Was the Original Star Trek a Call to Question Established Religion?

Question

In the episode "For the World is Hollow and I Have Touched the Sky" there is a protected mystical shrine that only one can access. Kirk and Spock infiltrate the sacred chamber and discover that this knowledge is being held back by the religious leaders and that the people of ancient Yonada were actually quite advanced in medical science--science that cures Dr. McCoy of his "incurable" xenopolycythemia. It seems a call to understanding, rather than obscuration with ritual, a call to look behind ritual to see objective facts? In other episodes, the dangers of blind adherence to religion is shown--"The Apple," where natives sacrifice to "Vaal," which turns out to be less than divine, and "Who Mourns for Adonis," that posits Apollo as a deposed extraterrestrial who longs for worship in exile. "Where no Man has Gone Before"--man given godlike powers and misusing them. There are other examples--the original Star Trek was really quite forward thinking in this way. What are your thoughts?

Great answers so far! I understand it calls for questioning many assumptions of modern life--not just the religious. Humanism seems to cover it nicely--I always did like the IDIC concept, one that isn't really cherished generally these days.

Answer 1

While clearly not pro-religion, each of those episodes you menntion dealt with "false" gods. That is hardly a comdemnation of religion as a whole. Though they did have religious points to make "the apple" for example dealt with the "fortunate fall"
While certainly roddenberry was an atheist, there are all so some positive religious images in Star Trek. Just of the top of my head, In "Balance of Terror" a woman is shown praying in the ship Chapel after the death of her fiance. In "Bread and Circus" the whole show is about a modern Roman empire and those persecuted by it show remarkable bravery. Captain Kirk think they are Sun whosrippers, and Uhaura points out to him that he is mistaken they don't whorship the sun in the sky but the Son of God.
Not pro-religoin but not blanket anti, either.

Answer 2

The original Star Trek, and maybe the later ones, is a Humanist series. Gene Roddenberry was a Humanist. The American Humanist Association gave him an award. Susan Sackett, who worked on the series, is an active Humanist in Arizona today.

The values promoted by Gene Roddenberry's Star Trek are Humanist values. Facing unknown dangers, the starship crew do not pray or beg for help from some great authority outside themselves. They use the abilities they have, and they face new challenges boldly without kneeling or groveling.

In all their dealings with alien species, you will notice that they are governed by the Humanist values of reason and compassion.

Here's what they do NOT do.
Scotty: The Klingons are attacking us!
Captain Kirk: Let us bow our heads in prayer.

Answer 3

The original star trek was the vision of Gene Rodenberry (sp?) who was an ardent atheist. By Star Trek The Next Generation, he had it in various scripts that mankind no longer had religions, though both Picard and Geordi indicated they believed in something, but they didn't know what.

With Deep SPace 9, most of the cast was religious. The bajorans were deeply religious, Worf was his klingon religious and derided the humans for not having faith when they criticized the Bajorans, Sisko converted to the Bajoran religion, he also married a Christian, and Dax evidently had faith in the Bajoran gods too.

As the guy below mentioned. in the first two series' theydidn't deal with problems by bowing their heads and praying, but through their own intelligence. In Deep SPace 9, however, the enemy was too big and more intelligent, ans Sisko won the war largely through prayer to his gods, who destroyed a fleet and kept reinforcements from coming through the wormhole.

Answer 4

Science fiction in general and Star Trek in particular have always been used for social, political, and religious commentary. By using different times and or places it makes it easier to display these potentially controversial topics.

Answer 5

It's no secret that Gene Roddenberry was a Humanist, but I don't think there was a conspiracy or mission to undermine or degrade religion in the series. I think the writers just thought it unlikely that religion would be so prevalent in the future.

Answer 6

They had many episodes that would cause people to question not only religion but politics. They were done during the midst of the Cold War

Answer 7

Absolutely It's story lines parallel many religious beliefs, that seems obvious,,but wouldn't you really dig a phaser or how about a tri corder,bet you'd think ya died and went to,,,
Val Halla

Answer 8

it was the fans picked up on it in the 1960s the wagan train to the stars with the great bird of the galaxsey

Answer 9

It's just a story. Had some good writers.

Answer 10

Look at Spocks hand sign and you have your answer...