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Star Trek: The Next Generation
How to outthink and outgrow religion, Star Trek style…
TNG vs Classic Trek themes
• Little mention of computer as God theme - by 1980's, the `silicone era,’ less fear of computers -
• One holdover might be episode “Justice” (1987), where “Edo” controlled by computerized space ship as god
QuickTime™ and aSorenson Video decompressorare needed to see this picture.
TNG vs Classic Trek Themes, con’t.
• Little concern with individual freedoms - 1980’s era of corporate identity rather than hippie individualism - instead, religion - threat to reason.
• Religion and science in opposition
• Religion = superstition, fear, war, oppression
• Science = progress, reason, contentment
Reason vs Superstition Case Study: “Who
Watches the Watchers (1989)• Religion = war,
chaos, oppression• “Natural” cultural
evolution is to outgrow religion
• Self-sacrifice, death preferable to fostering religious belief
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Reason vs Superstition Case Study II: “Devil’s
Due (1991)• Belief in supernatural
beings = irrational• False God theme -
alien fraud• Religion = con game• Logic, reason, will
reveal that human progress independent of divine plan, intervention, etc.
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TNG’s “Evolutionary Eschatology”
• Science instead of religion
• Evolution instead of God’s Plan
• Evolution = – teleology
(purpose)– destiny – Progress– biology/culture
evolve together
TNG’s “Evolutionary Eschatology” Case Study:
“Journey’s End” (1994)• Humans can/will evolve
physically, emotionally, intellectually, morally, culturally…
• Religion (and other factors) stumbling blocks to human evolution
• Introduction of idea that Native Spirituality might be okay - human “other” theme picked up in Star Trek: Voyager