8th September is officially Star Trek Day. The US TV series that ‘boldly went where no one had ever gone before’ was first aired in 1966. I loved this programme when I was young and remember that it used to be broadcast on a Wednesday evening – and so nothing else could be booked for that slot of time. However, I’ve recently read that William Shatner, though the lead character Captain James Kirk, has never watched a single episode!
According to research, the most popular character was Spock the rational, unemotional half human/ half Vulcan second in command. Apparently, he was originally supposed to be red skinned (maybe so no-one could see when he blushed and spoilt the façade of showing no emotions!).
Times have changed – What seemed to be a groundbreaking innovative series, on second viewing looks dated and sexist. Although it did spark a franchise of films that updated the plots and characters bringing them into the 21st century.
When I taught RE in secondary schools, I often used clips from sci-fi films and programmes to illustrate religious concepts. There were always planets and people needing to be saved, or communities needing to learn how to get on. Universal themes of equality reflected the political and cultural situation at the time they were produced and were a way of the population working through such issues using the medium of newly invented space travel. It was good to realise that we are a miniscule part of a great big galaxy; life depends on other life forms. Through entertainment, we could discuss relevant and important subjects.
We could always rely on the ending being happy and all the problems being resolved, with universal harmony and balance restored. Real life can’t make those promises.
Psalm 8 says, “Lord, Our Lord, how majestic is Your Name in all the earth! You have set Your glory in the heavens…. when I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have set in place, what is humanity that You are mindful of it? Human beings that You care for them?”
The Psalmist teaches us that the universe reflects God’s glory – even though we may get our information about it through science fiction – these truths are real. We may be just specks in its vastness – physically yes, but we fill the mind of God. We too should be astonished that God cares for us. He made us in His image and has gifted us His creation to look after and people to love and treasure. Working for justice for others, stamped with God’s image, brings Him glory and demonstrates His Love. As humans, we’re not doing this very well but, there will come a time when Jesus comes again, when all will be set right and there will be a happy ending.
“Live long and prosper”.