Comments on: Evangelicals In the Star Trek Universe http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/evangelicals-in-the-classroom-of-the-star-trek-universe ...dispatches from the post-evangelical wilderness Sun, 12 Feb 2012 12:47:28 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: huth http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/evangelicals-in-the-classroom-of-the-star-trek-universe/comment-page-2#comment-507020 huth Fri, 14 Aug 2009 01:52:33 +0000 http://www.internetmonk.com/?p=3752#comment-507020 While Roddenberry was personally reticent to include religious characterizations outside of 'Alien pretends to be God,' <a href="http://memory-alpha.org/en/wiki/Christianity" rel="nofollow">other writers included a number of references to religion in general and Christianity in particular throughout the show.</a> As for the content of ethical discussions in the show, Enterprise's first few seasons suffers from a rather cowardly writing staff, rehashing conclusions and lines better delivered by Patrick Stewart... Ironically, in Trek, humanity <a href="http://memory-alpha.org/en/wiki/Ancient_humanoid" rel="nofollow"><i>was</i> intelligently designed...</a> While Roddenberry was personally reticent to include religious characterizations outside of ‘Alien pretends to be God,’ other writers included a number of references to religion in general and Christianity in particular throughout the show.

As for the content of ethical discussions in the show, Enterprise’s first few seasons suffers from a rather cowardly writing staff, rehashing conclusions and lines better delivered by Patrick Stewart…

Ironically, in Trek, humanity was intelligently designed…

]]> By: Even More 5 Links! | Faith & Geekery http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/evangelicals-in-the-classroom-of-the-star-trek-universe/comment-page-2#comment-506252 Even More 5 Links! | Faith & Geekery Sun, 09 Aug 2009 02:35:19 +0000 http://www.internetmonk.com/?p=3752#comment-506252 [...] he finds a lot of things to look at, including the prevailing science and the faith of the Vulcans. This is a very insightful read, and one that might ruffle a few feathers. A quick sample: In the Star Trek universe, cultural [...] [...] he finds a lot of things to look at, including the prevailing science and the faith of the Vulcans. This is a very insightful read, and one that might ruffle a few feathers. A quick sample: In the Star Trek universe, cultural [...]

]]> By: Timotheus http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/evangelicals-in-the-classroom-of-the-star-trek-universe/comment-page-2#comment-504298 Timotheus Sat, 25 Jul 2009 00:25:48 +0000 http://www.internetmonk.com/?p=3752#comment-504298 Your observations of the world of Star Trek are right on target! My favorite Star Trek shows are Deep Space Nine and Enterprise and I was disappointed when Enterprise was canceled. I am in the minority because these two shows are less like by the fans. Oh well! Timotheus http://www.skubalon.net Your observations of the world of Star Trek are right on target!

My favorite Star Trek shows are Deep Space Nine and Enterprise and I was disappointed when Enterprise was canceled. I am in the minority because these two shows are less like by the fans. Oh well!

Timotheus
http://www.skubalon.net

]]> By: Headless Unicorn Guy http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/evangelicals-in-the-classroom-of-the-star-trek-universe/comment-page-2#comment-504256 Headless Unicorn Guy Fri, 24 Jul 2009 18:19:29 +0000 http://www.internetmonk.com/?p=3752#comment-504256 <i>One of the things I read about Roddenberry was he did not want to make Star Trek religious in any way. He felt that the future Earth would be beyond religion by that time.</i> This is the source of the Trekkie tag line and running joke "We've Evolved Beyond All That". And according to Joel Engel's bio, it was literally true in early TNG when Roddenberry was killing script after script for that exact reason, leaving the writers with only the Holodeck and Q (and the actor that did Q adamantly limited his appearance there to only once a season). <i>Don’t think that Roddenberry was involved in any of that – his involvement pretty much ended with the Next Generation (which I believe was the best of the series).</i> Roddenberry died about the second year of TNG ("New Testament Trek"), and his health had been failing before that. This was well before DSN ("Industrial Strength Trek" or "Gritty Trek"). There's been a longstanding belief among <i>Babylon-5</i> fans that DSN had some under-the-table cross-fertilization from B5 -- both were being pitched around the same time and ran concurrently. One of the things I read about Roddenberry was he did not want to make Star Trek religious in any way. He felt that the future Earth would be beyond religion by that time.

This is the source of the Trekkie tag line and running joke “We’ve Evolved Beyond All That”.

And according to Joel Engel’s bio, it was literally true in early TNG when Roddenberry was killing script after script for that exact reason, leaving the writers with only the Holodeck and Q (and the actor that did Q adamantly limited his appearance there to only once a season).

Don’t think that Roddenberry was involved in any of that – his involvement pretty much ended with the Next Generation (which I believe was the best of the series).

Roddenberry died about the second year of TNG (“New Testament Trek”), and his health had been failing before that. This was well before DSN (“Industrial Strength Trek” or “Gritty Trek”).

There’s been a longstanding belief among Babylon-5 fans that DSN had some under-the-table cross-fertilization from B5 — both were being pitched around the same time and ran concurrently.

]]> By: JoeA http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/evangelicals-in-the-classroom-of-the-star-trek-universe/comment-page-2#comment-503945 JoeA Thu, 23 Jul 2009 14:47:42 +0000 http://www.internetmonk.com/?p=3752#comment-503945 Beside severything that's been said of the philosophy of the show, you need to remember - TV is about ratings and Star Trek was no exception. And if a movie doesn't sell tickets, you don't get to make another, no matter how good the first one is. Conflict always makes for good drama - and bad drama too, but that's another subject. And again, ST is no exception to that. And what's bigger than conflict with a 'god'? Some of the things Roddenberry and others did were only for the purpose of ratings. It was, after all, entertainment for the purpose of profit. Beside severything that’s been said of the philosophy of the show, you need to remember – TV is about ratings and Star Trek was no exception. And if a movie doesn’t sell tickets, you don’t get to make another, no matter how good the first one is. Conflict always makes for good drama – and bad drama too, but that’s another subject. And again, ST is no exception to that. And what’s bigger than conflict with a ‘god’?

Some of the things Roddenberry and others did were only for the purpose of ratings. It was, after all, entertainment for the purpose of profit.

]]> By: Ross http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/evangelicals-in-the-classroom-of-the-star-trek-universe/comment-page-1#comment-503792 Ross Thu, 23 Jul 2009 03:41:17 +0000 http://www.internetmonk.com/?p=3752#comment-503792 It would be interesting to be able to have a casual conversation with a pastor/priest about SiFi first contact books or anything written by Niven and others and they know what I'm talking about and have read the books. :) It would be interesting to be able to have a casual conversation with a pastor/priest about SiFi first contact books or anything written by Niven and others and they know what I’m talking about and have read the books. :)

]]> By: Fr. Ernesto http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/evangelicals-in-the-classroom-of-the-star-trek-universe/comment-page-1#comment-503760 Fr. Ernesto Wed, 22 Jul 2009 23:31:29 +0000 http://www.internetmonk.com/?p=3752#comment-503760 Yes, I have read the book and sequel. Yes, I have read the book and sequel.

]]> By: JoeA http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/evangelicals-in-the-classroom-of-the-star-trek-universe/comment-page-2#comment-503671 JoeA Wed, 22 Jul 2009 19:01:53 +0000 http://www.internetmonk.com/?p=3752#comment-503671 One of the things I read about Roddenberry was he did not want to make Star Trek religious in any way. He felt that the future Earth would be beyond religion by that time. One interseting surprise on the later show "Deep Space Nine" was the religious beliefs of the Bajorans (a humanoid race) that were prominent. Don't think that Roddenberry was involved in any of that - his involvement pretty much ended with the Next Generation (which I believe was the best of the series). He also tangentially touched on religion in one or two episodes of that show, but not very deeply, in one of my favorite episodes "Who Watches the Watchers?" which I highly recommend. One of the things I read about Roddenberry was he did not want to make Star Trek religious in any way. He felt that the future Earth would be beyond religion by that time. One interseting surprise on the later show “Deep Space Nine” was the religious beliefs of the Bajorans (a humanoid race) that were prominent. Don’t think that Roddenberry was involved in any of that – his involvement pretty much ended with the Next Generation (which I believe was the best of the series). He also tangentially touched on religion in one or two episodes of that show, but not very deeply, in one of my favorite episodes “Who Watches the Watchers?” which I highly recommend.

]]> By: Headless Unicorn Guy http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/evangelicals-in-the-classroom-of-the-star-trek-universe/comment-page-1#comment-503650 Headless Unicorn Guy Wed, 22 Jul 2009 17:32:55 +0000 http://www.internetmonk.com/?p=3752#comment-503650 I think it comes down to Evangelicals developing a case of Tunnel Vision. Made worse by the "Christian Bizarro World" ghetto where you can go from birth to Homegoing (TM) without ever leaving its Thomas Kincade cottage except for Wretched Urgency prosletyzing sallies. I think it comes down to Evangelicals developing a case of Tunnel Vision.

Made worse by the “Christian Bizarro World” ghetto where you can go from birth to Homegoing (TM) without ever leaving its Thomas Kincade cottage except for Wretched Urgency prosletyzing sallies.

]]> By: brgulker http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/evangelicals-in-the-classroom-of-the-star-trek-universe/comment-page-2#comment-503621 brgulker Wed, 22 Jul 2009 15:55:40 +0000 http://www.internetmonk.com/?p=3752#comment-503621 What a fabulous and inspiring article. Enterprise is a good show -- but be prepared, the ending of the series is a bit ad hoc as the show was canceled, not completed. But, even though the end of the ride is abrupt, the trip getting there is very enjoyable. What a fabulous and inspiring article.

Enterprise is a good show — but be prepared, the ending of the series is a bit ad hoc as the show was canceled, not completed.

But, even though the end of the ride is abrupt, the trip getting there is very enjoyable.

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