Star Trek

Please no spoilers in replies to anything after Bread and Circuses, besies the clips mentioned. Thanks.

I'm a Science guy,  , through and through, and my friend pointed me to Star Trek because he said it was a branching look at the future without religion being any important part of life or politics. I'm a big Sci Fi fan too so it seemed like this would be my kind of show. I'm not religious at all. Now, if you're offended about that POV then I can't help it, I don't want any religion vs Evolution debate like "Distant Origin". So I'll move on. Just seen a clip of that on YouTube.

I've ran across more than one instance where they're seemingly Christian overtones in some of the episodes that made me cock my head like a dog hearing a strange, out of place, noise. Who Mourns for Adonis has Cpt. Kirk saying that the one god is sufficient enough, and then at the end of Bread and Circuses he mentions wouldn't it be amazing to see it all happen again. Well, if you enjoy the wonderous joys of the dark ages, murder, fear, and Scientific oppression, then sure it would've been a blast. Not to mention all the holy wars, bigotry, slavery, etc. Anyway, to my long winded point. Am I missing something here? You get in one hand, Star Trek making religion look outright silly, than praising it in another. Is this due to different writers? I seen Roddenberry's name in the writing credits, and that makes no sense due to his stance on the subject. So I'm just confused, it seems that Star Trek in itself is contradicting it's views.

Question I'll propse, what is the overall view of religion in Star Trek moving forward through all the series without spoiling anything? Guess I'm looking for a generalised answer without giving stories away. I've seen clips of Pikard damning religious fanaticism, but heard after Roddenberry's death it became more of a theme. Also heard Voyager was pro Christian, and many of the stories after his death. My friend said he couldn't watch it anymore after Roddenberry's death. I enjoy the stories, the acting, and they're only small hiccups like that, that could be attributed with the Cpt.'s thoughts and not the whole crew. Sorry if this was long, just wanted to have a conversation about it.

Thanks for any and all answers!  

You will see many references to religion from multiple species/worlds.  In the vast majority of cases, the Federation's policy is to respect the individuals' beliefs as longs as they don't conflict with Starfleet.  This is why people are able to practice their religions privately and may see religious items in their personal quarters, but you won't see them on a person's uniform.

Additionally, if you're watching TOS, then think about the time it was filmed in the USA - a time where religion was much more prominent in society than today.

One thing I'll also add... Star Trek, via its stories, talked about major political and social problems.  They were just able to do it in a way that wasn't "in your face."

I don't understand why you find those two incidents contradictory. They both seem to indicate that Kirk, if not a Christian may have at leats had a christian background. I find the contradiction to be found more between these to examples and the episode Cat's Paw, where it's waved off as old superstitions. I won't go into detail to avaid spoilers (funny thing to worry about in context of a tv series nearly 50yo!)

Also, don't discount the fact that many things religeous can become cultural over time. I've heard many an athiest say things like, "Thank God!" or "Heaven Help us." or even blessing some one after they sneeze. So by Kirks time, saying "we find the one god sufficient" may not have the religeous context we put on it now. As for wondering what it would be like to see it all happen again, that most likely has more to do with Kirks love of history than anything religeous.

As for any thing else, I found TNG to be a little hypocritical in it's treatment of values and religeous principles that had a more or less christian base while being more tollerent of the alien religeons.

I think of "Bread and Circuses" in historical terms.  The Christian and Muslim religions, among others, have been historically important, some times more than others, some times for what most of us would consider good and at other times for what most of us would consider bad.  If you try to think of "Bread and Circuses" in historical terms, you may find it less offensive, though I loathe the whole premise, that another planet has our identical history, just as I hated it that Miri's planet has our identical geography.  Inexplicably bad science, both of those.  That said, I enjoy both episodes on the whole, but I cannot watch the closing scene of "Bread and Circuses."  I think Mr. Shatner handles his part professionally, but I've always thought that Kelly and Nimoy look and sound uncomfortable, and, sorry, but I think Ms Nichols puts on the earnest breathiness that we hear in the voices of many Christian speakers and most Christian music.  But my loathing of that put-on breathiness could have me imagining it in her voice.

To Beershark, not those two instances but the stance of Star Trek beyond religion and then glorifying certain aspects of it. I guess I'll just have to put up with different aspects popping up here and there. So far the end of the episode is the lowest part of TOS for me. They have to know that genocide and Scientific oppression was about to be a major part of that planet. Not that they'd interfere but admiring it is stupid and the mention of christ, who probably never existed, was cringe worthy. 

Roddenberry's views changed with his age. He wasn't necessarily antithetical towards religion as he downplayed it. I mean, "Balance of Terror" has a chapel, but no specific deity is referred too.

Again, TOS is as much a product of its time, including a very patriotic tribute in "The Omega Glory." Again, given the time it was created, it had more more political relevance than perhaps we give it.

I think later episodes, like "Who watches the Watchers" in TNG reflect Roddenberry's later view. I think he was a man who changed over his time, but I don't think Star Trek shows a mixed view of religion, reflecting actual human beliefs.

And, if Voyager is pro-Christian/pro-religion, I'll eat my socks

I think DS9 offers the most interesting take on religion as it places a Starfleet officer at the center of a religious conflict.

Before I begin, let me say that I am a Christian, and I love Star Trek, and for the most part Star Trek stays respectfully neutral. Star Trek looks at both sides of the argument. It looks at religion, and it looks at science, but when it does look at religion, it often looks at some alien religion or something to that effect. For the most part, I will say this, the laws and principles of Star Trek usually do respect and follow God's law. However at the same time, Star Trek is very much rooted into the science side of things, and goes with the whole, we all became alive from magic goop accidently forming. There are many episodes that not only refer to evolution, but straight up shows evolution. TNG Season 7, Genesis the crew goes backwards and de-evolves. TNG All Good Things, Q takes Picard back to the beginning, where the said magic goop is supposed to create everything. Enterprise Season 1, Dear Doctor. Doctor Phlox states that evolution is more than a theory, it is a fundamental scientific truth. Voyager Season 2, Threshold, Paris finds a way to travel at Warp 10 and evolves into a Salamander sock puppet. Pretty much all the series support the scientific evolution theory. But uses religion when and where needed. And while I am a faithful Christian, and firmly believe in God and the story of Genesis of God creating everything in 7 days, I am fine with that. Because it allows for anyone of any religion to watch the show without being insulted, as Star Trek isn't opposing or approving any said religion one way or the other. And the un-religious such as yourself will watch the show too. But I appreciate that for the most part they follow Christian ideals.

when did Star Trek ever make religion look silly/

Question I'll propse, what is the overall view of religion in Star Trek moving forward through all the series without spoiling anything? Guess I'm looking for a generalised answer without giving stories away.

I would say the show always was on the fence on the issue, they spoke of those that had stronge religious beliefs and about those with none.

I've seen clips of Pikard damning religious fanaticism,

and in Star Trek Generations, we see he fantazy life, celebrating X-mas with his family.

but heard after Roddenberry's death it became more of a theme.

Durring TOS, I believe there was a mention of a ships X-mas party.