Theology and Star Trek (Theology, Religion, and Pop Culture) by Shaun C. Brown

Theology and Star Trek (Theology, Religion, and Pop Culture) Reviews

• 
  Robert D. Cornwall

  I didn't get introduced to Star Trek until after it went into syndication, but once I started watching, I was hooked. I even liked the first movie though I admit it wasn't the best. As a theologian, I was excited to see the publication of book that examined the relationship of one of my favorite TV/Movie franchises and my interest in theology. Thankfully, the publisher provided me with a review copy.
  
  As with the previously published volume on
  Theology and the Star Wars Universe, which I also read and reviewed, "Theology and Star Trek" offers the reader a collection of essays written by theologians and biblical scholars who seek to explore the relationship between the two fields. What makes Star Trek more challenging than Star Wars is that Gene Roddenberry, the creator of the franchise was a humanist who largely excluded religion from the conversation. Nevertheless, as these essays demonstrate there are numerous connections, even if not always overt.
  
  Co-editor Shaun Brown provides the introduction to the collection, which covers the full spectrum of movies and series from the Original Series to Strange New Worlds. While this is not the first such exploration of the relationship of Star Trek and Religion/Theology, it is the most recent and perhaps the broadest exploration. In pursuit of this effort, as Brown notes, the contributors come from a variety of religious traditions and disciplines, but ultimately this is a work of constructive theology. Each of the contributors is a fan of the franchise and from that vantage point seeks to connect their chosen disciplines with the franchise they love. One of the questions that Brown brings up at the beginning is Stanley Grenz's suggestion that while the Original Series represented Modernism (Enlightenment) and Next Generation post-modernism, he's not so sure. In fact, Next Generation might also represent Modernism, with perhaps Deep Space Nine better reflecting postmodernism. Whatever is the case, the effort to connect theology with Star Trek makes for intriguing reading for any committed to both entities.
  
  The editors, Shaun C. Brown and Amanda MacInnis Hackney, have divided the book into four sections. Part I, which includes six chapters, is titled "These are the Voyages." The chapters in this section lay out the overarching themes of the franchise, along with Roddenberry's vision. This section is introduced by James McGrath's extremely helpful essay "God's and Theology in the Star Trek Universe: The First Commandment and the Prime Directive." Though the chapter is brief, McGrath provides a basic foundation for what follows. Thus, it is must read as he raises the question of whether, despite Roddenberry's vision, there is no discussion of gods in the series. In fact, he raises the question of the definition of the divine! There are essays that deal with canonicity and mythos (canon is always a big issue with franchises like this). A chapter on time travel and theodicy (another critical theme). Other chapters deal with ritual, eschatology, and the lack of chaplains in Star Fleet! That chapter by Robert Stroud is an intriguing one.
  
  We move from foundations in Part I to diving deeper into specific topics, such as free will and machines, with malfunctions such as Nomad, M-5, and Lore bringing into view questions of sin. There is a chapter on theological anthropology in light of Borg eschatology and alien flesh. Other chapters explore political theology, social and ecological ethics/salvation (Voyage Home), Personhood (the story of Data), demons, and whether one can become a god. The focus here is on the Eastern Christian concept of theosis in conversation with visions of perfection in Star Trek. With the question of augments appearing in the chapter "Becoming Gods," the following chapter deals with Julian Bashir's augmentation through gene editing, a chapter that raises the question of the ethics of such efforts. The authors Michael Buttney and Leah DeYoung note that there isn't an exact analog between Bashir's situation and any modern technology, the question of what is natural and unnatural remains.
  
  Part III, "To Explore and to Seek," focuses on questions of practice and formation. Chapters focus on a variety of subjects. One focuses on sin and human progress. Another uses the work of Dietrich Bonhoeffer to explore differences between fundamentalism and openness using three figures from Deep Space Nine -- Kai Winn, Vedic Bariel, and Benjamin Sisko (the emissary). This is a fascinating chapter. Editor Shaun Brown uses the work of Alasdair McIntyre to look at the question of the moral formation of the Klingons. There is a chapter by Peter Hess on the question of the moral personhood of three figures, two of whom are androids or synthetic entities (Data and Soji), the Borg Hugh, and finally Odo. Then there is a chapter looking at the question of human perfection and eschatology, comparing Roddenberry's vision with that found in the Book of Hebrews.
  
  Part IV, titled "To Boldly Go," speaks to the future of the Star Trek Franchise, focusing especially on the first season of Picard, drawing in the work of Miguel de Unamuno, which Captain Rios is reading in that first year of the series. Roddenberry might have sought to eliminate God from the conversation, but it's clear that there still are fruitful avenues that allow for a conversation about God and the gods between theologians and the Star Trek franchise. For that I'm thankful!