Jesus & Christianity

[Kor]

I heard that Flint was originally planned to allude to Jesus as being one of his pseudonyms, but that was dropped by censors due to its sacreligiosity. So they made him Lazarus instead, which kinda devalues one of Jesus's main miracles, since apparently he was just waking Flint up from a nap.

Later on, Jerome Bixby (the writer of "Requiem for Methuselah") picked up on this theme again in his screenplay "The Man From Earth." Perhaps he felt that by that time, it wouldn't be censored.

Kor

 

[Greg Cox]

I understand that they are figures of speech but I tend to agree. I am religious but it is frustrating to me that phrases like those are considered so passe as to continue on.

Perhaps. But if you're talking movie or TV dialogue, that's just how lots of people talk in real life.

 

[fireproof78]

Perhaps. But if you're talking movie or TV dialogue, that's just how lots of people talk in real life.

I get that, and I get that's a struggle to make up new turns of phrase and idioms. So many idioms and expressions in English have carried on for many many years. It just loses much of its punch because in context it really doesn't make a whole lot of sense. Even in real life it doesn't make a whole lot of sense.

 

[Greg Cox]

I get that, and I get that's a struggle to make up new turns of phrase and idioms. So many idioms and expressions in English have carried on for many many years. It just loses much of its punch because in context it really doesn't make a whole lot of sense. Even in real life it doesn't make a whole lot of sense.

Hey, hold your horses there! Let's give people free rein when it comes to striking when the iron is hot.

Not to be a loose cannon or anything . . ..

 

[Tim Thomason]

Kira is probably speaking the Bajoran language. So when she says "My God," that's just UT shorthand for some blasphemous swear that only makes sense to Bajorans.

 

[JirinPanthosa]

It’s weird in general that aliens are so familiar with human cliches and colloquialisms. I have trouble with colloquialisms when I go to England.

 

[Greg Cox]

It’s weird in general that aliens are so familiar with human cliches and colloquialisms. I have trouble with colloquialisms when I go to England.

I'd take the piss out of you but I'm just too knackered.

 

[fireproof78]

Hey, hold your horses there! Let's give people free rein when it comes to striking when the iron is hot.

Not to be a loose cannon or anything . . ..

What just happened there? Did you have a stroke? You're saying things that don't make sense

 

[Greg Cox]

Don't go overboard. I'm right as rain and devil-may-care . . . .

 

[Nyotarules]

I understand that they are figures of speech but I tend to agree. I am religious but it is frustrating to me that phrases like those are considered so passe as to continue on.

The whole idea is in the future humans will have gone pass the need to start a war to defend their God or gods. Other Federation planets might have the same concept.

 

[Tuskin38]

I'm atheist and say 'oh god' and other religious terms all the time, it's just part of the common vernacular these days, I honestly can't see it dying out unless there's some giant shift of language.

 

[fireproof78]

One would think that moving from a single planetary power to an interstellar alliance would constitute a giant shift in language...

 

[Tuskin38]

Not unless they promoted some sort of law or education against it

 

[Greg Cox]

I'm atheist and say 'oh god' and other religious terms all the time, it's just part of the common vernacular these days, I honestly can't see it dying out unless there's some giant shift of language.

Me, too. And people on STAR TREK tend to speak colloquially, not some weird future lingo. So, yeah, they're going to say things like "Good Lord!" without it being a declaration of faith.

 

[fireproof78]

What about the two world wars? Nothing is shifting culture away from 20th century idioms?

Me, too. And people on STAR TREK tend to speak colloquially, not some weird future lingo. So, yeah, they're going to say things like "Good Lord!" without it being a declaration of faith.

I don't think it's a declaration of faith. I think it just doesn't fit in to the world if one thinks of future humans.

 

[Longinus]

They really don't say that sort of things often. Like 90% of the time it's Bones, and he had particularly old fashioned way to speak. Not that I really see why this is a problem any more than other use of contemporary speech. Realistically language would evolve more in three centuries (think how people spoke in 18th century) but it would be pretty pointless to try to emulate that and would make the show hard to follow. Mind you, I kinda like that how in TNG era Trek they kinda have slightly peculiar way to speak, which makes it feel like a period drama.

 

[Greg Cox]

One would think that moving from a single planetary power to an interstellar alliance would constitute a giant shift in language...

Realistically, yes, but TREK has always been written in naturalistic 20/21st century language in order to be accessible to contemporary viewers.

"You've earned your paycheck, Scotty!"

'In a pig's eye!"

"Are you out of your Vulcan mind?"

"Let's get the hell out of here."

They've never tried to come up with some kind of exotic Future English, a la Riddley Walker or A Clockwork Orange, so . . . "Oh my God," etc

 

[fireproof78]

They really don't say that sort of things often. Like 90% of the time it's Bones, and he had particularly old fashioned way to speak. Not that I really see why this is a problem any more than other use of contemporary speech. Realistically language would evolve more in three centuries (think how people spoke in 18th century) but it would be pretty pointless to try to emulate that and would make the show hard to follow. Mind you, I kinda like that how in TNG era Trek they kinda have slightly peculiar way to speak, which makes it feel like a period drama.

It's just odd to me. Takes me out for a moment because it makes no sense in context.

Realistically, yes, but TREK has always been written in naturalistic 20/21st century language in order to be accessible to contemporary viewers.

"You've earned your paycheck, Scotty!"

'In a pig's eye!"

"Are you out of your Vulcan mind?"

"Let's get the hell out of here."

They've never tried to come up with some kind of exotic Future English, so . . . "Oh my God," etc

I know its a concession of the times its produced in. Still odd.

 

[Longinus]

Though I think they consciously avoided using modern idioms in TNG era shows much; the language in them (TNG in particular) has kinda timeless quality.

 

[Greg Cox]

On the other hand, most of Trek's attempts to invent future slang have been pretty silly.

"We reach, Herbert!"

To my taste, "Damn it, Jim!" is less jarring than "By the Great Bird of the Galaxy" or whatever.

I will concede, however, that Kirk joking about dipping little girl's pigtails in inkwells has not aged well.