Star Trek Universe -- A World Without Religion?

I don't think you have to be Christian to understand that all men have temptations towards evil, and that it takes willpower to resist these temptations, and we easily give in to them if we are not careful.

And the officers of the Federation are never tempted to do anything evil. They are soulless machines. The android is more human than they are.

 

This is the same reason I prefer stories of an imperfect Christ instead of a perfect one. Better drama. I mean come on, the guy can't even die, at least give Him some moral and/or emotional baggage to overcome.

 

The drama in the Gospels is watching how the very flawed people around him act. All of them, in particular Peter, are portrayed as simpletons and cowards who run away and even betray Christ during his most desperate hour. This is one of the reasons why the Gospels are so credible, because it is not propaganda.

 

The TNG characters are not perfect but they have progressed. I think we've progressed in 300 years and maybe in another 300 we'll progress some more?

 

We will be lucky if the human race survives 300 years. And that is because our ability to destroy ourselves increases exponentially over time, but our human frailties remain the same. My father believes that the only solution to this problem is that a One World Government will take over the world and seize all the weapons of mass destruction. However, I would not want to live in that world, because a government with total power would be a tyranny by definition.

 

I agree with the sentiments of your post but I think this was the most powerful scene Pickard ever did

[video=youtube;fjJN08uqt70]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fjJN08uqt70[/video]

 

We've had the capacity to destroy ourselves many times over for decades and it hasn't happened yet?

 

I agree,one of the best!

 

Well you don't like a show that has been out of production for what- 20 years?

Seriously- who cares?

If you want religion- and greed and sex and fear- watch Battle Star Galactica.

Otherwise a big 'if you don't like it- change the channel'

 

I loved the show- I am not a big Trekkie, but I think it was wonderful- for many of the thought provoking questions Star Trek raised.

Criticizing Star Trek for lack of religion is about 50 years late to the show and rather misses the point of the original Star Trek

 

Worf was very religious for a Klingon, and there were elements of faith in TNG. You get a lot more in DS9 however. Overall there seems to be religion its just not a big deal.

As for vices they are there humans and other races have them.

But put it this way no one in the Federation is without health care, food and drink, clothing, shelter and a general safety net. Worth not having some vices and it would reduce issues you don't worry about stealing when there is no need for stuff. Free Thought colonies were mentioned where artists and odd types are free to seek their vision and are provided for so are largely slackers from what I can tell.

But for evil there are the Romulans, Borg, The Q, The Skin of Evil to start and serious themes. I find the Original Series more fun they fought Apollo and had a planet of Mobsters and anther of Nazi's and another that kept the Roman culture plus serious themes in spots not to mention breaking barriers. Major crew members that included an Asian and a Black Woman.

 

The whole theme of Star Trek, the WHOLE THEME, is that we can create a utopian society where all material needs are satisfied, and WE DON'T NEED GOD.

The original episode with Apollo very nearly conveyed that message. Kirk said, "We no longer need gods..."

But then he added, "Just the one."

But I'm thinking the network made Roddenberry put in that second part to avoid offending Christians.

The fact is, no one on Star Trek original series is ever shown praying except for the woman who lost her fiancé in "Balance of Terror." That is the ONE TIME.

All other religions are portrayed as silly native superstitions, cargo cults, or worship of an intelligent computer who pretends to be a god.

 

If you don't care, then don't respond.

There is absolutely no point in saying "I don't care what you think" to another poster, except to be insulting.

 

There are many different factions, which have vastly different cultures driving their actions. It is about diplomacy. The Enterprise is supposed to be the "Flag Ship" of the federation, which is just one of many factions.

Several times throughout the series, they encounter also god like beings and supernatural entities.

There are plenty of villains, just not a constant villain and defeating them doesn't mean destroying them, it means making peace.

The Borg are quite evil, as are the Romulans and Cardasians.

Remember, these people are supposed to be the most elite and polished crew of any starship in the federation. Also, in like the 3rd episode, everyone gets drunk and has sex. Sex outside of marriage is evil in your eyes isn't it?

Which episodes did you see?

There are people that would make the argument that religion exists to explain an ever decreasing pocket of scientific ignorance. I think science will eventually do away with the need for religion for the masses.

That is really easy to refute since Lt. Commander Data actually isn't human and is extremely different from the rest of the characters on the show.

Again with the ever decreasing pocket of scientific ignorance.

I dunno, I think the show has it's merits.

So THAT'S what this is about. I don't think I have ever seen anyone drag theism/atheism into the age old ST vs SW argument.

I personally like Star Wars better, but I like Star Trek, too. I really think you should just watch a few more episodes.

 

Yes even watching the original series they touched on some interesting situations. The core mission of science fiction is to explore the human condition. When it does that the genre is lifted to a new level. Episodes like this touched a generation while making us hold a mirror up to our faces and accept the consequences

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Let_That_Be_Your_Last_Battlefield

 

I've watched the original series in the last few days and its not nearly as good as people think it is. Some of the episodes are total crap, like "Miri."

"Miri" starts with the Enterprise discovering a planet that is a twin of Earth, even the continents are the same.

And then it gets worse.

They beam down and find out that all the grown-ups ("grups") are dead of some disease that rapidly ages them.

Then they find a girl named Miri, WHO HAS NOT YET GONE THROUGH PUBERTY.

DESPITE HER PRE-PUBESCENT AGE, KIRK DOES HIS USUAL NUMBER ON THE GIRL AND SEDUCES HER!!!

This is very, very, very, creepy and all I can say is that in the 1960's people weren't attuned to these issues like we are today.

Anyway, Kirk goes to the other children and they beat him up but then eventually he persuades them that he really wants to help them.

Spock and McCoy come up with a miracle cure in a matter of days, when AN ENTIRE PLANET FULL OF SCIENTISTS FAILED TO DO IT.

The whole episode is just one stupidity after another.

 

I never did like Star Trek either. Perhaps this is why? lol

Conflict is what usually drives a show, if everyone and everything is absolutely perfect there can never be any conflict thus making things rather dull.

 

Odd you leave out the bit about them finding the notes from a research team that made a major break through in the final days of the plague. But that kind of buggers you self imposed rage narrative

 

That was not my only reason for posting.

I will repeat

If you want religion- and greed and sex and fear- watch Battle Star Galactica.

Otherwise a big 'if you don't like it- change the channel'

And I consider both of my sentences just common sense.

 

The original Star Trek was both a product of its time- the 1960's and frankly the product of the small budget it had. Some of it is very dated, and looking at it through our eyes 50 years later is very different than when it was aired. I can remember watching Star Trek at the time- and there was simply nothing like it on TV- the closest that came to it was the Twilight Zone.

What you fail to notice is that the concept of Star Trek is endurable enough to still be spinning off movies and series 50 years later.

By the way- the current Star Trek movies is excellent, and highly recommended for those who enjoy good movies.

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Very well put.

 

And it was cutting edge in many ways. A black American woman as a bridge officer. An Asian driving the ship. A Russian telling him where to go. This sort of thing just did not happen in American televison science fiction. Most had grown up on the square jawed Space Cadet. The grim, never say die "Men Into Space" Even Twilight Zone was very by the numbers when it came to characters and situations. I have seen just about every science fiction series produced in the US since TV was invented. Star Trek carries an innocent charm and confidence that really sets it apart. Sure I understand their a people who dont enjoy the show and I respect that. But even to them, respect what the show achived in a surprisingly short run

 

why am utterly unsurprised that you prefer star wars. as if the two can even be compared.

one is for children, the other for grown ups. I recommend you stick to Disney sci fi, BR. will suit your need for girlie dramarama and your short attention span

 

I think you're probably right about the network forcing Roddenberry to put "god" in the script like that.

But as to praying and all that: there are countless media sources that are religious/theistic in nature. Myriad books, movies, TV and music that allude to and worship some kind of god but we Atheists/Humanists get one franchise that attempts to examine the world from our perspective and people start to criticize it for doing just that.

Your comments have been mild and largely respectful but I've seen and heard about loonies who actually wanted it stripped from the airwaves for its "godlessness".

By all means criticize the writing, the set design, the acting (Avery Brooks?), the plots (Spock's Brain?)
but please don't criticize a cake for being a cake!

 

You just joined my "ignore" list. Goodbye.

 

people that do not follow the prime directive or can't get along with others on the ship though are removed from duty, so of course what your left with is a orderly crew aboard the enterprise