Star Trek and sacred ground : explorations of Star Trek, religion, and American culture / edited by Jennifer E. Porter and Darcee L. McLaren.

Format:

Book

Contributor:

Porter, Jennifer E., 1964- editor.

McLaren, Darcee L., 1965- editor.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Star Trek films--Religious aspects.

Star Trek films.

Star Trek television programs--Religious aspects.

Star Trek television programs.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (334 pages)

Place of Publication:

Albany, New York : State University of New York Press, 1999.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

Offers a multidisciplinary examination of Star Trek, religion, and American culture.Drawing on a number of methodologies and disciplinary perspectives, this book boldly goes where none has gone before by focusing on the interplay between Star Trek, religion, and American culture as revealed in the four different Trek television series, and the major motion pictures as well. Explored from a Trek perspective are the portrayal and treatment of religion; the religious and mythic elements; the ritual aspects of the fan following; and the relationship between religion and other issues of contemporary concern.Divided into three sections, this detailed study of religion, myth, and ritual in the Star Trek context extends the boundaries of the traditional categories of religious studies, and explores the process of the (re)creation of culture. The first section explores the ways in which religion has primarily been understood in the Star Trek franchise in relationship to science, technology, scientism, and 'secular humanism.' What do Star Trek and its creator Gene Roddenberry have to say about religion, and what does this reveal about changing American perceptions about the role, value, and place of religion in everyday life? Section Two examines the mythic power and appeal of Star Trek, and highlights the mythic and symbolic parallels between the series' story lines and themes taken from both western religious tradition and the scientific and technological components of contemporary North American Society. In the final section, contributors discuss the mythic and ritual aspects of Star Trek fandom. How have Star Trek fans found meaning and value in the television programs, and how do they express that meaning in their lives?Contributors include Robert Asa, Michael Jindra, Larry Kreitzer, Jeffrey S. Lamp, Peter Linford, Ian Maher, Anne Pearson, Gregory Peterson, and Jon Wagner.

Contents:

Frontmatter

Contents

Acknowledgments

I. ntroduction

PART eligion in Star Trek

2. From Thwarted Gods to Reclaimed Mystery?

3. lassic Star Trek and the Death of God:

4. Religion and Science in Star Trek

5. eeds of Power: Respect for Religion in Star Trek

6. (Re)Covering Sacred Ground

PART Religious and Mythic Themes

7. Intimations of Immortality

8. Suffering, Sacrifice and Redemption

9. The Outward Voyage and the Inward Search

10. Biblical Interpretation in the Star Trek Universe

PART II Religion and Ritual in Fandom

11 “Star Trek to Me Is Way of Life”

12. On the Edge of Forever

13. Boldly Go

TV Episodes and Movies Cited

Bibliography

List of Contributors

Index

Notes:

Bibliographic Level Mode of Issuance: Monograph

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Description based on print version record.

ISBN:

9781438416359

1438416350

9780585291901

058529190X

OCLC:

1511484104