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A Christian analysis of the original Star Trek, exploring the spiritual depths of a series often seen as resolutely secular in outlook.
What's Christian about Star Trek? Nothing. That's the way most people see it and that certainly seems to be the way the franchise is intended. There's no question that the Trek universe is based on a doggedly humanistic worldview and is set in a future time when religion has essentially vanished from Earth. If that's the case, how can there even be a Gospel According to Star Trek? In The Gospel According to Star Trek, you'll discover how the continuing voyages of Kirk and company aboard the Enterprise - from the Original Series to Star Trek Beyond - tell us more about our human quest for God than you ever imagined. You'll learn how Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry's own spiritual quest informed the franchise, what he and the series really have to say about God and religion, and the amazing image of Christ contained in Star Trek's most popular character. You'll also see how Star Trek can help us recover a deeper, more fully human gospel that embraces our humanity instead of denigrating it and echoes the call of both Spock and Christ: 'Live long and prosper!' (John 10:10).
What's Christian about Star Trek? Nothing. That's the way most people see it and that certainly seems to be the way the franchise is intended. There's no question that the Trek universe is based on a doggedly humanistic worldview and is set in a future time when religion has essentially vanished from Earth. If that's the case, how can there even be a Gospel According to Star Trek? In The Gospel According to Star Trek, you'll discover how the continuing voyages of Kirk and company aboard the Enterprise - from the Original Series to Star Trek Beyond - tell us more about our human quest for God than you ever imagined. You'll learn how Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry's own spiritual quest informed the franchise, what he and the series really have to say about God and religion, and the amazing image of Christ contained in Star Trek's most popular character. You'll also see how Star Trek can help us recover a deeper, more fully human gospel that embraces our humanity instead of denigrating it and echoes the call of both Spock and Christ: 'Live long and prosper!' (John 10:10).
Price: $29.99
Pages: 219
Publisher: Boydell & Brewer Inc.
Imprint: Lutterworth Press
Publication Date:
25 January 2018
Trim Size: 9.02 X 6.02 in
ISBN: 9780718895242
Format: Paperback
BISACs:
PHILOSOPHY / Ethics & Moral Philosophy, Ethics and moral philosophy, ARCHITECTURE / General, RELIGION / General, RELIGION / Christian Theology / Christology, RELIGION / Christian Theology / Ethics, SOCIAL SCIENCE / Popular Culture, Architecture
You hold in your hands a treasure. So don't read this endorsement; instead, read this book, which we are fortunate to have. The proof of this endorsement is to be found in reading Kevin's book. The 'eyes of your heart' may be opened too.
— DAVID NAUGLE, Distinguished University Professor, Dallas Baptist University; author of Worldview: The History of a Concept
Don't be scared off by the title, Trek fans. Whether Christian, pagan, atheist, or any other corner on the global 'higher power' scale, you'll find plenty of new insights into 'the human adventure' amid the dots Kevin C. Neece connects in The Gospel According to Star Trek: The Original Crew. Kevin looks at Star Trek's love/hate relationship with paradises, god-things, baby-steps humanity, alien deities, and even the wacky implications of the animated series, and finds something to intrigue everyone.
— LARRY NEMECEK, Author, Star Trek Stellar Cartography: The Starfleet Reference Library; Founder, Trekland's Portal 47
If you thought there was little Christians could learn from Star Trek, Kevin C. Neece will show you another way into a rich theological frontier in the Star Trek universe. This book is not only helpful for seeing connections between Christian faith and Star Trek but also a great example of faithful engagement with culture.
— VINCENT BACOTE, Associate Professor of Theology, Wheaton College
— DAVID NAUGLE, Distinguished University Professor, Dallas Baptist University; author of Worldview: The History of a Concept
Don't be scared off by the title, Trek fans. Whether Christian, pagan, atheist, or any other corner on the global 'higher power' scale, you'll find plenty of new insights into 'the human adventure' amid the dots Kevin C. Neece connects in The Gospel According to Star Trek: The Original Crew. Kevin looks at Star Trek's love/hate relationship with paradises, god-things, baby-steps humanity, alien deities, and even the wacky implications of the animated series, and finds something to intrigue everyone.
— LARRY NEMECEK, Author, Star Trek Stellar Cartography: The Starfleet Reference Library; Founder, Trekland's Portal 47
If you thought there was little Christians could learn from Star Trek, Kevin C. Neece will show you another way into a rich theological frontier in the Star Trek universe. This book is not only helpful for seeing connections between Christian faith and Star Trek but also a great example of faithful engagement with culture.
— VINCENT BACOTE, Associate Professor of Theology, Wheaton College
Foreword by John Tenuto
Acknowledgements
Introduction: The Undiscovered Country
Section 1: Creator and Questor: The Restless Heart of Gene Roddenberry
1 Creator
2 Roddenberry, Religion, and a Malfunctioning Brain
3 The Theology of Gene Roddenberry
4 Questor
Section 2: The Gospel According to the Original Series
1 More Than a Wagon Train to the Stars
2 The Way to Eden: The Edenic Imagination of the Original Series
3 Our Many Beliefs: Openness Toward Religion
4 We Find the One Quite Adequate: God and God Figures
5 False Gods, False Paradises, and False Religions
6 Last Battlefields and Neighbor Love
Section 3: The Gospel According to the Animated Series
1 Star Trek, Season Four
2 Gods and Monsters
3 Sympathy for the Devil: "The Magicks of Megas-Tu"
Section 4: The Gospel According to the Original Series Films
1 Star Trek: The Motion Picture
2 Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan
3 Star Trek III: The Search for Spock
4 Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home
5 Star Trek V: The Final Frontier
6 Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country
Section 5: The Gospel According to the Kelvin Timeline
1 Star Trek (2009)
2 Star Trek Into Darkness
3 Star Trek Beyond
Epilogue: What Does God Need with a Starship?
Bibliography
Acknowledgements
Introduction: The Undiscovered Country
Section 1: Creator and Questor: The Restless Heart of Gene Roddenberry
1 Creator
2 Roddenberry, Religion, and a Malfunctioning Brain
3 The Theology of Gene Roddenberry
4 Questor
Section 2: The Gospel According to the Original Series
1 More Than a Wagon Train to the Stars
2 The Way to Eden: The Edenic Imagination of the Original Series
3 Our Many Beliefs: Openness Toward Religion
4 We Find the One Quite Adequate: God and God Figures
5 False Gods, False Paradises, and False Religions
6 Last Battlefields and Neighbor Love
Section 3: The Gospel According to the Animated Series
1 Star Trek, Season Four
2 Gods and Monsters
3 Sympathy for the Devil: "The Magicks of Megas-Tu"
Section 4: The Gospel According to the Original Series Films
1 Star Trek: The Motion Picture
2 Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan
3 Star Trek III: The Search for Spock
4 Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home
5 Star Trek V: The Final Frontier
6 Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country
Section 5: The Gospel According to the Kelvin Timeline
1 Star Trek (2009)
2 Star Trek Into Darkness
3 Star Trek Beyond
Epilogue: What Does God Need with a Starship?
Bibliography