Star Trek: The Next GenerationHow 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

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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