Camille Paglia makes the same point I did in my essay in Ben Bella’s Narnia anthology:
Great art can be made out of love for religion as well as rebellion against it. But a totally secularized society with contempt for religion sinks into materialism and self-absorption and gradually goes slack, without leaving an artistic legacy.
The verdict is in. There’s no getting around the decades of evidence. Secular art sucks. The fantasy and sci-fi genre is increasingly dreadful because it’s all about maintaining a mythical balance or self-actualization these days.
I’m on an award jury this year, I’m reading a lot of what is supposed to be the best stuff out there, and believe me, most of it is dreadful.