Star Trek as anti-religion

Discussion in 'General Trek Discussion' started by donners22, Jun 4, 2009.

  1. donners22

    donners22 Commodore Commodore

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    I came across a curious article in a newspaper. It is a regular religious column which had a shot at Star Trek about a decade ago, and has covered it again with the popularity of the new film.

    Here's a key section:

    The full article is at http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,25526633-24909,00.html

    I suppose the immediate counter to that would be the Bajorans, who managed to survive a dreadful occupation at least in part due to their faith. However, in general it is true that Star Trek features little in the way of religion.

    Is it generally accepted that religion has been left behind, or is it simply something not openly portrayed? I know some novels feature religious characters, and there's no shortage of religious references in TOS (though often as "mythology").

    This seems a quite depressing approach taken by the writer, to suggest that we are dependant on "God" (whether that is supposing a single God or each individual's religious beliefs) to progress any further, and that morals cannot develop without religion.

    Is Star Trek necessarily in conflict with religion, as the writer seems to think?
     
  2. Da'an

    Da'an Commander Red Shirt

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    This is why I like Babylon 5, and to a lesser extent, Farscape.

    I think it depends on which religion, but surely anything science fiction show with aliens is at odds with religion by the vary nature of explicitly stating Earth isn't the only place in the Universe with life.
     
  3. Amaris

    Amaris Fleet Admiral Admiral

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    However, there are many religions which do not state such specifically. For example, Christianity, which only speaks of life on earth. There are many Christians who believe that life exists elsewhere in the universe. I'm one of them.


    J.
     
  4. Michael

    Michael Good Bad Influence Moderator

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    That definitely is a rather questionable viewpoint to have. Also, the last part (only people who practice a religion can have morality) pretty much sums up the problems I have with organized religion.

    It's also interesting that this writer confers a doctorate on Spock and re-baptizes his own president with a new name. :lol:
     
  5. Amaris

    Amaris Fleet Admiral Admiral

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    As a Christian and one who interacts with people of various faiths, philosophies and beliefs, I can vouch for that. Morality does not a religion make, and neither does religion make morality. One does not have to be of a faith to be moral and ethical. True ethics and morals start inside and work their way outward. Anything else must be learned.


    J.
     
  6. RyanKCR

    RyanKCR Vice Admiral Admiral

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    If you ask me ST:TMP is a very Christian allagory. It is about someone seeking his God but looking for something specific and then shocked to find out who God really was and then accepting Him.
     
  7. Michael

    Michael Good Bad Influence Moderator

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    Yes, I know that. And I'm glad you look at it the same way. But I have met many people who were shocked to learn that I don't believe in something (God, that is).
     
  8. RyuRoots

    RyuRoots Fleet Captain Fleet Captain

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    I think religion is still around in Star Trek, but I think it's much more of a personal thing, and not something that's shoved down everyone's throats and you're considered an amoral thing if you don't believe in it like it is in many places today. Parts of America, not the least of which.
     
  9. Da'an

    Da'an Commander Red Shirt

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    It's been my personal experience that Spirituality encourages morality while religion hinders it.

    This has even been shown in Star Trek on many occasions where the dogmatic aliens are the bad guys and the spiritual aliens are the enlightened ones.
     
  10. Middle Earther

    Middle Earther Commodore Commodore

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    It depends on which show/episode you watch as to whether ST is "anti-religious" or not. There was the TOS episode "Bread and Circuses" which had a reference to Christ. (Hope I named the right episode..) Although Jean-Luc was more anti-relgion - he talks about it as backwards thinking or immature for a society to 'still' be religous. Interestingly enough Jean-Luc does seem to reflect a more contemporary French point of view (Interesting book: Man Made God by Luc Ferry) However, the Bajorans and Klingons especially demonstrate that relgion is still there. Even though the Klingons brag about killing their Gods - it does seem quite relgious. Perhaps what makes Star Trek appealing lies in how it allows for the variety of human experience - a future with "infinite possibilities." Now that I've sprained my brain - I think I'll lie down...
     
  11. SFRabid

    SFRabid Commodore Commodore

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    I think the bottom line is Star Trek avoids religion to broaden the possible market.

    That is a perception only available to one who believes spirituality and religion are separate and incompatible. I'm not sure what the basis of that belief could be. More often they go hand in hand.
     
  12. Lightinspire

    Lightinspire Lieutenant Commander

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    Religion is legalism..do this, do that, don't do this, don't do that..the keeping of rules and rituals..Christianity isn't religion, it is about having a personal relationship with Christ..anyway, remember what Kirk said in Star Trek V, talking about God may not be out there but in here "pointing to the heart"..I believe that is what Trek is trying to portray, that God is in every human heart...Of course StarFleet acts like humans are God..they achieved all they did without the need of God.
     
  13. RandyS

    RandyS Vice Admiral Admiral

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    I think that, yeah, to a certain extent, Star Trek IS anti-religious. How many episodes were there on both TOS and TNG that had the Enterprise crew meeting "God", only to have that God proven false? I don't remember the exact number, but it was a common theme.
     
  14. Da'an

    Da'an Commander Red Shirt

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    You mean Enterprise crew meeting "God", only to have that God not be what the crew had in mind?

    Like the Q for example, what makes the Q not-Gods, apart from "not our definition of God"?
     
  15. Da'an

    Da'an Commander Red Shirt

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    Actually I regard them as like two sides of the same coin, equal yet opposite.
     
  16. Captain Randy Hall

    Captain Randy Hall Commodore Commodore

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    No one has brought up "Bread and Circuses," which was pretty openly pro-Christian? Most of the time in science fiction, gods turn out to be computers run amok or a deception by a head of state because that's about as close to religion as we're likely to get. And the Bajorans were indeed a counterpoint to that concept. Sisko came to accept his role as the emissary, though it was a seven-year process. Kira had a strong faith as part of her religion, though it's fortunate there weren't any abortion doctors around.:cardie:
     
  17. Flying Spaghetti Monster

    Flying Spaghetti Monster Vice Admiral Admiral

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    wow. just... wow!

    I think the fantasy is the idea that religion inherently is the only thing that provides morality. I think it hinders p[rogress. Spirituality is a bullshit word.
     
  18. Nerys Ghemor

    Nerys Ghemor Vice Admiral Admiral

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    FYI, since you seem to have a bit of confusion around the issue, being a strong believer does NOT make you a crazed killer. That was someone who tried to place themselves in the role of both the legal system and God. To take matters into one's own hands like that is absolutely and totally WRONG.
     
  19. Middle Earther

    Middle Earther Commodore Commodore

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    "No one has brought up "Bread and Circuses," which was pretty openly pro-Christian?"???? Ummm.....I did (see above)....
     
  20. RandyS

    RandyS Vice Admiral Admiral

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    Yep. Every time a God like figure appeared he was always proven to be a phoney in one way or another.