In 1995, the Christian Reverend Tom LaHaye (With Jerry Jenkins) released the very first of the LEFT BEHIND Series books. In 1951, the atheist Isaac Asimov released the very first of the FOUNDATION Series books. Both "first-in-the-series" books named their multi-volume epics and provided a convenient handle by which both could be referred to.
There are more parallels in the two series, which, given the mutually exclusive philosophical bents of the authors, I find disturbing. To wit:
1) The LBS and FS chronicle the fall of civilization.
2) The LBS and FS follow the lives of on-the-scene, movers-and-shakers as they attempt to save civilization.
3) In the FS, Hari Seldon keeps an eye on things from afar, putting in occasional appearances. In the LBS, Jesus keeps an eye on things from afar, putting in occasional appearances.
4) Powerful, choice-making, Jesus grabbing, faith powered, men (and a couple of women)-o-God are prominently displayed in the LBS. Powerful, choice-making, Seldon grabbing, psychohistory powered, men-o-Hari are prominently displayed in the FS.
5) There's none of that humility crap that Jesus talks about in either the LBS or the FS.
6) The main characters in the FS and the LBS blow away anyone who gets in their way -- apparently with Hari's and God's approval.
7) Both Jesus and Hari have carefully laid out events leading to the salvation of Humanity.
8) Both the FS and the LBS focus on hidden forces opposing monolithic evil in the name of Humanity and God.
9) Reading them raises the question, which will come first, the Thousand Year Reign of Christ or the Foundation?
10) Both the FS and the LBS made their authors scads of money and established them as household names.
When any author writes, they expose a bit of themselves for public viewing. The fact that these two series parallel each other in many ways makes me wonder whether Luther -- who also borrowed culturally significant vehicles for sharing the Good News -- would have thought the LBS had gone a bit too far.
May 26, 2008
A Slice of PIE: Left Behind = The Foundation?
Guy Stewart is a husband; a father, father-in-law, grandfather, friend, writer, and recently retired teacher, and school counselor who maintains a SF/YA/Childrens writing blog by the name of POSSIBLY IRRITATING ESSAYS
that showcases his opinion and offers his writing up for comment. He has almost 70 publications to his credit including one book (1993 CSS Publishing)! He also maintains blogs for the West Suburban Summer School and GUY'S GOTTA TALK ABOUT DIABETES, ALZHEIMER'S & BREAST CANCER!
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1 comment:
Just writing off the cuff here, but it seems the parallels you found be used to support the ideas of:
1. religious longings in people showing up whether said people consciously recognize them or not;
2. the "Great Man" theory of history being a variation on the messiah (or Messiah) story; and/or
3. Asimov's (probably unconscious, certainly unacknowledged) possible influence on LaHaye and Jenkins.
It also seems to me that in his novel Psychohistorical Crisis, Donald Kingsbury challenges Asimov on some of the very things you cite. But, I'd better not say any more about that and give you a chance to read it....
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