As we prepare to celebrate the 50 year anniversary of Star Trek, we find faith in unexpected places
Star Trek.
The original series, premiered September 9, 1966, 50 years ago.
[reference: Star Trek, imdb.com]
So ....
Many celebrations were/are planned this year to mark this anniversary of such an iconic SciFi series. Not to mention its many spin offs. And movies. As well as how it's left its mark on culture and our vision of the future.
Yet through this SciFi series, we find
Faith - in unexpected places
So on that note, begins another thread.
Fifty years ago, American culture had reflected some traditional Judeo-Christian values. And one of Star Trek's 1968 episodes, season 2, episode 25, so boldly echoed that, entitled...
Historically, the term Bread and Circuses was coined to refer to a mob control tactic used in the 1st century Roman Empire. To keep the poor working class from rioting, Emperor Augustus instituted a program of state bribery, which kept the plebeians fed and entertained - mostly for free. [reference: The Roman Empire - in the First Century: Plebeians]
In this episode, the crew of the Enterprise investigates the disappearance of a merchant ship on a planet, which is the 20th century version of the Roman Empire. There, Kirk, Spock, and McCoy find the missing ship's Captain Merik as a government pawn.
In the scene below, Spock and McCoy are forced to fight in Roman-like game - which is a small reminder of the original gladiator games and how brutal life was back then, especially for slaves:
But there are rebels, who love peace, and resist the tyranny. They are sun worshipers, who worshiped a different deity than their overlords.
After making their escape, the team discovers the identity of the sun worshipers as Son worshipers. As in they worship not the sun up in the sky, but the Son of God.
And the late Chuck Colson makes a great commentary in his Two-Minute Warning about this classic Star Trek episode and its lesson on history and our society:
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enjoyed the step back in time, enjoyed the read
m
Agree, no excuse for atrocities done in the name of God or any religion. And not to force it on anyone. Never works.
And a case can be made that Christianity has had a positive effect, creating schools, hospitals, orphanages, universities, charities, promoting science and social reform, and abolishing slavery (eg. William Wilberforce).
Today in the news are many atrocities of forcing religion on people, killing them in cruel ways. Not to mention slavery and human trafficking. Don't believe Christians are responsible. Where's the outrage?
I have recalled before that the emperors of Rome held the circus to keep the rabble from revolting. I will have to give you great credit for this well researched article--again.
I have read considerable philosophy, both Christian and non-Christian. Almost all early cultures could be considered cruel and inhuman by today's standards, but there are elements of some cultures, particularly the Greek, that were not Christian, but were quite altruistic. The same is true of some of the Eastern religions.
I'm really tired of arguments like Charles Colson, blaming atheism for cruel behavior. He conveniently forgets that many atrocities have been committed by Christians, especially when they conquered and forced Christianity on peoples living quite peacefully in much of the world and forced them into slavery for profit.
Ron