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Star Trek: The Next Generation

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 -

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Star Trek: The Next Generation

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  1. Star Trek: The Next Generation How to outthink and outgrow religion, Star Trek style…

  2. 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

  3. 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

  4. 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

  5. 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.

  6. TNG’s “Evolutionary Eschatology” • Science instead of religion • Evolution instead of God’s Plan • Evolution = • teleology (purpose) • destiny • Progress • biology/culture evolve together

  7. 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

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