Gene’s thing with religion is a funny one. He spent a lot of effort beating up the concept, but then let Uhura’s insanely Christian line stay at the end of “Bread and Circuses”. Then Kirk mentions he finds one god “sufficient” to Apollo in an episode who’s very point is that god’s have logical explanations. Hell, even the M5 has a concept of “the laws of god”.
McCoy and Kirk, in the movies, were known to say “goddamn” a lot. But Gene had very little say in those films. I know you’re just joshing, but there’s an interesting conversation to be had in there. We know for a fact religion is dead by TNG, but TOS is less obvious on the subject.
It’s worth remembering that even in the 23rd century, the concept of “cultural Christianity” still applies, and is quite sufficient to explain frequent invocations of “oh my god” and phrases to that effect.
Despite Roddenberry ‘s personal atheism, to my eye what emerges throughout Star Trek is more of an opposition to idolatry, treating created things or people as gods, than a blanket anti religion.
“Oh God”? Coming from someone from the 23rd century?
Gene Roddenberry would disapprove so much. lol
(Just joking about this, because he was so adamantly against that, even if writers did put it in the series every so often…)
Gene’s thing with religion is a funny one. He spent a lot of effort beating up the concept, but then let Uhura’s insanely Christian line stay at the end of “Bread and Circuses”. Then Kirk mentions he finds one god “sufficient” to Apollo in an episode who’s very point is that god’s have logical explanations. Hell, even the M5 has a concept of “the laws of god”.
McCoy and Kirk, in the movies, were known to say “goddamn” a lot. But Gene had very little say in those films. I know you’re just joshing, but there’s an interesting conversation to be had in there. We know for a fact religion is dead by TNG, but TOS is less obvious on the subject.
It’s worth remembering that even in the 23rd century, the concept of “cultural Christianity” still applies, and is quite sufficient to explain frequent invocations of “oh my god” and phrases to that effect.
Despite Roddenberry ‘s personal atheism, to my eye what emerges throughout Star Trek is more of an opposition to idolatry, treating created things or people as gods, than a blanket anti religion.