Star Trek and Humanism

[Smellincoffee]

I'm a regular listener of the skeptic podcast "Point of Inquiry", and the most recent episode has Robert M. Price discussing Star Trek's humanistic ethos with a guest (Scott Lohman). Whether Star Trek made me a humanist or humanism made me a Trekkie, I can't say -- but I know that message is what keeps me coming back for me.

Humanism is a naturalistic worldview which rejects convention and authority as guides to the the truth and morality, and favors instead a freethinking approach and empathy-based ethics. You may be a humanist if your hopes are on enjoying this life and creating a better tomorrow today instead of waiting on God to do it or for heaven to drift out of the sky.

 

[Paradon]

I feel religions will always be with us; it is part of human psyche...it's just the way the it is. Nothing really stay the same and last forever in this universe and that is especially true for life, especially intelligent beings such as ourselves. Migration, progress, and mingling is all part of human nature. I think faith and religions will adapt and progress to keep up with the current discovery, progress and thinking. It will because nothing stay the same forever, especially the way humans think. Progress is imminent.

 

[Captain Verata]

I am a humanist and always have been but Star Trek led me to learn about Gene Roddenberry and from that I have learned what I believed in was called humanism. I have always liked the moral issues brought up in Star Trek and loved how they deal with it with reason and compassion. No prayers to save the day.

 

[T'Girl]

You may be a humanist if your hopes are on enjoying this life and creating a better tomorrow today instead of waiting on God to do it or for heaven to drift out of the sky.

Well a Christian Humanist (like myself) would disagree with that last segment, secular humanism's position on religion is only a small side branch of the greater Humanism philosophy.

I can't say that Star Trek made me a Humanist, it did lead me to study the philosophy only to discover that my faith had already taken me there. Although the studies and attending various seminars did help me clarify what became my own personal life philosophy.

Star Trek's position on ethics, justice and reason is lovely to see (not the only reason I like the show). Kirk's characters ethical stance on mercy toward defeated enemies was probably the first part of his character I picked up on even as a small child (okay my parents point it out to me). The Romulan (BoT), the Orions (JtB), even the Klingon (TSFS) who order the murder of his son, were not summarily killed when helpless, but were offered the opportunity for surrender.

No prayers to save the day.

Unless there is a huge Jem'hadar fleet coming at you through the passage, then beseeching the Prophets to intervene as said fleet passes the Celestial Temple is always a good idea.

 

[Saspearia]

Thank you for sharing the link to the podcast. I have downloaded it and am looking forward to listening to it.
It is an interesting question you ask. I consider myself a non-religious humanist. I remember me and my brother having a discussion when we were kids about god, religion etc and our views were very much influenced by star trek. I do remember we thought we came up with the concept of humanism - we even named it that!
When I was older and was reading about Gene Roddenberry I was delighted to find his views were the same as mine but hardly surprising!

I would suspect that anyone growing up that closely attached to Star Trek will be influenced. But there are bigger influences out there.

 

[sonak]

to echo T'Girl a little bit, there is religious humanism. Also, many religions have strong traditions of social justice, it's not just about sitting in a house of worship and relying on divine intervention.

 

[Gary7]

Our perspective on life is influenced by everything that overtly touches us (meaning, grabs our attention in either a positive or negative way) across the span of our lives. Star Trek influenced me, no doubt. It was the first thing that inspired me to think long-term about humanity. It was also a sobering experience as I got older, because it made me aware of such a disparity between the maturity of civilization in Star Trek, and the relatively primitive conditions in our present civilizations. We've come very far in a very short period of time technologically speaking, but we're still struggling so much with the administration of human civilization.

Humanism: a doctrine, attitude, or way of life centered on human interests or values; especially : a philosophy that usually rejects supernaturalism and stresses an individual's dignity and worth and capacity for self-realization through reason.

We have historic writings about divine interventions, but then we see no sign of this in dire circumstances of modern times; the human being is left to make it's own choices, good or bad. Because we can't rely upon divine intervention on our self-created problems, whether we abide by a religion or not, we must have a focus on humanism if we are to survive. Religion inherently discriminates, so a secular approach is the most fair way to go. Worldwide organizations designed to address shortcomings in other countries (impoverishment, human injustice, disasters, etc), a step towards that ideal of humanism. We have a long way to go...

 

[Distorted Humor]

No prayers to save the day.

Unless there is a huge Jem'hadar fleet coming at you through the passage, then beseeching the Prophets to intervene as said fleet passes the Celestial Temple is always a good idea.

Yep, exactly what I was going to say.

 

[Captain Verata]

No prayers to save the day.

Unless there is a huge Jem'hadar fleet coming at you through the passage, then beseeching the Prophets to intervene as said fleet passes the Celestial Temple is always a good idea.

Yep, exactly what I was going to say.

*sigh* And I thought I should have said something about it before someone makes smart ass comment. Too late now. LOL, so yeah, prayers didn't save the day. Ever.

 

[Distorted Humor]

Unless there is a huge Jem'hadar fleet coming at you through the passage, then beseeching the Prophets to intervene as said fleet passes the Celestial Temple is always a good idea.

Yep, exactly what I was going to say.

*sigh* And I thought I should have said something about it before someone makes smart ass comment. Too late now. LOL, so yeah, prayers didn't save the day. Ever.

except after beseeching (I love that word) the Prophets, the said fleet went poof!

 

[Arpy]

Well, that's sort of the exception that proves the rule. In real life tragedy - dark, inconsolable, and unforgivable tragedy - happens all the time, and despite the deepest felt and pleaded prayers of human beings, no god or gods intervene.

I don't entirely know how I feel about humanism, but I think a lot of the wrong and pain in the world could be helped by a humanity that "helps itself."

 

[Distorted Humor]

Well, that's sort of the exception that proves the rule. In real life tragedy - dark, inconsolable, and unforgivable tragedy - happens all the time, and despite the deepest felt and pleaded prayers of human beings, no god or gods intervene.

I don't entirely know how I feel about humanism, but I think a lot of the wrong and pain in the world could be helped by a humanity that "helps itself."

Well, study after study shows that people of faith have longer lifespans then those who do not. Perhaps it is the sense of community that these people have, but for many people faith has demonstrative benefits (For example, people of my faith live on average 7-10 years longer then the general populace) so I never saw the need to bash religious folks, even if you find it quaint.

 

[Arpy]

A quick Google search will show you study after study that shows exactly the opposite - especially two important ones I can remember off the top of my head published in 1965 and 2006. I'd like to see which studies and sources you're drawing your conclusions from. For example, studies comparing groups from mutually-supportive and upper-middle class religious communities with those of totally unconnected and lower-middle class non-religious communities aren't really studies so much as PR ads.

I stand by my earlier post.

 

[Paradon]

It always has been about people trying to make a better life despite all the bad things that is out there. That's what religions do for people. Call it intuition if you will...another part of them who still believe their is goodness in the world and maybe something good will come out of really bad situations. People sitting around feeling worthless, like they have no purpose and place in this universe, because of oppression by thugs and psychopaths. Most of the rulers and conquerors back then were psychopaths. These people had nothing better to do but to dream and some of them wrote about a better life, about God. That's how all these texts came into being. They have a powerful psychological impact on a lot of people who are desperate, people who feel their lives are going nowhere. That is why they are so popular today, more than ever. It's just another part of human intuition trying to make sense of things that they find unable to cope with otherwise...like having seeing children die or being sold into slavery.

 

[T'Girl]

studies comparing groups from mutually-supportive and upper-middle class religious communities with those of totally unconnected and lower-middle class non-religious communities ...

It would be interesting to view a study a group of anti-religious persons of wealth in comparison to a similar size group of religious persons of ordinary means and see if it's the wealth or the religious life style that provides the positive advantages.

I stand by my earlier post.

Please do.

 

[KeepOnTrekking]

I think Star Trek was so wonderfully constructed by a group of people that so many different ideas were presented that Star Trek ended up being a mirror. Whatever the viewer's beliefs that they bring with them when they watch it IS what they see reflected back to them. Humanistic. Christian. Whatever. Whatever good qualities that they believe in is what they see be reflected back at them. I was very humanistic when I first started watching Star Trek. As I got a little more exposed to religion, I started seeing some aspects of that coming back at me in places that I never saw before even tho I watched the shows a hundred times.

 

[Arpy]

I'd like to also say that I feel sad about the Church. I grew up religious and think that religion has and can be a force for good. That if religions kept up with the times better, they'd be more accurate (evolution) and do less harm (homophobia) - as any institution that becomes stagnant is bound do. Does anyone think that a girl who isn't a virgin on her wedding night should be dragged back to her father's and stoned to death? Ok, not most. But I think many people, and especially many Trekkies, even if they don't believe in Jesus as God, could get on board with love thy neighbor (the Federation) and forgive thy enemy (Klingons).

 

[xortex]

Kirk did seem to have more reverence for the flag than the alter, didn't he. It didn't get John Lennon very far though, did it. I just hope Jesus wasn't one of these Jim Morrison types who said, Hey, man, I am the alpha and the omega. Before Abraham (not Abrams) was, I am! Peace be with you and pass the bong..

 

[Paradon]

I like to point out that not all religious and church going people are the same. You get different opinions from different people, just like I would get a million different answers if I ask everyone on here about President Obama. Just like everything else the churches and religions are an ongoing process and different people may interpret what is being taught and challenge it, but not destroy it. There are now female Buddhist monks as well as priests. Nothing really stays the same. The religions will adapt to the time, progress and current way of thinking even if you don't want it to.

And, Just like any group of people you will have narrow minded folks and you will have open minded ones.

 

[Mage]

to echo T'Girl a little bit, there is religious humanism. Also, many religions have strong traditions of social justice, it's not just about sitting in a house of worship and relying on divine intervention.

Thank you for pointing that out. It seems that a lot of people have a very limited view about religion in general, and religions by themselves.
Some religions do indeed preach that you should sit and wait for God (or a god) to come and save the day.

A lot of religions deal with God wanting to better ourselves and the world around us, preaching about love for our fellow men and the world we life in, about respect and understanding. Much like what Star Trek teaches us really.