2. 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
3. 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
4. Science and Religion
• Four General Positions
– Conflict
– Separation
– Dialogue
– Integration
6. 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.
7. 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.
8.
9. 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
10. 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
13. 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
14. 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
15. 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
16.
17. Deep Space Nine
• 1993-2000
• Roddenberry has past away in 1991
• Series takes place on Space Station
• Religion enters as a theme
18. 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
19. 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
22. 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)
23. New Age in Voyager
• Religious Pluralism
• Individualistic Religious Practices
• Eclectic practices – crewmembers try
different practices
• Suggest a feminine aspect to divine
24.
25. 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
26. 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
27. 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
28. 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
29. 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
30. 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
31. 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,
