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One of the biggest questions ever asked by science fiction can be found in battlestar galactica, the critically acclaimed TV "reimagining" that aired from 2004-2009. The show is about humanity battling for survival against the Cylons, a race of robots created by humans. The show's first few episodes take place against the backdrop of [spoilers ahead] a sneak attack by the Cylons, who kill all but around 50,000 humans. The question is then asked by the humans who escape: "Why does humanity deserve to live?" It's that question that lingers over the entire series, because most of the human actions seem to suggest the answer might be "we don't." The humans are petty, vengeful, and sinful. And yet, the show also suggests there's something there that's deeper. It's a reminder that all of us are capable of good, but we're also capable of great evil—evil that necessitates an undeserved grace if any of us is to have any hope. The entire show's run reminds us we don't really deserve saving—instead, God can and does use broken people to accomplish his purposes and to do greater good than we could ever dream of.
Religion in Science Fiction
Deep questions are not the only tie to spirituality within science fiction. Many of the best examples of sci-fi also have a lot of religious commentary or imagery. Some of it can be really overt—think about Neo dying at the end of the matrix revolutions (in a cross of light, no less!) with the promise of resurrection, or when Captain Kirk goes to find God in star trek v: the final frontier (spoiler: he doesn't find him).
But some of the best science fiction also has a character trying to make sense of what Christian faith looks like in an often brutal universe. Derrial Book, a character in firefly (Joss Whedon's criminally underrated sci-fi/cowboy mashup) is a pastor (known in the firefly universe as a "shepherd") trying to provide the light of God in a very dark place to some occasionally hopeless people. He's a devout man, but he also has a dark past—his own redemption makes him passionate about seeking the redemption of others. Or consider Nightcrawler (played by Alan Cumming) in x-men 2, who spends much of the film trying to reconcile his deep faith with his mutant powers. These characters are examples to viewers of people trying to understand how Christian faith can continue to make sense of the world, even when the world has fallen apart. When Christian faith is authentically treated in science fiction, it can remind believers that faith can provide hope and meaning even in the darkest of times.
Other science fiction doesn't have exact representations of Christian faith, but can still teach Christians plenty about spirituality. The most famous example is from the Star Wars series, which presents the mysterious Force. The Force seems to be a mish-mash of Buddhist, Christian, and New Age ideas, but it's also at the center of the epic struggle between good and evil. It's an example of the power of faith and sacrificial love winning out over evil and technological might—in the star wars universe, a blaster and skepticism can only get you so far. You need faith to truly succeed.
Star trek also featured plenty of religious analogy, usually pointing out some of the flaws in religious systems that sought to control and radicalize their adherents. But the nature of the science fiction universe in star trek allowed it to explore topics like that without seeming heavy-handed or even unfair to religion—after all, most Christians likely have at least one example of a person who, however well meaning, turned the gospel into a controlling system of legalism.
