The Grim Darkness of Religion and Theology in Warhammer 40,000

Autorentext

Christopher A. Porter is Adjunct Lecturer at Trinity College Theological School, Australia.

Scott Harrower is Associate Professor of Theology, Church History, and Philosophy of Religion at Ridley College, Australia.

Klappentext

This book explores the religious and theological themes of the Warhammer 40,000 universe.

Scott Harrower, Christopher A. Porter, and their contributors dive into one of the most famous tabletop and video games, exposing how religion and theology are driving forces within its universe and views on human and cosmic life. Their discussion of Warhammer 40,000 queries what role religion plays in determining the series' narrative conflicts and when, and whether, religion and theology can be generative of hope. A recurring theme throughout Harrower and Porter's discussion is the game's depiction and use of heresy, embodied by the Battle Sisters and Saint Celestine. Across nineteen chapters, this volume seeks to answer these questions and explores various ways in which Warhammer 40,000 portrays a satirical take on religion, inspired by, and played out against, Christian beliefs.

Inhalt

Introduction
1: Introducing the Grim Darkness of Warhammer
2: Abandon Hope All Ye Who Enter Here - Why is the Grim Darkness of the Far Future so Interesting? (Warhammer 40,000 and Philosophy)
3: Theological Themes of the Warhammer 40,000 Universe
4: Behold, Something Greater than the God-Emperor is Here
5: Excess in All Things: Satan, Slaanesh, and the Tragic Eschatology of Warhammer 40,000
6: A Christian Theological Analysis of Transhumanism in Warhammer 40,000
7: De Doctrina Haeretica: Transhuman Spirituality in Warhammer 40,000
8: The Unforgiven and the Fallen-The Shocking Forgiveness of the Lion's Embrace
9: Garro: Faith Forged In Crisis
10: Sanguinius, an Almost Messianic Sacrifice: Echoes of Jesus Christ in the Blood Angels Primarch
11: The Blood of Martyrs, the Fire of Faith Missiology now and in the 41st Millenium
12: "How to repulse the flesh" Gnosticism and asceticism in the Adeptus Mechanicus
13: Doomsday and Insurgency: End Day Prophecy and Militaristic Uprising in the Genestealer Cults
14: Innocence Proves Nothing: Institutional Parallels between the Catholic Magisterium and the Imperium of Man in Warhammer 40,000
15: Respect the Canon: Warhammer 40,000 and Evangelical Fundamentalism's Loyalty to Fluff and Tradition
16: Excommunicate Traitoris-Narrative Transportation, Canon Conflict, and the Thrice Damned Heresy of Head Canon
17: In the Grim Darkness of the Far Future, There Is Still Heroism
18: Bibliotherapy: Contending with Everyday Religious-Spiritual Struggles in Imaginary Worlds
19: Reflections on Religion, Theology, and the Grimdark