Star Trek and ReligionRELI 2850

Outline

• Religion and Science • Gene Roddenberry• Original Star Trek• The Next Generation• Deep Space Nine• Voyager• Religious Themes in Star Trek• Star Trek as Civil Religion• Western Science as Religion

Religion and Science

• Relationship between Science and Religion– Ancient Greece– 17th Century secularization– 18th Century Rationalism– 19th Century Evolutionism– 20th and 21st Centuries nuanced understanding

of religion

Science and Religion

• Four General Positions– Conflict– Separation– Dialogue– Integration

Gene Roddenberry

• 1921-1991• Creator and Screenwriter

of Star Trek Series• Humanist and anti-

religionist

Roddenberry’s View of Religion

There are degrees of idiocy. Some [religions] are less culpable than others. But I reject them all, because for most people … it’s nothing more than a substitute brain. And a very malfunctioning one. I don’t dismiss the people who believe this or that; I dismiss the structure and, more than that, the very idea of a system of the organized church.

Roddenberry’s View of God

God, to me, is intrinsic to humanity. To the whole cause of humanity. To the imaginative principle. To what we create, and think. He – or should I say It – is a source, yes, but more an involvement with the unknown. God is like the leap outside oneself, something that has no discernable source, but it’s a source. … A breath of life … It is a breath of life – this God thing. It’s not a thing you pray to, it’s a thing you use to answer your own prayers. Humanity needs God in order to be humanity – it is part of them.

Original Star Trek

• 1966 – 1969• Originally cancelled after two season but

brought back for a third because of fans• Challenged gender norms, racism,

nationalism• Presented a positive vision of the future

Religion in Star Trek

• Represents false gods (computer as god)• Religion makes humans into slaves• Religion is oppressive• Religion is immature (childish)• Humans with advanced technology are

thought by aliens as gods

Religious Themes

• Redemption• Suffering• Sacrifice• Death• Love• Rebirth

The Next Generation

• 1987-1994• Roddenberry had complete control until his

death in 1991• Characterized himself as a monarch• Understood as a explaining/propelling his

beliefs

Religion in TNG

• Religion is a threat to reason• Religion and Science in Opposition• Religion is superstition/ Science is progress• Logic and reason are higher ideals not gods• Evolution instead of creation

Alien Religion in TNG

• Religion is allowed by aliens• Alien religion doesn’t interfere with secular worldview• Vulcans and Klingons practice religion• Vulcans

– Reason and logic are mystical paths– Meditation, ritual, and founder (Surak)

• Klingons– Warrior path (Martial Arts)– Meditation– Myths (Kahless)– Founders

Deep Space Nine

• 1993-2000• Roddenberry has past away in 1991• Series takes place on Space Station• Religion enters as a theme

Religion in DS9

• Bojorian, alien race, religion is major force• Religion and politics are tied• Religious hierarchy• Religion is based on prophets who reside in wormhole• Commander Sisko is Emissary to Prophets• Star Trek Commander intertwined with Bojorian

religion

Religious Themes in DS9

• Transcendence theme enters into Star Trek• Evolution no longer brings transformation• Transformation takes an inward turn• Commander Sisko explains linear time to wormhole aliens• Aliens show that Sisko lives in non-linear time • Theme of suffering, grief, pain, confusion as well as joy,

pleasure, belonging and love• DS9 tackles quest for inner self

Voyager

• 1995-2002• Challenged norms with female Captain• Religion was an explicit theme in series

Religion in Voyager

• Journey Home • New Age perspective with focus on nature• Native Spirituality as theme • Integration of spirituality and science• (Environmentalism is major theme)

New Age in Voyager

• Religious Pluralism• Individualistic Religious Practices• Eclectic practices – crewmembers try

different practices• Suggest a feminine aspect to divine

Star Trek as Civil/ Cultural Religion

• Star Trek Fandom has religious affinity with religious type movement

• Star Trek fandom is one location to find religion in our society

• Star Trek has an origin myth, a set of beliefs, an organization, an active following

Star Trek as Civil/ Cultural Religion

• Belief: “Positive view of future”– Utopian society created through progress– Prime Directive: Forbids involvement in others’

affairs– Vulcan Philosophy of Infinite Diversity in Infinite

Combinations

Star Trek as Civil/ Cultural Religion

• Following: Extensive fan base– Creation of community– Conventions

• Pilgrimage: Various locations for Star Trek– Oregon Museum of Science– Smithsonian Exhibits– Universal Studios

Star Trek as Civil/ Cultural Religion

• Linked to real world• Takes place in our future universe• Manuals and novels give a sense of reality• First US space shuttle called Enterprise• Ahistoric myth which relates to any time

and place

Star Trek as Civil/ Cultural Religion

• Canon: A correct version of Star Trek history – Accepted canon if Gene Roddenberry has

declared that something is officially part of the Star Trek Universe

• Star Trek has organization, dogmas, low-key recruitment, canon

Western Science as Civil/ Cultural Religion

• Ultimate Concern: Understanding the natural world • Authority: Einstein, Galileo, Newton, etc…• Tradition: Aristotle first person to apply scientific

method to natural world• Beliefs: Empirical knowledge (objective) will help us

understand reality• Faithful followers: Western European and North

Americans

Western Science as Civil/ Cultural Religion

• Ritual: Experiments must be conducted with upmost rigor to ensure reliability and validity

• Material Elements: Example, Telus World of Science – Space Science Centre of Edmonton

• This belief system is so pervasive that other ways of understanding reality are considered inferior or at the very least questionable– Example, Chinese Traditional Medicine,