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Science-Religion-and-Literature Literary Approaches to the Field of Science-and-Religion with Margaret Atwood’s MaddAddam Trilogy as a Case Study Jaime Wright A Thesis Submitted to The University of Edinburgh, New College In Candidacy for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Edinburgh, UK 2019 i Declaration I, Jaime Wright, hereby declare that this thesis has been composed by me and that it has not been submitted for any other degree or professional qualification. Ph.D. Candidate iii Abstract This thesis proposes and maps a nascent subfield of scholarship within the science- and-religion field that examines the intersection of science, religion, and literature; simultaneously, it draws out and argues for the benefits of incorporating literature into science-and-religion studies. The suggested label for this body of scholarship is the science-religion-and-literature field. Scholarship within this proposed field is relatively new and has yet to be thus brought together. The mapping of this field is done by considering how literature is incorporated into science-and-religion studies. Although there is a growing body of scholarship that incorporates literature into science-and-religion studies, scholarship has yet to address how incorporating literature benefits the wider science-and-religion field. Therefore, this thesis argues that there are ways to incorporate literature that allow literary texts and the tools of literary analysis to bring insights to the science-and-religion field. This thesis is composed of four parts. Part one introduces and maps the subfield of science-religion-and-literature by defining and, at times, coining key terms and phrases, providing an overview of method within the larger science-and-religion field, and mapping the proposed subfield by reviewing exemplary studies. Part two examines the use of literary theory at the intersection of literature with society, religion, and science. Part three portrays a use of particular literary texts (the case study: Margaret Atwood’s MaddAddam trilogy) that seeks to bring insight to the science-and-religion field. The study concludes in part four by assessing various methods that have been portrayed throughout this thesis, articulating the benefits of studying literature within the science-and-religion field, and suggesting further directions of research. v Acknowledgements Any project spanning hundreds of pages and multiple years cannot be completed alone. In line with this, I am thankful to the many people who have offered me physical and emotional support throughout the completion of this thesis. I am extremely thankful to Prof Mark Harris, who first accepted me as a master’s student and, then, continued to supervise my doctoral work. His development and oversight of the Science and Religion programme at the University of Edinburgh has provided a rigorous, yet nurturing, environment in which to combine my passions for literature, science, and religion. I am thankful for his support and encouragement as I explored with him, not only my chosen academic subject, but also the personal experiences of working in a field that can challenge one’s worldview. I would also like to thank Dr Alison Jack, whose co-supervision throughout my postgraduate studies has been a source of deep joy and intellectual growth. It has been a privilege and gift to work with supervisors who were excited about my research from the start and who believed in my ability to complete this project, even when I experienced doubts. Working among the postgraduate community at New College has been a source of friendships, community, and collegiality. I would like to especially thank Steven Stiles, Tom Breimaier, Bill Atkins, Helen Holt, Kate Snow, Sarah Agnew, Anja Pogacnik, Liam Sutherland, Takayuki Yagi, Cam Clausing, and Patrick Brown. I would not have begun this academic journey without the not-so-gentle prodding of Barry Downing. Not only did Barry draw my attention to the Science and Religion programme at Edinburgh, but he also bought me my first relevant text, Kuhn’s Structures of Scientific Revolutions, the summer before I began my studies. Our shared love of science and religion and his unconditional support have sustained me throughout the last five years. I could not have finished this academic journey without the practical support of local Edinburgh friends, who have allowed me to crash in their homes and update them (willingly or not) on the latest thesis progress. My loving gratitude goes out to Kat Andrews and Joe and Oliver Brewer-Lennon. Finally, I simply would not have survived this process without the love, support, and companionship of my husband, Eric Beck. It has been a privilege to be not only his academic colleague, but also his friend and wife. I would like to thank him for his unending belief in my abilities, his reminders of my intrinsic worth and value, and his utmost patience and support, especially in the final stages of this project. This thesis has only been possible because I have had him by my side. vii Contents Declaration ............................................................................................................ i Abstract ................................................................................................................ iii Acknowledgements ............................................................................................... v Contents .............................................................................................................. vii Part One Introduction to Science-Religion-and-Literature ................................................... 1 Chapter 1 Introduction to the Thesis ................................................................................. 3 Introduction ......................................................................................................... 3 Definitions ........................................................................................................... 5 Religion ............................................................................................................ 5 Science ............................................................................................................. 6 Literature ......................................................................................................... 7 Science-and-religion ........................................................................................ 8 Science-religion-and-literature ...................................................................... 10 Science-and-religion-in-literature .................................................................. 10 Literature-in-science-and-religion ................................................................. 11 Method in Science-and-Religion ........................................................................ 12 Overview of Thesis ............................................................................................ 16 Chapter 2 Review of the Nascent Science-Religion-and-Literature Field ........................... 21 Introduction ....................................................................................................... 21 Method: Science-and-Religion-in-Literature ..................................................... 23 Category: Particular texts .............................................................................. 23 Authorial approach .................................................................................... 23 Thematic approach .................................................................................... 29 Explanatory approach ................................................................................ 38 Method: Literature-in-Science-and-Religion ..................................................... 42 Category: Literary Theory .............................................................................. 42 Critical theory approach ............................................................................ 42 Literary language or story approach .......................................................... 48 Category: Particular texts .............................................................................. 56 Revelatory approach .................................................................................. 56 Conclusion ......................................................................................................... 59 Part Two Using Literary Theory: Literature and Society, Religion, and Science .................... 61 Chapter 3 Literature and Society .....................................................................................