Star Trek--Suffering, Sacrifice and Redemption

I. Kreitzer argues that Star Trek success stems from its fidelity to the mimetic theory--its episodes dramatize values inherent in our culture. Instructor's comment: We might recall Hamlet's words that the purpose of art is to hold a "mirror up to nature." What do we see when we look in that mirror?

A. Kreitzer posits that ST embodies biblical values, focusing chiefly on Genesis--as some of the films clearly illustrate.

B. Two Biblical themes are treated:

self-sacrificing and suffering
Spock as a Christ figure

II. DYING FOR OTHERS: CHRISTIAN THEOLOGY IN 'THE EMPATH'

A. Recall the details of the episode--the conduct of GEM, and Kirk's evaluation of her conduct.

B. Study carefully the scriptural quotes provided in the chapter.

C. The Book of Job dramatizes themes important to this chapter:

Who in the episode parallels Job?
Who parallel the Vians?
Job has three friends who offer him advice--what do they say, and what is his response?
What is the main theme of Job?
Job's relationship to God, especially in Chapter XIII and the conclusion when he meets God face to face, have important psychological, pedagogical, moral and epistemological consequences. What are they? Relate them to the episode.

III. Kreitzer observes (citing Tullock) that The Empath is "Star Trek's passion play." What is a passion play? Search the following:

A. Medieval drama--especially Everyman

B. A short Renaissance poem called "What is Our Life?"

IV. Note the following themes in The Empath: (FIND SUPPORTING BIBLICAL PASSAGES)

A. love

B. self-sacrifice

C. the problem of the one and the many--recall Spock in the films.

V. CRUCIFIXION IMAGERY:

A. Kreitzer notes how the Vians torture the crew

B. Jesus the relationship between speaking and demonstrating (p. 145).

C. How does the theology correlate with the ST's theme of progress through scientific humanism?

VI. SUFFERING SERVANT IMAGERY:

A. Read Isaiah 53 for the suffering servant theme.

B. Examine Mark 10:45 for Jesus' relationship to suffering: Jesus says that he comes to do what?

C. Kreitzer reminds us that Gem is a mute. Recall a scene in Hamlet wherein an event causing considerable controversy occurs just before the players reenact the murder of King Hamlet to entrap Claudius. See Matthew 26:63 and Mark 14:61 as Kreitzer suggests. Of course the parable of the Good Shepherd is mentioned as an allusion.

D. Look at the analogy discussed by Kreitzer on page 148.

V. SPOCK AS CHRIST-FIGURE: GIVING HIS LIFE FOR OTHERS AND RISING FROM THE DEAD & SACRIFICIAL SURRENDER OF THE ONE FOR THE MANY:

A. Kreitzer notes that The Empath's sacrificial theme is enhanced in the ST movies concerning the death and resurrection of Spock. Our Vulcan science officer considered it 'logical' to give his one life for the many, but not logical for the many (Kirk & crew) to risk lives and career to unite his body and consciousness stored by Bones.

B. Instructor note: Traditionally, we may view the unfolding of history in four ways:

theocentric--there is a divine plan at work: Jesus / Spock in time--note that Spock lives to attempt to reunite Vulcan and Romulus (TNG),thus 'continuing his mission.'
economic--dialectical materialism; Kreitzer (p. 151) cites Bentham's, "the greatest good for the greatest number." Recall that Bentham valued material progress / happiness as an absolute for man. Click here for details. However, Bentham's counterpart, John S. Mill, saw the useful as the non-sensory. Star Trek often dramatized utilitarianism fashioned by cultures that considered themselves "perfect": In Patterns of Force (TOS) John Gill creates a perfect (?) state modeled on Nazism, while in The Masterpiece Society, (TNG) utopia (?) is genetically achieved. Wee might recall what Plato knew about utopias as outlined in The Republic.
naturalistic--History is a product of forces beyond the control of man, who must adapt to them in order to survive. Although it might appear that technology has mastered such forces we know that the fury of nature will often overcome the best defenses man can muster. In ST, mastery over nature is often realized, although imperfectly, by aliens, chiefly Q. In Hide and Q, (TNG) for example, Q restores and / or alters nature to give the bridge crew what they most want, but the 'gifts' are eventually declined when Riker sees the inherent folly of accepting. The theme would seem to be that the imperfections we experience now are metaphysically necessary--as a point of philosophy, the universe cannot be as perfect as its creator, as two perfect entities cannot exist. Where matter exists, there is conflict: Pope tells us (Essay on Man) that everything subsists by elemental strife.
environmental--humans shape history by responding to those conditions they create. In a TNG episode called Force of Nature, Picard learns that they very technology created for space exploration (warp drive) may be responsible for harming the environment. Star Fleet Command orders no speeds over warp 5 unless in an emergency. Is Shelley correct?

C. Which view of history might Kreitzer hypothesize for ST? On page 152, Spock argues that logic dictates that "...the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few..." but Kirk later reminds him that "...the needs of the one outweigh he needs of the many." Which view is logical? Which has a theological perspective? We might recall what Spock said about logic and wisdom in Star Trek: The Motion Picture.

VI. SPOCK'S RESURRECTION FROM THE DEAD:

A. What do you think about Kreitzer's analogy to Luke 22:19 wherein Jesus told his disciples to act in "remembrance" of him. Compare to Spock's last moments with Dr. McCoy. Check the other allusions in this section.

B. in The Gospel According to Peanuts, Martin Short argues that too often the church does not utilize contemporary culture to attract membership. Condemnation is not enough. Here, Kreitzer suggests that "...rarely professional theologians have anything to do with popular science fiction writing. This is much to their own detriment for there is no doubting that for many contemporary people, a worldview created by science fiction functions in precisely the same way within their lives as did the worldview created by religious belief for previous generations." (p. 160).

C. So Jesus used a donkey to travel to Jerusalem, and employed countless agricultural metaphors to educate his followers in a new way. Does Star Trek use technology to do the same?


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		SUFFERING, SACRIFICE AND REDEMPTION BY LARRY KREITZER (The Star Trek universe boasts of "paradise" on earth due to technological innovations such as the replicator which renders the 'need' to possess obsolete? Indeed Rousseau, who thought that men were inherently good became evil when the someone first said, "This is mine.") (Does technological progress insure paradise? Do we continue to suffer in spite of or perhaps because of our scientific progress?) (Roddenberry's sociological seems predicated on enlightenment secular humanism.) I. Kreitzer argues that Star Trek success stems from its fidelity to the mimetic theory--its episodes dramatize values inherent in our culture. Instructor's comment: We might recall Hamlet's words that the purpose of art is to hold a "mirror up to nature." What do we see when we look in that mirror? A. Kreitzer posits that ST embodies biblical values, focusing chiefly on Genesis--as some of the films clearly illustrate. B. Two Biblical themes are treated: self-sacrificing and suffering Spock as a Christ figure II. DYING FOR OTHERS: CHRISTIAN THEOLOGY IN 'THE EMPATH' A. Recall the details of the episode--the conduct of GEM, and Kirk's evaluation of her conduct. B. Study carefully the scriptural quotes provided in the chapter. C. The Book of Job dramatizes themes important to this chapter: Who in the episode parallels Job? Who parallel the Vians? Job has three friends who offer him advice--what do they say, and what is his response? What is the main theme of Job? Job's relationship to God, especially in Chapter XIII and the conclusion when he meets God face to face, have important psychological, pedagogical, moral and epistemological consequences. What are they? Relate them to the episode. III. Kreitzer observes (citing Tullock) that The Empath is "Star Trek's passion play." What is a passion play? Search the following: A. Medieval drama--especially Everyman B. A short Renaissance poem called "What is Our Life?" IV. Note the following themes in The Empath: (FIND SUPPORTING BIBLICAL PASSAGES) A. love B. self-sacrifice C. the problem of the one and the many--recall Spock in the films. V. CRUCIFIXION IMAGERY: A. Kreitzer notes how the Vians torture the crew B. Jesus the relationship between speaking and demonstrating (p. 145). C. How does the theology correlate with the ST's theme of progress through scientific humanism? VI. SUFFERING SERVANT IMAGERY: A. Read Isaiah 53 for the suffering servant theme. B. Examine Mark 10:45 for Jesus' relationship to suffering: Jesus says that he comes to do what? C. Kreitzer reminds us that Gem is a mute. Recall a scene in Hamlet wherein an event causing considerable controversy occurs just before the players reenact the murder of King Hamlet to entrap Claudius. See Matthew 26:63 and Mark 14:61 as Kreitzer suggests. Of course the parable of the Good Shepherd is mentioned as an allusion. D. Look at the analogy discussed by Kreitzer on page 148. V. SPOCK AS CHRIST-FIGURE: GIVING HIS LIFE FOR OTHERS AND RISING FROM THE DEAD & SACRIFICIAL SURRENDER OF THE ONE FOR THE MANY: A. Kreitzer notes that The Empath's sacrificial theme is enhanced in the ST movies concerning the death and resurrection of Spock. Our Vulcan science officer considered it 'logical' to give his one life for the many, but not logical for the many (Kirk & crew) to risk lives and career to unite his body and consciousness stored by Bones. B. Instructor note: Traditionally, we may view the unfolding of history in four ways: theocentric--there is a divine plan at work: Jesus / Spock in time--note that Spock lives to attempt to reunite Vulcan and Romulus (TNG),thus 'continuing his mission.' economic--dialectical materialism; Kreitzer (p. 151) cites Bentham's, "the greatest good for the greatest number." Recall that Bentham valued material progress / happiness as an absolute for man. Click here for details. However, Bentham's counterpart, John S. Mill, saw the useful as the non-sensory. Star Trek often dramatized utilitarianism fashioned by cultures that considered themselves "perfect": In Patterns of Force (TOS) John Gill creates a perfect (?) state modeled on Nazism, while in The Masterpiece Society, (TNG) utopia (?) is genetically achieved. Wee might recall what Plato knew about utopias as outlined in The Republic. naturalistic--History is a product of forces beyond the control of man, who must adapt to them in order to survive. Although it might appear that technology has mastered such forces we know that the fury of nature will often overcome the best defenses man can muster. In ST, mastery over nature is often realized, although imperfectly, by aliens, chiefly Q. In Hide and Q, (TNG) for example, Q restores and / or alters nature to give the bridge crew what they most want, but the 'gifts' are eventually declined when Riker sees the inherent folly of accepting. The theme would seem to be that the imperfections we experience now are metaphysically necessary--as a point of philosophy, the universe cannot be as perfect as its creator, as two perfect entities cannot exist. Where matter exists, there is conflict: Pope tells us (Essay on Man) that everything subsists by elemental strife. environmental--humans shape history by responding to those conditions they create. In a TNG episode called Force of Nature, Picard learns that they very technology created for space exploration (warp drive) may be responsible for harming the environment. Star Fleet Command orders no speeds over warp 5 unless in an emergency. Is Shelley correct? C. Which view of history might Kreitzer hypothesize for ST? On page 152, Spock argues that logic dictates that "...the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few..." but Kirk later reminds him that "...the needs of the one outweigh he needs of the many." Which view is logical? Which has a theological perspective? We might recall what Spock said about logic and wisdom in Star Trek: The Motion Picture. VI. SPOCK'S RESURRECTION FROM THE DEAD: A. What do you think about Kreitzer's analogy to Luke 22:19 wherein Jesus told his disciples to act in "remembrance" of him. Compare to Spock's last moments with Dr. McCoy. Check the other allusions in this section. B. in The Gospel According to Peanuts, Martin Short argues that too often the church does not utilize contemporary culture to attract membership. Condemnation is not enough. Here, Kreitzer suggests that "...rarely professional theologians have anything to do with popular science fiction writing. This is much to their own detriment for there is no doubting that for many contemporary people, a worldview created by science fiction functions in precisely the same way within their lives as did the worldview created by religious belief for previous generations." (p. 160). C. So Jesus used a donkey to travel to Jerusalem, and employed countless agricultural metaphors to educate his followers in a new way. Does Star Trek use technology to do the same? SUPPLEMENTARY READINGS Read the biblical passages cited in this chapter including JOB. In so doing, evaluate Kreitzer's essay comparatively. Does he advance the same thesis as some of the other writers we have studied?