Religion and Star Trek

[VulcanMindBlown]

You can see the religious underpinning in Star Trek. Gene Roddenbury was an atheist and a very progressive one. It seems like with Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, we finally had some possibility that materialism is the only true religion (which I do consider it a religion, it explains the metaphysics of the universe.)

Now, I am a US Constitutionalist Evangelical Christian, is there any room for me in Trek? I believe like in the show, we shouldn't interfere or judge other cultures no matter how crazy or wrong we think that they are (think of the Enterprise episode "Cogenitor",) and even if I disagree with progressive values by the creators, the show's themes, and the fans [PARENTHETICAL OFF-TOPIC TANGENT REMOVED BY MODERATOR] about their being objective moral values given to us by God, I am going to be kicked from Star Trek fandom?

It seems that the Gene Roddenbury Trek discounted these people even if they had the possibility of being right. Now, I think it is safe to assume that the Prophets were wormhole aliens, but should something be discounted no matter how true or possible it is?

No flame wars intended.

 

[The Old Mixer]

(hey, I disagree with LGBT behavior, but people who think differently about controversial topics shouldn't be hated, ostracized, or tried to convert their beliefs to mind. I shouldn't judge as long as you don't go off the deep end like killing people. If it doesn't involve me ["it neither picks my pocket or breaks my leg" according to Thomas Jefferson] I shouldn't be involved in it and mind my own business unless they want me to help them)

I think there's a potential for constructive discussion here without needing to relegate the thread to Miscellaneous or TNZ...but in order to keep it civil enough to stay here, I'd recommend not side-swiping controversial issues that aren't part of the main topic. (Not to mention that the multi-sentence double parenthetical isn't doing your sentence any favors in the first place.)

 

[TheGoodStuff]

You can see the religious underpinning in Star Trek. Gene Roddenbury was an atheist and a very progressive one. It seems like with Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, we finally had some possibility that materialism is the only true religion (which I do consider it a religion, it explains the metaphysics of the universe.)

Now, I am a US Constitutionalist Evangelical Christian, is there any room for me in Trek? I believe like in the show, we shouldn't interfere or judge other cultures no matter how crazy or wrong we think that they are (think of the Enterprise episode "Cogenitor",) and even if I disagree with progressive values by the creators, the show's themes, and the fans (hey, I disagree with LGBT behavior, but people who think differently about controversial topics shouldn't be hated, ostracized, or tried to convert their beliefs to mind. I shouldn't judge as long as you don't go off the deep end like killing people. If it doesn't involve me ["it neither picks my pocket or breaks my leg" according to Thomas Jefferson] I shouldn't be involved in it and mind my own business unless they want me to help them) about their being objective moral values given to us by God, I am going to be kicked from Star Trek fandom?

It seems that the Gene Roddenbury Trek discounted these people even if they had the possibility of being right. Now, I think it is safe to assume that the Prophets were wormhole aliens, but should something be discounted no matter how true or possible it is?

No flame wars intended.

That is homphobic. Being homosexual is not a choice or 'behaviour'. By calling it behaviour, you are actually ostracizing [and showing prejudice towards] a large group of people. IDIC indeed.

Now before this thread ends up locked, I will say: I am a very strong Atheist and I love that humanity seems to have largely moved past the silly superstition that religion is. I think Humanism [and thus Atheism] is a fundamental aspect of Trek: one of an enlightened, rational future.

 

[Paradise City]

I don't really care whether I fit in to the "Roddenberry vision" or not. Trek isn't some sort of demanding ideological experience that I feel must conform to, it's just a bit of fun and I like arguin' the toss over some of the issues it brings up.

 

[stardream]

Are there keepers at the gates of the fandom who will only let certain people in?

 

[Greg Cox]

Nobody is going to kick anybody out. I have in my time met Christian Trekkies, Jewish Trekkies, pagan Trekkies, atheist Trekkies, agnostic Trekkies, liberal Trekkies, conservative Trekkies, etc. But we Trekkies also tended to be an opinionated bunch, so if anybody tries to argue that STAR TREK needs to be more conservative or Christian or whatever . . .understand that other Trekkies are going to express themselves on the subject, often bluntly.

And, frankly, STAR TREK has always been proudly multicultural and somewhat progressive in its politics. Heck, the fourth movie was about saving the whales.

 

[The Old Mixer]

That is homphobic. Being homosexual is not a choice or 'behaviour'. By calling it behaviour, you are actually ostracizing [and showing prejudice towards] a large group of people. IDIC indeed.

In case I hadn't made myself clear...for or against, this subject is off-limits in this discussion. Drop it, everyone.

Now before this thread ends up locked, I will say: I am a very strong Atheist and I love that humanity seems to have largely moved past the silly superstition that religion is.

Or I could hand out warnings for Trolling to people who insist on posting things that will get the thread locked. Don't make me go there.

 

[dswynne1]

Here are my thoughts:

One, religious themes provide excellent tropes to tell a story, which was apparent throughout TOS.
Two, "religion", as it pertains the world of STAR TREK is defined differently from species-to-species. Vulcans have the "katra" while the Bajorans have their "Prophets". Humans tend to be depicted being secular-humanists, but accept the idea that while "gods" do exist, they tend to be "aliens". Other than that, they don't care about religion or religious people as a rule of thumb.
And, three, at the end of the day, STAR TREK is a television show. It would be best not to mix it with religious discussion when dealing with THIS sort of fandom. Best go over to the STAR WARS board.

FYI.

PS. Out respect for this site, I won't punch holes in the argument of the poster who thinks that religion is merely "superstition". SO tempted to throw down, but...I won't.

 

[BillJ]

...is there any room for me in Trek?

I think that is for you to decide.

How do you feel when you watch an episode like "Who Watches the Watchers?"

 

[The Old Mixer]

In an episode that I otherwise consider to be spottily written and directed at best comes this striking scene, which asserts that Picard, poster boy for 24th-century humanity, isn't an atheist, but an agnostic:

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[BillJ]

In an episode that I otherwise consider to be spottily written and directed at best comes this striking scene, which asserts that Picard, poster boy for 24th-century humanity, isn't an atheist, but an agnostic:

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It is a great scene. But then I like "Where Silence Has Lease".

 

[JeffinOakland]

I'm interested in what Christians and believers of other religions think of episodes like "A Piece of the Action" and other episodes that openly mock religious beliefs.

 

[Greg Cox]

Many, many years ago, I did a panel on this topic with a priest or minister whose name escapes me. I was the designated atheist on the panel, but my gracious co-panelist was able to find positive religious themes and messages in any number of STAR TREK episodes, and he certainly seemed very comfortable being religious and a Trekkie.

The thing is, we're talking literally hundreds of episodes produced over the course of decades by dozens of different writers, directors, etc. Trying to discern one immutable approach to religion over the course of all six TV series is probably a lost cause. "Who Watches the Watchers" has one take on religion; "Bread and Circuses" has another, as did "Rightful Heir" or "Who Mourns for Adonais."

You can't really point to one episode and say that sums up everything STAR TREK has to say on the subject.

 

[2takesfrakes]

Rick Berman and his teams had made some nice attempts to bring in more religious aspects to the STAR TREK universe. Sometimes, though, with Chakotay's Vision Quests, and some of Bajor's religion, it got a little silly, the attempt was still appreciated. I wouldn't have minded seeing Judeo/Christian beliefs feature more prominently, in STAR TREK. I'm still hopeful that the new series will do more, in this regard. In Real Life, during the 60's and 70's, NASA astronauts made it a point to quote from the Bible - particularly what's referred to as The Old Testament, when addressing the curious public. Visiting Outer Space proved to be very moving, Spiritually ...

 

[stardream]

I'm interested in what Christians and believers of other religions think of episodes like "A Piece of the Action" and other episodes that openly mock religious beliefs.

Can't speak for anyone else but it doesn't bother me in the least. Why should it?

 

[BillJ]

I'm interested in what Christians and believers of other religions think of episodes like "A Piece of the Action" and other episodes that openly mock religious beliefs.

How did they openly mock religion in "A Piece of the Action"?

 

[The Old Mixer]

I'm guessing their reverence for "The Book"...but that's quite a stretch.

 

[JeffinOakland]

How did they openly mock religion in "A Piece of the Action"?

I read the episode as a kind of parody on the dangers of organizing an entire society around a single book, like the Bible. They even call the book about the mafia "the book". http://thehiddenmetaphor.com/star-trek-a-piece-of-the-action/

 

[The Old Mixer]

They could just have easily been predicting how a group of fans might take something like a TV show and turn it into a object of worship and cosplay.

 

[JeffinOakland]

The could just have easily been predicting how a group of fans might take something like a TV show and turn it into a object of worship and cosplay.

Sure, a single story can mean different things. What you said, what I said and the idea that the planet's inhabitants are like children (literal and imitative) and Kirk and Spock are the adults (reasonable).