The Sci-Fi Christian
Ben De Bono and Matt Anderson
We see The Sci-Fi Christian, in all its iterations, as being about the collision between faith and nerdom. We believe that good genre fiction is about more than just entertainment. We seek to engage with the themes and philosophies behind our favorite stories, wrestling with the big ideas within speculative fiction. We’re unabashedly nerdy and unabashedly Christian. Even if your faith background differs from ours, we look forward to interacting with you at The Sci-Fi Christian!
Episodes
Episode 1240: The Criterion Challenge: Paris, Texas
Featuring Matt Anderson and Ben De Bono This time for The Criterion Challenge, we discuss the film “Paris, Texas,” and also talk about our favorite documentaries. VOTE FOR AN UPCOMING EPISODE TOPIC HERE: www.patreon.com/thescifichristian To...
Episode 1239: The Desecration of Manchild
Featuring Matt Anderson and Ben De Bono What’s the link between nostalgia and the enlightenment? VOTE FOR AN UPCOMING EPISODE TOPIC HERE: www.patreon.com/thescifichristian To send in your Listener Feedback, write us at [email protected].
Episode 1238: The Next 15 Book Poster Books
Featuring Matt Anderson and Ben De Bono We’ve been making our way through a list of 100 essential novels, and in this episode, we rank the next 15 books that we’ve read. VOTE FOR AN...
Episode 1237: The Book Poster: Deliverance
Featuring Matt Anderson and Ben De Bono In this episode, we review “Deliverance” by James Dickey, and then we discuss which book we will be reading next from The Book Poster. VOTE FOR AN UPCOMING...
Episode 1236: The Sci-Fi Protestant
Featuring Matt Anderson and Ben De Bono A piece of listener feedback turned into a conversation about how we discuss Protestantism and Catholicism. VOTE FOR AN UPCOMING EPISODE TOPIC HERE: www.patreon.com/thescifichristian To send in Listener...
Episode 1235: The Odyssey: Movie Review
Featuring Matt Anderson and Ben De Bono It’s our long-awaited review of Christopher Nolan’s “The Odyssey!” VOTE FOR AN UPCOMING EPISODE TOPIC HERE: www.patreon.com/thescifichristian To send in Listener Feedback, write us at [email protected].
Episode 1234: Dante Discussions: All Truth Is God’s Truth?
Featuring Matt Anderson and Ben De Bono In the first entry in a new series, Ben and Matt explore Dante’s use of mythology and non-Christian religions. VOTE FOR AN UPCOMING EPISODE TOPIC HERE: www.patreon.com/thescifichristian To...
Episode 1233: Ask Ben Anything: Parenting And Ducks
Featuring Matt Anderson and Ben De Bono Ben tackles a controversial topic, and also discusses ducks. VOTE FOR AN UPCOMING EPISODE TOPIC HERE: www.patreon.com/thescifichristian To send in Listener Feedback, write us at [email protected].
Episode 1232: Formed And Forming
Featuring Matt Anderson and Ben De Bono Using Luke Burgis’ recent book, “The One and the Ninety-Nine,” we explore what it means to become a well-formed person in today’s world. VOTE FOR AN UPCOMING EPISODE...
Episode 1231: The Pope And AI
Featuring Matt Anderson and Ben De Bono Pope Leo weighs in on AI. VOTE FOR AN UPCOMING EPISODE TOPIC HERE: www.patreon.com/thescifichristian To send in Listener Feedback, write us at [email protected].
Episode 1230: Ilium/Olympos Book Reviews
Featuring Matt Anderson and Ben De Bono In this episode, we review two of Dan Simmons’ greatest novels. VOTE FOR AN UPCOMING EPISODE TOPIC HERE: www.patreon.com/thescifichristian To send in Listener Feedback, write us at [email protected].
Episode 1229: The Golden Age
Featuring Matt Anderson and Ben De Bono Is humanity on the cusp of a golden age or are our best days behind us? VOTE FOR AN UPCOMING EPISODE TOPIC HERE: www.patreon.com/thescifichristian To send in Listener...
Episode 1228: Moon News
Featuring Matt Anderson and Ben De Bono What’s new with the moon? VOTE FOR AN UPCOMING EPISODE TOPIC HERE: www.patreon.com/thescifichristian To send in your Listener Feedback, write us at [email protected].
Episode 1227: The Super Mario Galaxy Movie Review
Featuring Matt Anderson and Ben De Bono Ben and Matt both watched “The Super Mario Galaxy Movie” in the theater with their kids. Here’s their movie review! VOTE FOR AN UPCOMING EPISODE TOPIC HERE: www.patreon.com/thescifichristian...
Episode 1226: Sci-Fi Christian News
Featuring Matt Anderson and Ben De Bono Ben makes a major announcement! VOTE FOR AN UPCOMING EPISODE TOPIC HERE: www.patreon.com/thescifichristian To send in your Listener Feedback, write us at [email protected].
Episode 1225: The Academy Awards
Featuring Matt Anderson and Ben De Bono What did Ben and Matt think of some of the recent Oscar nominees? VOTE FOR AN UPCOMING EPISODE TOPIC HERE: www.patreon.com/thescifichristian To send in your Listener Feedback, write...
Episode 1224: Ask Ben Anything: AI And Communion
Featuring Matt Anderson and Ben De Bono Should we use artificial intelligence for counseling? Plus, questions about communion! VOTE FOR AN UPCOMING EPISODE TOPIC HERE: www.patreon.com/thescifichristian To send in your Listener Feedback, write us at...
Episode 1223: Books 2025
Featuring Matt Anderson and Ben De Bono In this episode we discuss our favorite reads from 2025. VOTE FOR AN UPCOMING EPISODE TOPIC HERE: www.patreon.com/thescifichristian To send in your Listener Feedback, write us at [email protected].
Episode 1222: Movies 2025
Featuring Matt Anderson and Ben De Bono In this episode, we discuss our favorite first-time film viewings from 2025, and also list some of our least favorites of the year. VOTE FOR AN UPCOMING EPISODE...
Episode 1221: The Book Poster: Pride And Prejudice
Featuring Matt Anderson and Ben De Bono In this episode, we review “Pride and Prejudice” by Jane Austen, and then we discuss which books we will be reading next from The Book Poster. VOTE FOR...
Episode 1220: Ask Ben Anything: Praying
Featuring Matt Anderson and Ben De Bono What is the point of praying to the saints? VOTE FOR AN UPCOMING EPISODE TOPIC HERE: www.patreon.com/thescifichristian To send in your Listener Feedback, write us at [email protected].
Episode 1219: A Nuanced View On AI
Featuring Matt Anderson and Ben De Bono Why did Ben finally start using AI? VOTE FOR AN UPCOMING EPISODE TOPIC HERE: www.patreon.com/thescifichristian To send in your Listener Feedback, write us at [email protected].
Episode 1218: The Year 2026 In Preview
Featuring Matt Anderson and Ben De Bono In this episode, we preview what listeners can expect from movies, a video game, and our podcast in 2026. VOTE FOR AN UPCOMING EPISODE TOPIC HERE: www.patreon.com/thescifichristian To...
Episode 1217: Kooky Christmas: If Anyone Builds It
Featuring Matt Anderson and Ben De Bono A Pascal’s Wager for the future of AI. VOTE FOR AN UPCOMING EPISODE TOPIC HERE: www.patreon.com/thescifichristian To send in your Listener Feedback, write us at [email protected].
Episode 1216: Kooky Christmas: The Nine Days Of Christmas
Featuring Matt Anderson and Ben De Bono Kooky Christmas season is back, and this time we uncover the unsettling combination of the technological, the material, and the occult. VOTE FOR AN UPCOMING EPISODE TOPIC HERE:...
Episode 1215: Previewing A Nuanced View On AI
Featuring Matt Anderson and Ben De Bono This is a preview episode to our upcoming episode in which Ben will reveal why he started using AI. VOTE FOR AN UPCOMING EPISODE TOPIC HERE: www.patreon.com/thescifichristian To...
Episode 1214: Our Next Listener Poll
Featuring Matt Anderson and Ben De Bono This may be our most controversial Listener-Voted Poll yet! VOTE FOR AN UPCOMING EPISODE TOPIC HERE: www.patreon.com/thescifichristian To send in your Listener Feedback, write us at [email protected].
Episode 1213: The Book Poster: Multiple Book Catch-Up
Featuring Matt Anderson and Ben De Bono In this episode, we review “The Grapes of Wrath” by John Steinbeck, “Naked Lunch” by William S. Burroughs, “Rabbit, Run” by John Updike, and “Go Tell It on...
Episode 1212: Pluribus: Season 1: Episode 3
Featuring Matt Anderson and Ben De Bono There’s a new show on Apple TV+ called “Pluribus,” and we may be done discussing it week by week. VOTE FOR AN UPCOMING EPISODE TOPIC HERE: www.patreon.com/thescifichristian To...
Episode 1211: Marian Titles
Featuring Matt Anderson and Ben De Bono Was there a recent change to Catholic teaching on Marian dogma? VOTE FOR AN UPCOMING EPISODE TOPIC HERE: www.patreon.com/thescifichristian To send in your Listener Feedback, write us at...
Episode 1210: Pluribus: Season 1: Episodes 1 And 2
Featuring Matt Anderson and Ben De Bono There’s a brand-new show on Apple TV+ called “Pluribus,” and we have mixed feelings about it. VOTE FOR AN UPCOMING EPISODE TOPIC HERE: www.patreon.com/thescifichristian To send in your...
Episode 1209: The SFC Time Loop: The Theology Of Purgatory
Featuring Matt Anderson and Ben De Bono As we prepare to start Dante’s “Purgatorio,” we discuss the Catholic view of Purgatory itself. VOTE FOR AN UPCOMING EPISODE TOPIC HERE: www.patreon.com/thescifichristian To send in your Listener...
Episode 1208: The Kitty Cats Club
Featuring Matt Anderson and Ben De Bono It’s the 5-year anniversary of our first viewing of the 2019 film, “Cats,” and the group got back together to watch it again! VOTE FOR AN UPCOMING EPISODE...
Episode 1207: Top 10 Movies From 1985
Featuring Matt Anderson and Ben De Bono In this episode, we discuss movies from 40 years ago! VOTE FOR AN UPCOMING EPISODE TOPIC HERE: www.patreon.com/thescifichristian To send in your Listener Feedback, write us at [email protected].
Episode 1206: The Smashing Machine: Movie Review
Featuring Matt Anderson and Ben De Bono Two worlds collide as one of Ben’s favorite film studios produced a movie starring one of Matt’s favorite actors. VOTE FOR AN UPCOMING EPISODE TOPIC HERE: www.patreon.com/thescifichristian To...
Episode 1205: The Criterion Challenge: High And Low
Featuring Matt Anderson and Ben De Bono This time for The Criterion Challenge, we discuss the film “High and Low” by Akira Kurosawa. VOTE FOR AN UPCOMING EPISODE TOPIC HERE: www.patreon.com/thescifichristian To send in your...
Episode 1204: The Book Poster: The Big Sleep
Featuring Matt Anderson and Ben De Bono In this episode, we review “The Big Sleep” by Raymond Chandler, and then we discuss which books we will be reading next from The Book Poster. VOTE FOR...
Episode 1203: Listener Feedback
Featuring Matt Anderson and Ben De Bono Ben is here for some of the Listener Feedback. VOTE FOR AN UPCOMING EPISODE TOPIC HERE: www.patreon.com/thescifichristian To send in your Listener Feedback, write us at [email protected].
Episode 1202: The Criterion Challenge: Throne Of Blood
Featuring Matt Anderson and Ben De Bono This time for The Criterion Challenge, we discuss the films “Throne of Blood,” “M,” “Safety Last,” “F For Fake,” and “Summertime.” VOTE FOR AN UPCOMING EPISODE TOPIC HERE:...
Episode 1201: The Book Poster: Under The Volcano AND The Day Of The Locust
Featuring Matt Anderson and Ben De Bono In this episode, we review two books from The Book Poster. We start with “Under the Volcano” by Malcolm Lowry, and then discuss “The Day of the Locust”...
Episode 1200: The History Of The Sci-Fi Christian: Season Six
Featuring Matt Anderson and Ben De Bono We continue our reflections on each year of the show. In this episode, Season Six! VOTE FOR AN UPCOMING EPISODE TOPIC HERE: www.patreon.com/thescifichristian To send in your Listener...
Episode 1199: The HBO Max Watchlist
Featuring Matt Anderson and Ben De Bono Which films and television series will Ben recommend to Matt? VOTE FOR AN UPCOMING EPISODE TOPIC HERE: www.patreon.com/thescifichristian To send in your Listener Feedback, write us at [email protected].
Episode 1198: Top 5 Contrarian Opinions
Featuring Matt Anderson and Ben De Bono Which movies did we love that the general audience tends to hate? VOTE FOR AN UPCOMING EPISODE TOPIC HERE: www.patreon.com/thescifichristian To send in your Listener Feedback, write us...
Episode 1197: The Book Poster: I, Claudius
Featuring Matt Anderson and Ben De Bono In this episode, we review “I, Claudius” by Robert Graves, and then we discuss which books we will be reading next from The Book Poster. VOTE FOR AN...
Episode 1196: The Book Poster: The Sun Also Rises
Featuring Matt Anderson and Ben De Bono In this episode, we review “The Sun Also Rises” by Ernest Hemingway, and then we discuss which books we will be reading next from The Book Poster. VOTE...
Episode 1195: Listener Feedback
Featuring Matt Anderson and Ben De Bono Listener feedback, updates, and some of our future plans for the podcast! VOTE FOR AN UPCOMING EPISODE TOPIC HERE: www.patreon.com/thescifichristian To send in your Listener Feedback, write us...
Episode 1194: Introduction To The Divine Comedy: Part 2 – The Last Man
Featuring Matt Anderson and Ben De Bono In Part 2 of our intro to “The Divine Comedy” we talk about Dante, his life, and his encounter with Beatrice. VOTE FOR AN UPCOMING EPISODE TOPIC HERE:...
Episode 1193: James Bond: License To Direct
Featuring Matt Anderson and Ben De Bono The next James Bond movie has found its director. VOTE FOR AN UPCOMING EPISODE TOPIC HERE: www.patreon.com/thescifichristian To send in your Listener Feedback, write us at [email protected].
Episode 1192: Introduction To The Divine Comedy: Part 1 – The Music Of The Spheres
Featuring Matt Anderson and Ben De Bono In Part 1 of our intro to “The Divine Comedy” we explore the medieval cosmology Dante employed for his epic. VOTE FOR AN UPCOMING EPISODE TOPIC HERE: www.patreon.com/thescifichristian...
Episode 1191: Protestant Views Of Mary
Featuring Matt Anderson and Ben De Bono A conversation about the changing of Protestant views of Mary over time. VOTE FOR AN UPCOMING EPISODE TOPIC HERE: www.patreon.com/thescifichristian To send in your Listener Feedback, write us...