Poll: Do Star Trek fans believe in a Supreme Being?

[Cyclopean]

I voted none of the above.

When meeting a superior being, any Star Trek fan worth his or her salt will shout "I am the Kirk!"

I don't know whether any of us can fashion a theology out of that... but I am afraid most of our contemporaries have.

 

[RoJoHen]

Kenobi said:

RoJoHen said:I am not saying there is no such being. But there is no way for me to have any idea what it is...what it looks like, how it exists, what it is capable of...it's a concept that I cannot grasp.

I cannot have faith in something that I cannot experience or perceive.

Understanding of what is directly inconceivable can be gained through analogy. For example, it is impossible for man to directly conceive a four-dimensional object in his mind's eye. However, we can understand the idea of the four-dimensional object through an analogy such as, say, the Flatland analogy. Would you agree, then, that in such a manner man can potentially understand that which he can't directly conceive.

I'm not saying it's impossible, and if you choose to pursue that kind of thinking, go for it. All I'm saying is that it's not a worthwhile thing for me to do. I am happy with my knowledge of the universe, and I think there is enough complexity down here in the perceivable world to keep me occupied without throwing God into the mix.

Even if such a being exists, I do not believe he is God in the religious sense and doubt the existence of any form of heaven or hell. Therefore, even if there is a supreme creator, I trust that he's okay with me not worrying about him...he probably doesn't care much about me either!

 

[RyanKCR]

RoJoHen said:

Kenobi said:

RoJoHen said:I am not saying there is no such being. But there is no way for me to have any idea what it is...what it looks like, how it exists, what it is capable of...it's a concept that I cannot grasp.

I cannot have faith in something that I cannot experience or perceive.

Understanding of what is directly inconceivable can be gained through analogy. For example, it is impossible for man to directly conceive a four-dimensional object in his mind's eye. However, we can understand the idea of the four-dimensional object through an analogy such as, say, the Flatland analogy. Would you agree, then, that in such a manner man can potentially understand that which he can't directly conceive.

I'm not saying it's impossible, and if you choose to pursue that kind of thinking, go for it. All I'm saying is that it's not a worthwhile thing for me to do. I am happy with my knowledge of the universe, and I think there is enough complexity down here in the perceivable world to keep me occupied without throwing God into the mix.

Even if such a being exists, I do not believe he is God in the religious sense and doubt the existence of any form of heaven or hell. Therefore, even if there is a supreme creator, I trust that he's okay with me not worrying about him...he probably doesn't care much about me either!

Just curious, if there is a supreme creator and you think He doesn't care that you not worry about Him then why do you think He created you? Why create something if you don't care about it?

 

[3D Master]

Kenobi said:

RoJoHen said:The notion that all of existence revolves around a deity (or series of dieties) and humanity is incredibly vain, even if it turns out to be true.

How can stating a fact (if it is a fact) be vain? I'm at a loss to understanding how you're reaching your conclusion. If my father builds me a house, and you ask, "For what purpose was this house built?" and I say to you, "My father has built this house for me to dwell in" then I am incredibly vain for stating the fact of the matter?

Except that it isn't a fact now, is it? Whether it someday is shown to be a fact, is besides the point.

St Nicholas said:
Just curious, if there is a supreme creator and you think He doesn't care that you not worry about Him then why do you think He created you? Why create something if you don't care about it?

Just to see if he/she/it/them could do it. In fact, give us time, and we'll kick start a universe to to see if we can do it.

 

[RyanKCR]

3D Master said:

Kenobi said:

RoJoHen said:The notion that all of existence revolves around a deity (or series of dieties) and humanity is incredibly vain, even if it turns out to be true.

How can stating a fact (if it is a fact) be vain? I'm at a loss to understanding how you're reaching your conclusion. If my father builds me a house, and you ask, "For what purpose was this house built?" and I say to you, "My father has built this house for me to dwell in" then I am incredibly vain for stating the fact of the matter?

Except that it isn't a fact now, is it? Whether it someday is shown to be a fact, is besides the point.

St Nicholas said:
Just curious, if there is a supreme creator and you think He doesn't care that you not worry about Him then why do you think He created you? Why create something if you don't care about it?

Just to see if he/she/it/them could do it. In fact, give us time, and we'll kick start a universe to to see if we can do it.

Do people have kids just to see if they can do it? What was being referenced was the creation of person. Why would God not care about a person He created?

 

[S'kai]

To paraphrase The Borg Queen:

"Supreme" implies a heirarchy where none exists.

 

[Plum]

roger1999 said:
Is there a Supreme Being?

Bloody agnostics.

 

[igrokbok]

I don't believe in organized religion and their various rules and regulations that allow you the be a part of the "club" when you kick. But I have faith and believe in something beyond what is. And I believe that whatever is there is a basic source of good to counter the bad. I've had too many prayers answered to believe otherwise.

 

[RoJoHen]

God didn't create me. My parents created me. If there is a supreme being, he caused the universe to begin. What happened from there was all chance and evolution.

If there is a Supreme Being, I believe that the universe is, in simplest terms, an on-going science experiment, and we are simply the outcome.

 

[Paxil]

No God, no Santa Claus, no Easter Bunny, no Tooth Fairy.

 

[RoJoHen]

^I am convinced that Santa, the Easter Bunny, and the Tooth Fairy are all one person who can't leave well enough alone.

 

[Anubis]

I understand what your saying and where your coming from Kenobi. But, I think that no matter what I say or how well I say it, you can't or wont be able to do the same when it comes to my thoughts and feelings. Let's just leave it at that, no hard feelings.

 

[3D Master]

St Nicholas said:

3D Master said:
Just to see if he/she/it/them could do it. In fact, give us time, and we'll kick start a universe to to see if we can do it.

Do people have kids just to see if they can do it? What was being referenced was the creation of person. Why would God not care about a person He created?

He didn't create a person, now did he, he created a universe. Besides, just because he cares about a person that doesn't make it a good thing. After all, according to the books and so many people he "cares" about a person only as long as you're not on your knees worshiping him, the moment you give but a flicker of thinking for yourself and not doing everything exactly as he wants it, he puts you in hell and tortures you for the rest of eternity. That's the type of 'care' a serial killer and rapist gives his victims.

 

[Thrall]

igrokbok said:
I don't believe in organized religion and their various rules and regulations that allow you the be a part of the "club" when you kick. But I have faith and believe in something beyond what is. And I believe that whatever is there is a basic source of good to counter the bad. I've had too many prayers answered to believe otherwise.

Yeah that's kind of how I see it. I don't buy most of the dogma but I totally dig Jesus's message of peace, love, and understanding.

I mean Gene Roddenberry was an atheist. But he was smart enough to recognize that many of the things he believed in were similar to the things that Jesus preached about. Hence the reference to him in that TOS episode, the one about the Roman Planet who's title I can't remember. He talked about peace, love, charity, mercy, why conflict is bad, the rich giving all their money to the poor, the seperation of church and state, women's rights, and anti-fundamentalism. If he was the Son of God or no, he was one pretty cool dude imo. He was the John Lennon of his day.

 

[garakfan]

"By common sense I am an atheist" CHARLIE CHAPLIN

"All thinking men are atheists" ERNEST HEMMINGWAY

Come on people let's give up this primitive superstition known as "god" and grow up already.

 

[Plum]

Some people are "religious", some people "aren't religious". There's a gazillion degrees in between too. That's just the way people are, get used to it.

See, to me this whole thread is pointless. Clearly, if you managed a serious poll of Trek fans (good luck!) they'd fall pretty much within social norms regarding spiritual beliefs. Trying to rationalize God is silly, it's about faith. Rationalizing faith isn't enough never works either.

Oh, and I was making a little religious joke a few posts back... I guess it was a little joke... *crickets*

 

[Kenobi]

RoJoHen said:I'm not saying it's impossible, and if you choose to pursue that kind of thinking, go for it. All I'm saying is that it's not a worthwhile thing for me to do.

No matter who you are, it's always worthwhile to choose to take the red pill.

I am happy with my knowledge of the universe, and I think there is enough complexity down here in the perceivable world to keep me occupied without throwing God into the mix.

Even if such a being exists, I do not believe he is God in the religious sense and doubt the existence of any form of heaven or hell. Therefore, even if there is a supreme creator, I trust that he's okay with me not worrying about him...he probably doesn't care much about me either!

God didn't create me. If there is a supreme being, he caused the universe to begin. What happened from there was all chance and evolution.

If there is a Supreme Being, I believe that the universe is, in simplest terms, an on-going science experiment, and we are simply the outcome.

No offense, but for a person who doesn't think it's worthwhile to pursue knowledge of transcendantal ideas, you seem to have come to a few conclusive beliefs on the matter. My only question (and it need not be answered) is, are you content with the reasoning that lead you to your conclusions? A wise man once said, "All our dignity lies in thought. Let us strive, then, to think well."

Anubis said:
I think that no matter what I say or how well I say it, you can't or wont be able to do the same when it comes to my thoughts and feelings.

Your statement was easy enough to understand; I wondered if you were content with the reasoning leading to the statement.

Let's just leave it at that, no hard feelings.

Done, and don't think twice about hard feelings. You've carried your demeanor well, and I enjoyed the space of dialogue.

 

[Colonel Green]

3D Master said:
There is no such being. The universe simply is.

Agreed.