Another TOS inspiration for TMP

[Maurice]

Do you believe he's a race of omnipotent beings like Apollo et al.? I think that was a mistake just like making Data Human built. IMO.

They flat out say he's part of a "continuum" of such beings, and this has nothing to do with V'ger.

 

[Valenti]

In the God Thing he was a probe sent out by this Vger type entity or something like that. Now if this God or Devil like machine entity came from Earth's future, then you would have something. IMO.

 

[2takesfrakes]

It's Gene's Vision that is the Causative Link.