Well, Dukat believed in the Pah-Wraiths. And Jadzia visited the shrine to get the Prophet's blessing for her kid (and eventually got killed for that, lol).
Religion in Star Trek
- Thread starter JarodRussell
- Start date
I wouldn't necessarily rule out Christianity--that is, a non-fundamentalist form. Given the fact that Christianity has made the transition once already, from a faith that was very much based upon a particular national, cultural, and genetic heritage into something meant to transcend barriers, I think that it might well be possible to draw upon the history of the early church to make that leap into a universe where there are other species.
It's my understanding that Kirk's line -- “We find the one adequate” -- was inserted at the insistence of the NBC censors.
Other than Kirk officiating at a non-denominational wedding at the beginning of the story (he mentions “in accordance with our laws and our many beliefs”), and comforting Angela Martine at the end by saying “We both have to know that there was a reason,” I don't see any references to religion in that episode. Lt. Stiles’ ancestors fought the Romulans a century ago; he displays bigotry toward Spock only when he sees the physical resemblance between Romulans and Vulcans. What does that have to do with religion?
Or are you perhaps thinking of another episode entirely?
I prefer to think of the Pope of two or three centuries from now as a hip dude who wears a leather jacket and wraparound sunglasses, blesses the crowds as he scoots around Rome on a Vespa, and is constantly followed by a horde of paparazzi. Hmmm . . . Pope Marcello I?
No, this is the one. As I recall it is the only time Star Trek showed a religious ceremony, and it occurred in the only episode where a human displayed racism (unmixed with hyperbole, tacit humor and covert respect,) with potentially deadly consequence. My mistake, it must have been a coincidence. Listening to as a child to sermons and clergymen spouting Biblical justifications for segregation must have given me a warped association between religion and racism. It's not like religious schools have been racist or anything, either. I don't know where I get these weird ideas.
Don't get me wrong. TOS and TNG are both greath shows. But let's face it, they're really one-dimensional when it comes to the depiction of religion. Judgmental, preachy, and not in a very subtle way either. Picard comes off as a pompous ass when he gives a speech about how humanity has moved beyond the need for religion in the future. The one-dimensional "science = good, religion = bad" message of TNG really seems to come from a liberalist and/or science mindset gone wrong. In this way those two shows have much in common with intolerant preachers like Richard Dawkins who likes nothing better than to take a dump on the beliefs of hundreds of millions of people.
Fortunately, the later trek shows, like DS9 and to a lesser extent VOY and ENT, are a lot more sophisticated and nuanced in their depiction of religion.
Fortunately, the later trek shows, like DS9 and to a lesser extent VOY and ENT, are a lot more sophisticated and nuanced in their depiction of religion.
Harry Kim once tried to embrace Vulcan philosophy, in order to purge himself of his emotions, in the episode Alter Ego. However, his attempts were met with distain and ridicule from everybody except Tuvok.
I personally thought it was a wonderful idea to explore the concept of a Human embracing Vulcan beliefs. It's such a shame they went with the whole "Harry that's just stupid!" approach.
Not to mention the fact that Christianity has also survived two major splits within the faith. The first was the Great Schism in 1054. The second was the Protestant Reformation of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries.
Christianity, as a whole, has proven remarkably adept at change. I can see how it would survive contact with aliens.
That's exactly the way I feel. People like Richard Dawkins disgust me. I simply can't find them convincing when they decry doctrinal intolerance when being massively doctrinally intolerant themselves.
Yep.
Balance of Terror is one of the Star Trek episodes that possesses clear multiple storylines, the main plot of the Romulans, the relationship of Robert and Angela and Stile's bigotry. Just because the second and third storylines occur within the same episode doesn't mean that there is an association between them, it would seem to me (I just rewatched it) that the two plots are separate.
There is a positive portrayal of religion through the character of Angela, when she enters the (wedding) chapel, she very obviously kneels in prayer, her groom does not. After her fiancée's death she returns to the chapel. As they're both exiting the chapel, the look Kirk cast above the alter is an interesting one. I believe Kirk is saying a brief prayer for the departed Robert's soul, which is also what I believe Angela was doing.
Actual the more fundamental traditional orthodox forms of religions might be the religions that will survive into the future, certainly will be the most recognizable in their current forms.
KIRK: Since the days of the first wooden vessels, all shipmasters have had one happy privilege. That of uniting two people in the bonds of matrimony. We are gathered here today with you, Angela Martine, and you, Robert Tomlinson, in the sight of your fellows, in accordance with our laws and our many beliefs so that you may pledge your ...
PICARD: (Data's Day) Since the days of the first wooden sailing ships, all captains have enjoyed the happy privilege of joining together two people in the bonds of matrimony. And so it is my honour to unite you, Keiko Ishikawa, and you, Miles Edward O'Brien, together in matrimony.
I've read that one of the reasons that the visitation of extra-terrestrials to Earth has been covered up, is that it would smash most Earth religions, as they mostly human-centric.
Religion is just a way of controlling people for the common good with the promise of an afterlife. They are very much aware of the common good anyway in the ST universe, so there wouldn't be as much need for religion. Maybe life is so bearable that they don't need the comfort of an afterlife, just seeing it as a progress to another plane of existence.
Religion is just a way of controlling people for the common good with the promise of an afterlife. They are very much aware of the common good anyway in the ST universe, so there wouldn't be as much need for religion. Maybe life is so bearable that they don't need the comfort of an afterlife, just seeing it as a progress to another plane of existence.
You don't have to like someone to agree with them. That they're being pompous doesn't make them wrong. They may be chided for their pomposity but should not be for more - that hurts you and gives them more to be pompous about.
That IS a shame...I think it would have been very interesting to see something like that continue, and ironically enough (considering it's the purging of the emotions we're talking about) it might actually have brought more depth to Kim as a character and more growth.
(Incidentally I also think that helping Seven to become a healthy Vulcan might have been more useful to her than becoming human. She could have used the meditations that helped her to experience and deal with her emotions, and to understand how to live around emotional beings, but I am surprised the Vulcan way was never raised as a possibility for her.)
Actual the more fundamental traditional orthodox forms of religions might be the religions that will survive into the future, certainly will be the most recognizable in their current forms.
KIRK: Since the days of the first wooden vessels, all shipmasters have had one happy privilege. That of uniting two people in the bonds of matrimony. We are gathered here today with you, Angela Martine, and you, Robert Tomlinson, in the sight of your fellows, in accordance with our laws and our many beliefs so that you may pledge your ...
PICARD: (Data's Day) Since the days of the first wooden sailing ships, all captains have enjoyed the happy privilege of joining together two people in the bonds of matrimony. And so it is my honour to unite you, Keiko Ishikawa, and you, Miles Edward O'Brien, together in matrimony.
Those are rituals, though...and just because a church has rituals does not make it fundamentalist. Fundamentalism as I think most of us in this thread are speaking of it refers to what I would also call literalism...those who take the Bible absolutely literally.
Marriage isn't even really a necessarily religious function. It is ordinarily made in terms of religion, but the religious component must not be essential, since the institution has appeared spontaneously, often identically, across geographical, cultural and religious boundaries.
And that Picard bit is about as secular as you can get without just saying "You sign here and you sign there."
And you know, in retrospect, Garrett Wong might have made a pretty good Vulcan.
And that Picard bit is about as secular as you can get without just saying "You sign here and you sign there."
And you know, in retrospect, Garrett Wong might have made a pretty good Vulcan.
Yep, I was married by a Judge. No religion involved.
You think the Pope still exists in the 23rd and 24th century?
Oh yes. Don't underestimate him.
And I always thought Star Trek could have used some Christmas.
Did you actually read his books, or are you just going by the hearsay and sound bites?
Wouldn't smash my religion, I know that much. Because you know, I've read the Bible, and nowhere in it does it say that aliens don't exist.
The way I see it is, the existence of alien life would be a GOOD thing. It just shows another part of the infinite universe that God created.
The GodS.The way I see it is, the existence of alien life would be a GOOD thing. It just shows another part of the infinite universe that God created.
In fact, a lot of people think Ezekiel witnessed the landing of an alien spacecraft.
Of course, it's also possible he just ate some moldy rye bread.
I've eaten moldy rye bread before, it's just, like, greenish spotted bread. It doesn't make you see weird s**t, it just CURES weird s**t.
The dude saw ET's.
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