus, I will be satisfied not only in my earthly life, but in my entire life. “We will never be bored in heaven, because God’s greatness and knowledge are boundless; the surprises will never end, and the joy will ever increase”, says Boa (pg 161). When I learn about God, I am “setting my mind on things above”. I am investing in the thing that will continue to be the meaning and purpose for my life forever and ever.

    I am immensely encouraged by the idea that I don’t have to understand all of eternity right now- I have all of eternity to learn. I don’t need to stare at the sun; but I do need to live in the light of it. The glow of God’s everlasting plans should guide my every step. Right now, I can set myself on the never-ending path by using my limited capacity to seek God and pursue Him. Then, my life will be like that of the righteous person in Proverbs 4:18, which, “is like the shining sun that shines ever brighter unto the perfect day”.  I can’t look at the sun now. I need it to live, but my eyes cannot behold it. As I move from this ephemeral plane into the Perfect Day, I will be changed so that I can comprehend more and more. I’m not there now, but that’s ok. I’ve only just begun. As Boa once again quotes Tozer, “For now begins the glorious pursuit, the heart’s happy exploration of the infinite riches of the Godhead. That is where we begin, I say, but where we stop no man has yet discovered, for there is in the awful and mysterious depths of the Triune God neither limit nor end… To have found God and still to pursue Him is the soul’s paradox of love…justified in happy experience by the children of the burning heart” (pgs 149-150).

Keep on glowing in the dark,

Elora

The Main Character

Alright! It's finally here! Enjoy!

 On Thursday, I studied all these books. Every one of them, in one way or another, spoke to the idea that humans have a mind, emotions, and a will.

    The metaphysical aspect of a person- the part that isn’t made up of cells and molecules and subatomic particles- can be split into three distinct, yet vitally interwoven parts. (Well, in theory it can be divided. I don’t know of an actually, feasible way to divide the human psyche.) The mind is the intellectual aspect. The part of a person that stores and sorts information. The emotions determine one’s personal internal posture to information and experiences. Finally, it is with the will, or volition, that one chooses a course of action, and carries it out. The will can override the mind and emotions when necessary. All three of these aspects are important, though some personalities tend to be driven by one in particular.

    Why are we like this? It seems to me, that God built the mind, will, and emotions into us when He made us in His image. You see, God is three in person- the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit- and one in essence. Though we can only be said to be one person each, our personhood has a sense of threeness to it.

    Fiction seems to have picked up on this facet of human nature. Our genre, science fiction, has many good examples that personify it. If you read last week’s Top-5 list, you know which one I’m going to talk about.

   

 Yep. Kirk, Spock, and McCoy from Star Trek. The reason I think they make such a good character trio, is that each of them seems to take up the role of one of the three aspects of human nature mentioned above.

   

 Bones is the emotion. He is the heart of the crew. On any given mission, he can be counted on to bring ethics, humanity, and passion into the discussion. Though his insights may not always line up with all the facts, they must always be considered before going forward with a decision.

    

Spock, as I think should be evident to most people, is the mind. In many episodes of  Star Trek, he is compared to a computer. He can recall and analyze information, and with little to no emotional bias, offer up all the possible solutions to the problem.

   

 Captain Kirk is the will. He takes what both Spock and McCoy, (and occasionally other members of the crew like Scotty), have to say, weighs their varying ideas, and makes the best decision possible. Sometimes, he has to override both the emotions and the logic in order to simply do the right thing.

    Therefore,while many may consider Kirk or Spock, or Kirk and Spock, to be the main character of the original series of Star Trek, I contend that the real main character is Kirk, Spock, and McCoy working together.

    
So, next time your emotions go on a rampage, make sure your will and mind hunt them down and get them back in line before they are able to accidentally cause the Nazis to win World War II. And watch out for people name Edith Keeler. If that made no sense, go watch “City on the Edge of Forever” from the first season of Star Trek. It’s a classic.

Keep on glowing in the dark,
Elora

Temporally Transcendent

 This weeks post is just a short musing on what I've been learning recently, summarized in rather nerdy terms. I hope you find it encouraging.

 

Did you know that God is temporally transcendent? That only means that He is outside of time, but it sounds cooler and geekier. Time does not bind Him like it does us. He does not travel through it. He is outside it and above it. Also, He knows everything. Also, He never changes, which means that He always knows everything. It makes sense, because where time does not have effect, there is no change.

Are you catching my drift? Let me elaborate a little more, because this is really cool. God knows every moment of your entire life. Always. Before the second world war, before Julius Caesar declared himself dictator of Rome, before Abraham settled the land that would be Israel, before the Pharaohs ruled over Egypt, before the universe was created, God knew your story.

Your life is precious. Your story is important. It is a mysterious, ancient legend told by the Master Author. Remember that, and I’ll try to remember it too. The things that happen to you and I aren't just random inconsequential; they are part of an epic, historical narrative.

But also keep in mind that though God is temporally transcendent, we are not. We don’t know everything that is going to happen. Our Author is good, and vast, and full of surprises. After all, He created subatomic particles. So don’t lose heart.

There are always possibilities.

Keep on glowing in the dark,
Elora