Theology and Star Trek (Shaun Brown & Amanda Hackney, editors) -- A Review
THEOLOGY AND STAR TREK (Theology, Religion, and Pop Culture). Edited by Shaun C. Brown and Amanda MacInnis Hackney. Lanham, MD: Lexington Books/Fortress Academic, 2023. Xxi + 307 pages.
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 a book examining the relationship between one of my favorite
TV/Movie franchises and my professional 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 explore the
relationship between their chosen academic fields and the world of Star Trek.
What makes exploring the relationship between theology and Star Trek
more challenging than the earlier book on the relationship of theology with Star
Wars is that Gene Roddenberry, the creator of the Star Trek franchise,
was a humanist who largely sought to exclude religion from the series. Nevertheless,
as these essays demonstrate, numerous connections can be explored, even if these
connections are not always overt.
This
collection of essays is edited by Shaun C. Brown, the associate minister of
First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Garland, Texas, and an adjunct
professor at Johnson University and Hope International University. Amanda
MacInnis Hackney has taught theology, spiritual formation, and ethics at both
college and seminary levels, and serves as the architect and curator of the
Women and Theology Research Database. Both editors hold PhDs from Wycliffe
College of the University of Toronto.
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 religion/theology
to Star Trek, 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. Ultimately this serves
as a work of constructive theology. In other words, the Star Trek
franchise provides the essayists an opportunity to explore theological topics
of interest in conversation in dialogue with the movie/TV franchise they have
enjoyed. In other words, each of the contributors is a fan of the franchise. It
is as a fan that they explore theological topics of interest.
Brown
seeks to set the conversation here into an earlier one developed by the late
Baptist theologian Stanley Grenz. In a book about postmodernism, Grenz
suggested that while the Original Series represented Modernism
(Enlightenment), Next Generation served as an example of postmodernism.
I remember reading Grenz’s book and agreeing with his premise. Brown, however,
in light of further developments in the franchise isn’t so sure that Grenz got
it right. In fact, he believes that Next Generation also represents
Modernism, while Deep Space Nine might better reflect postmodernism. Why
might that be true? Remember the role religion plays in Deep Space Nine. Whatever
the case, this effort to connect theology with Star Trek makes for
intriguing reading for any committed to both entities. Just remember that this
is intended to be a scholarly exercise in constructive theology.
The
editors 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 for Star Trek. 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." Although the
chapter is brief, McGrath provides the basic foundation for what follows. A must-read
chapter, it raises the question of whether, despite Roddenberry's vision, God
and gods do inhabit the world of Star Trek. As McGrath points out, Star
Trek “challenges us to reflection whether we should expect to encounter “God,
but not as we know it’ as we explore the universe” (p. 11). That is, as the crews of the various vessels encounter
other beings, how might they fit categories of the divine? In addition to
McGrath’s essay, others deal with canonicity and mythos (this is an important
essay as canon has been a major issue with franchises such as this). There is
an essay about time travel and theodicy (another critical theme). Other
chapters deal with ritual, eschatology, and the lack of chaplains in Star
Fleet! This final essay in Part 1 raises an important question: where are the
chaplains? Robert Stroud explores this question, asking why Roddenberry might
have chosen not to include them. There are, of course, counselors, but not
chaplains. But is it possible that in the twenty-third century, no one has
questions about matters divine? Probably not, especially since the question
emerges at several different points. As for whether in the future chaplains
will truly be absent is unknown. In this case, the absence is, as Stroud
suggests, a monument to Roddenberry’s humanist vision.
Part 4,
which is titled “To Boldly Go” contains an Epilogue written by Timothy Harvie
that explores “Picard and the Future of Star Trek and Theology.” In
this final essay/epilogue, Harvie addresses the question of the future of the Star
Trek Franchise. He looks back to Roddenberry’s vision of a “future where,
after the turmoil and conflict which has characterized the modern world,
humanity worked to unify itself with the goal of creating a better society where
neither hunger nor parasitic economics work to the detriment of persons.” In
this vision that includes encounters with alien species who open up a universe
lying beyond humanity’s violent past, theology does not play much of a role. Nevertheless,
as we’ve seen the franchise offers lots of opportunities for theological
reflection. While Roddenberry’s vision remains a driving force, the Star
Trek vision is still under construction. In this essay, Harvie makes use of
the work of the early twentieth-century philosopher Miguel de Unamuno, whose
works are being read by Captain Rios in the first season of Picard. Unamuno
provides a foundation for conversations about the role of grief and the quest
for meaning. While Roddenberry might have sought to eliminate God from the
conversation, the question of the meaning of life and personhood remains. Thus,
there are fruitful avenues of discussion regarding theology present in the
franchise. Harvie concludes the collection by noting that “the future of Star
Trek offers less by way of a clear doctrinal or moral path, but it does
portend the coming of the embodiment of feeling. In doing so, it still points a
way past violent tribalisms and toward the co-feeling of sympathy expressed in
profound solidarity with those who suffer” (p. 291).
Star
Trek has, over the decades, dealt with many important social, cultural, and
theological issues. Roddenberry may not have wanted to include God-talk in his franchise,
but Star Trek provides numerous opportunities for theological reflection.
As a fan of Star Trek who is also by training a historical theologian, I
am grateful for this. We can be thankful to the editors, Shaun Brown, and
Amanda Hackney for bringing together this collection of essays that open
numerous opportunities for further theological exploration. The good news is
that the Star Trek universe continues to expand. As for the book itself, it should be noted that this is designed as a scholarly exploration of theological themes in Star Trek. While that is true, for the most part, the essays are accessible to the non-specialist. It should be noted as well, that it is not an inexpensive volume. Readers might want to check for copies at a library (or through inter-library loan). Nevertheless, Theology and Star Trek is a volume worth perusing by those, like me, who are both fans of Star Trek and have an abiding interest in theology.
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