• Welcome! The TrekBBS is the number one place to chat about Star Trek with like-minded fans.
    If you are not already a member then please register an account and join in the discussion!

Religion and Star Trek

So trespassing is a right? Because that is what it is called when you go onto property you aren't invited to be on. Trespassing is not free speech.

Yeah, that seems a bit off. You have the right to come to my door and try to change my religion? I'm not digging that at all.


But those weren't facts. There was nothing to back up the notion that bloodletting was healthy.

I have a disease called Hemochromatosis. The only treatment is lifelong phlebotomies. In other words, every couple of months, I get bled. I've replaced my entire blood supply many times over my lifetime. And I'm still here to complain about it!

:techman:
 
So trespassing is a right? Because that is what it is called when you go onto property you aren't invited to be on. Trespassing is not free speech.


Trespassing is not a right and not protected. That is why they have no trespassing signs and laws. Homeowners are well within their right to protect their rights in regards to trespassing.

But what is trespassing? Anyone and everyone that ever comes and knocks on someone's door? The paperboy? Your neighbor that comes over uninvited? The Avon Lady? Some stranger that had a flat and needs to use the phone?

To say that someone, anyone knocking on your door is trespassing means that the only option is to live like a hermit and have nobody ever knock on your door. After all, unless you specifically invited someone to knock on your door, then they are trespassing under this definition.

Again, that's why they have no trespassing signs and laws that spell out exactly what trespassing is.
 
If a guy came to my door claiming to be a Nigerian Prince who just needed my bank account numbers so he could give me $84 million dollars, I'd call him a con artist and give him the hard boot. (and probably call the cops.) Same if a guy came to me selling homeopathic "treatments."

There's no difference between that and selling me the idea that I need to be redeemed by somebody for things I had no part in that obviously didn't happen anyway, and it'll only cost me a portion of my salary and giving up things I enjoy and considerable time that would be better spent doing those things. It's a racket.

Now, if he wanted me to discuss the book he was reading, fine, but he'd best be prepared for me to critique it just as I would any other allegedly non-fictional narrative - up to and including pointing out all the plot holes, out-of-character behavior by the protagonists, and historical and scientific inaccuracies. (But then he'd probably cry about how I wasn't "listening" to him and accepting his favorite book as the masterpiece he thinks it is. Sorry #NotSorry, there's no sign on my lawn saying "Dead Narrative Storage."
 
Just a brief note: If a person posts a "No Trespassing" sign the principle of freedom of speech will not protect a person - be they a religious "evangelist", political canvasser, a Girl Scout, or a neighbor looking to borrow a cup of sugar - if they choose to ignore that sign AND the property owner chooses to prosecute.

If you fit any of the above categories and see a "No Trespassing" sign - it's best to respect them.

"No Solicitation" is a bit more dicey, as it is more of a statement of preference rather than a statement of rights, and it may be a left over sign from a previous owner that the current owner has forgotten about or never bothered to remove.

Anyways, carry on.
 
I have a disease called Hemochromatosis. The only treatment is lifelong phlebotomies. In other words, every couple of months, I get bled. I've replaced my entire blood supply many times over my lifetime. And I'm still here to complain about it!

Guess what? I am obviously stupid and should've done some research before running my big, fat online mouth. :lol:
 
I happen to be Catholic, my husband is non-denom Protestant, our son identifies as Christian but is of the progressive liberal Protestant variety (he's a veteran of Operation Enduring freedom and is on disability. There's a reason he still lives with mom and dad) My brother, who also lives with us, is a fundamentalist Baptist. Our daughter who lives close by, identifies as an 'optimistic agnostic' whatever that is. Our younger son is gone from home but he had Buddhist leanings. No we do not fight about religion although sometimes my brother and I might get into about the whole 'rapture' thing but nothing serious. If anyone knocked on our door we had had a lot of bases covered. I think that might be why they stopped coming around. ;)

I tend to go out of my way to be nice to door knockers because I was raised in an environment where we were...ahem..encouraged to go knocking. Sometimes people were bullied and shamed into doing it. It takes a lot of courage for them to do what they do and sometimes they may feel that they have a choice or they will be lectured or preached at for not going... so I will be nice to them. I'll tell them I have my own religion that I am satisfied with and thus far no one has tried to take the conversation any further.
 
Some religious people would rather have a pedantic discussion over the definition of a word (trespass) than take the hint that evangelism is usually unwelcome by the evangelized. No, really, we don't want any. If we wanted any, we know where to get it and we wouldn't be buying it from you so get off my porch.
 
Guess what? I am obviously stupid and should've done some research before running my big, fat online mouth. :lol:

:lol:

No worries.

I've been going to the same oncology department for more than 20 years, so I know all the nurses very well. Once in a while I'll make some kind of comment about "all this technology and progress in modern medicine, and all I get are leeches!"

:)
 
Some religious people would rather have a pedantic discussion over the definition of a word (trespass) than take the hint that evangelism is usually unwelcome by the evangelized. No, really, we don't want any. If we wanted any, we know where to get it and we wouldn't be buying it from you so get off my porch.

I remember once doing this as a teen-ager (yes they had us out and doing while we were that young) and one Saturday we woke some woman up from what was obviously a deep sleep. I felt sorry for her...she might well have worked nights or something or just was tired and needed rest. People I was with who were doing the talking apparently didn't notice, they just gave her the standard speech. That was the moment I decided I was never going to do that again.
 
Some religious people would rather have a pedantic discussion over the definition of a word (trespass) than take the hint that evangelism is usually unwelcome by the evangelized. No, really, we don't want any. If we wanted any, we know where to get it and we wouldn't be buying it from you so get off my porch.
Honestly, some people do want it, or want a conversation or human contact. Sorry that your experience has been negative, and I know that I have been pushy in the past. But, I also know a lot of door to door people who I don't agree with, and I won't be converting, but still have wonderful conversations with.

The same could happen in Star Trek. I'm just saying.
 
:lol:

No worries.

I've been going to the same oncology department for more than 20 years, so I know all the nurses very well. Once in a while I'll make some kind of comment about "all this technology and progress in modern medicine, and all I get are leeches!"

:)
I have symptoms of a disease called polycythemia vera. I had to get a phlebotomy when my red blood cell count got too high. Bit unnerving going to an oncologist/hematologist. Made a few jokes about leeches and vampires with my friends.
Due for a red blood cell count soon.
 
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.
Most of my family are christian, conservative and LOVE Star Trek. It's always been a well written piece of science fiction that I've enjoyed since the first time I saw TWOK in the theater. I never once thought of it as a progressive show until the internet came along. I found it ironic that groups of people who take the shows themes of IDIC and diversity so seriously contradict themselves by claiming Star Trek as THEIR show and go out of their way to make everyone who disagree with their worldview feel unwelcome. To me it's just a form of entertainment, nothing more.

So in short yes, you have a place in star trek fandom and don't let any hyopcritical jerk tell you differently.
 
I'm Christian (Apostolic) and have enjoyed Star Trek over the years. To me, it is good entertainment, both on video and in books. :D I have a whole shelf devoted to Star Trek books and have read most of them.

I do have strict religious beliefs. I believe the King James Version of the Holy Bible is God's Word; the need of repentance and baptism to be saved; living a holy life.

I remember years ago, the Jehovah's Witnesses would come around. Mom and my aunt (we lived next door to each other) would invite them in and talk with them. No one changed their beliefs, but no one became angry or offended.
 
My sister and her husband are both Southern Baptist. Both very active at their church, with my brother in law being the youth pastor and worship leader. They might even be bigger fans than I am. So yeah, you can be both. You don't have to give up one for the other.
 
If a guy came to my door claiming to be a Nigerian Prince who just needed my bank account numbers so he could give me $84 million dollars, I'd call him a con artist and give him the hard boot. (and probably call the cops.) Same if a guy came to me selling homeopathic "treatments."

There's no difference between that and selling me the idea that I need to be redeemed by somebody for things I had no part in that obviously didn't happen anyway, and it'll only cost me a portion of my salary and giving up things I enjoy and considerable time that would be better spent doing those things. It's a racket.

Now, if he wanted me to discuss the book he was reading, fine, but he'd best be prepared for me to critique it just as I would any other allegedly non-fictional narrative - up to and including pointing out all the plot holes, out-of-character behavior by the protagonists, and historical and scientific inaccuracies. (But then he'd probably cry about how I wasn't "listening" to him and accepting his favorite book as the masterpiece he thinks it is. Sorry #NotSorry, there's no sign on my lawn saying "Dead Narrative Storage."


All I'm talking about is having a discussion. If someone doesn't want to have a discussion that's fine. I "shake the dust off my feet" and move on. My point about legality was that all Americans have the right to have a conversation with their neighbors. Likewise, all Americans have the right to refuse to have a conversation with anyone. That's one of the perks of living in the United States.

Nobody has the right to force someone to do or buy or accept anything.

Your example is interesting but biased because it seems you've already equated having any discussion about religion as equal to a con artist selling snake oil. Not all religions are about a redeemer or salvation, though. Likewise, not all people selling things are con artists. The Girl Scouts, for example, are welcomed by many when they are selling cookies even though those cookies are a bit over priced. Likewise with the local high school selling candy bars door-to-door for their band boosters or whatever. Those candy bars are also overpriced, you may be diabetic, you may not want cookies or candies. Selling you such things would not be in your best interest in that case. But these kids are still not trespassing by the legal definition even though they are offering you something you don't want or feel you don't need.


Just a brief note: If a person posts a "No Trespassing" sign the principle of freedom of speech will not protect a person - be they a religious "evangelist", political canvasser, a Girl Scout, or a neighbor looking to borrow a cup of sugar - if they choose to ignore that sign AND the property owner chooses to prosecute.

If you fit any of the above categories and see a "No Trespassing" sign - it's best to respect them.

"No Solicitation" is a bit more dicey, as it is more of a statement of preference rather than a statement of rights, and it may be a left over sign from a previous owner that the current owner has forgotten about or never bothered to remove.

Anyways, carry on.

Exactly. No trespassing signs trump the notion of a fair egress to your front door. Providing the person can read, they should respect your sign. This holds true for everyone all the same.


I'm Christian (Apostolic) and have enjoyed Star Trek over the years. To me, it is good entertainment, both on video and in books. :D I have a whole shelf devoted to Star Trek books and have read most of them.

I do have strict religious beliefs. I believe the King James Version of the Holy Bible is God's Word; the need of repentance and baptism to be saved; living a holy life.

I remember years ago, the Jehovah's Witnesses would come around. Mom and my aunt (we lived next door to each other) would invite them in and talk with them. No one changed their beliefs, but no one became angry or offended.

Thank you.

It's possible to have a civil discussion. It's also possible to politely but firmly express your lack of interest and desire for someone to move along. It's also possible and advantageous to request to be put on a "do not call" list so that you aren't intruded upon any further.
 
I don't remember the last time a Girl Scout knocked on my door. You're more likely to find them at a mall or a parent selling them at work. Most people trying to make a sale don't go door-to-door anymore. There's a lot more fear of stranger danger than in the past on both sides of the equation.

And I would hate to get a flat at the same time my cell phone isn't working. Remember the case of the girl in Detroit who got shot when she knocked on the wrong person's door?
 
Hi, Pentecostal Christian by upbringing here and Trekkie since I was ten. I'd say Trek helped me be a better Christian, particularly Deep Space Nine. I watched and do rewatch Major Kira's walk in faith and how she changed with that walk. One of the big moments in season one was her admitting her fear that the Prophets wouldn't forgive all that she had done in fighting for Bajor's freedom. And then Kai Opaka told her that she needed to forgive herself as the Prophets had forgiven her. Spiritually, Kira Nerys began to blossom. She had her bumps in the road, but she became stronger and didn't have to bash anyone with sacred texts to get her point across.
 
If you are not already a member then please register an account and join in the discussion!

Sign up / Register


Back
Top