Keep on Trekkin'

http://www.albertmohler.com/2016/09/08/briefing-09-08-16/  


In the article, Star Trek at 50: The Worldview Behind The Enterprise, Mohler discusses the milestone that Star Trek has set and how it has impacted the entertainment world. Star Trek wasn't always the hit it is today and many are surprised that it lasted. But what is Star Trek besides a whimsical show/movie set in the future where there is a glimmer of hope and peace? Some Christians are viewing the now classic series in a less than positive light.

Ever since the pilot, some have thought that the opening episode it suggests an alternative begining than what the Bible says. The "beauty" of Star Trek was the rationality of it all. It was a utopia ruled by human reason and logic. The purity of the show fed into what most people want, a peaceful society. The show was popular mostly likely because it spoke to a future we all desperately want and pray for. A place where there is little war, no debt, nothing but adventure, all because the human race finally worked out their differences. 
Star Trek was originally used as a way to call out the issues of the 1960's. The characters and trials were all too relatable. But the issue that is being addressed now is the lack of a God in the society. The image of Christ is mentioned very little in the show but other religions are mentioned, implying religious activities are still prominent. The Christian church is mentioned a few times and a church was seen in a couple of the time travel episodes. So though Christianity wasn't seen prominently throughout the series, it existed in that "universe".What would people think if people saw and loved the show that doesn't call for a need of a higher power? Maybe they would start to wonder if that would work?

We should of course try and put aside our differences but you can't completely remove God from the picture to receive it. You cannot reach the peace that was reached in Star Trek without some sort of higher agreement, in the Sci-Fi universe, human reason was that agreement. The show became popular not because humans were the ones, "calling the shots", though I'm sure that had some appeal. It became world famous for the way it challenges the rationality of the viewers, and how it made people crave for a similar world. Mohler said,  
"Christians need to understand that there will always be a story that’s dominant in the culture. Star Trek is just one of them. It wasn’t the first, and it won’t be the last".
Star Trek had serious morals, amazing lessons and made the viewer think. Though there was not a prominent sign of God doesn't mean it has had a negative impact. It taught how to accept, love, and defend our fellow man and even an enemy. It may not say, "hey this is God and his story", but it doesn't promote anything evil either. You can love Star Trek without necessarily denouncing the church. And most importantly, you can, "live long and prosper."