Star Trek and Sacred Ground: Explorations of Star Trek, Religion and American Culture

In the 13 essays in this book, religious studies professors in Canada, Britain and the United States discuss the role of religion in Star Trek. The first section of the book examines each of the successive television series, the second treats large themes (such as biblical imagery and death) and the third looks at the attitudes of fans. As the essays show, Star Trek has been torn between rejecting religion and affirming a quasi-religious faith in discovery and tolerance. This religiosity was present from the beginning--as in Spock's Vulcan creed of ""Infinite Diversity in Infinite Combinations""--but the later Star Trek series have more freely explored religious themes. The editors congratulate Star Trek: Voyager, the latest series, for ""recovering sacred ground"" through New Age spirituality. Unfortunately, while providing a nuanced reading of Star Trek's evolution, the authors pay too little attention to its larger context. The final section on ""Trekkies"" is valuable, but most of the essays concentrate on the motivations and behavior of the show's characters, ignoring the corporate television producers and the viewers who together brought--and continue to bring--these characters to life. The book seems written more for Star Trek fans than for students of religion or American culture. (Oct.)