Those who love science fiction television and movies are usually enthusiasts of either the Star Trek or Star Wars franchises, but often not of both. I admit to being a Trekkie.
FAQ, for those who do not know, is frequently
asked questions. Clark’s book discusses every question you might ask and
then a few more. Subjects include the developmental starts and stops of the
television shows and movies including planned but never-released projects, the
historical and literary background leading up to the first appearance of TOS (The
Original Series), as the original Star Trek is often known, corporate
backroom deals, the animated series, actor feuds, clashes with producers,
gadgets and props, costumes, special effects, and the pre-Trek careers of the
directors, producers, network executives, and the actors, including even the
“redshirts” and other minor recurring character actors. Clark pulls no punches
about some of the abrasive personalities and faults of the people he discusses.
For the hardcore Trek enthusiast,
these things alone make this a good read.
Now, as to why this book is being
mentioned on this blog: When they actually look at it in depth and with critical
thinking, some are surprised that there are religious undertones in much of
science fiction, and even in many horror films. The undertones can show an
orthodox Christian slant but often they do not. Even those which are actively
atheist can touch on religious themes and atheism can be viewed as a religion
or, at the very least, a philosophical stance on the subject of religion.
The creator of Star Trek, Gene
Roddenberry (1921-1991), was raised in Texas (USA) as a Southern Baptist. As an
adult, he rejected organized religion and was often spoken of as an atheist but
could more properly be described as a pantheistic agnostic. He thought that in
the future mankind would reject religions and become more religiously numinous in
an unfocused way with a sort of progressive humanist and secularist religiosity
or spirituality. Mankind would not be actively anti-religion but would mostly
just ignore it. Along with this,
Roddenberry also exhibited a belief in the ultimate perfectibility of man.
Roddenberry rejected a suggestion
from National Broadcasting Company executives to include a chaplain in the Enterprises’ crew. In TOS
episodes religious leaders are most commonly troublesome people even when they
are genuinely well-meaning. Many are depicted as repressive of original
thought.
When seemingly divine almost omnipotent
beings occur in the series, they are eventually exposed as being computers
developed by long-extinct species or as mortal beings possessing highly
advanced technologies.
It was not until the third series, Star
Trek: Deep Space Nine, that a religion was presented as a possibly positive
force. The Bajoran people worshipped the prophets, whom other species
referred to as the wormhole aliens, not actually divine but highly advanced
in their technology.
Some Trekkers (who view Trekkie
as a perjorative) will argue for hours about minutiae of Star Trek information,
especially about what is canon and what is not. In 1994, Michael Jendra, a
professor at the University of Wisconsin, published “Star Trek Fandom as a
Religious Phenomenon” in the academic journal, Sociology of Religion. Film
director Nicholas Meyer has described Star Trek as a “religion without
theology.”
Gene Roddenberry is quoted about
this: “I’m not a guru. … I certainly didn’t write Scripture and my feeling is
that those who did weren’t treated very well in the end.”
Live Long and Prosper!
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