The link between science fiction and religion has been around longer than Scientology itself. By definition, science fiction hopes to explore the world beyond the real, to study the possibility of things greater than ourselves. Whether there are aliens or artificially intelligent robots, man's quest to understand the fantastic and unreal world of science fiction is very close to the desire for religious enlightenment.

It should come as no surprise then that science fiction TV shows are suddenly all finding religion. While shows like Battlestar Galactica and Lost have used faith and God as dramatic material since the beginning, this fall saw two of the most popular primetime sci-fi shows spread their wings and fly into the world of religion.

The most overt use of religion is probably on Supernatural. The fourth season of this CW demon hunting show has officially adopted the Book of Revelations as source material. Dean Winchester (Jensen Ackles) was brought out of Hell by an angel sent from God. Sci-fi typically uses metaphors for religion, but Supernatural has taken the direct approach.

The creative leap is brilliant because it expands the fundamental attraction to the show: the battle between good and evil. God and Lucifer are the most clear-cut symbols for this struggle, and so it only makes sense that Supernatural would use them to complete the story of the Winchesters' desire to destroy evil.

Speaking of good and evil, the NBC hit Heroes is also finding God this season, as Nathan Petrelli (Adrian Pasdar) was also brought back to life, presumably by a force greater than him. Nathan's spiritual rebirth opens his eyes to the possibility that he and fellow humans with special powers may be angels, sent from Heaven to help restore order to the world.

Some people may take religious texts literally, but these shows have decided to use the concepts of Heaven and Hell to tell great stories about the power of mankind. Whether you're a devout Christian or a total atheist, these stories are not simply about the existence of a supreme being, but about the capacity of mankind to do good and fight evil.

Good and evil do exist in the world, and shows like Heroes and Supernatural are using religion as a way to show how people can come together to defend all that is good in the world against the forces of darkness. Because these shows are science fiction, however, they can get away with addressing these concepts without fear of protests.

Dean Winchester and Nathan Petrelli are preaching to millions of viewers every week. They are saying that individuals can stand up together and, if they are willing to fight, they can defeat the forces of evil in the world. It doesn't matter what religion you are, those are lessons worth learning and stories worth telling.

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