Everything I Need to Know About Morality I Learned From Star Trek _ the Christian Heretic

Everything I Need to Know About Morality I Learned From Star Trek | The Christian Heretic

file:///E:/old%20files%202012-05-30/other/Temp/everything-i-need-to-know-about-morality-i-learned-from-star-trek.html[2014-09-22 14:32:13]

WRITTEN ON AUGUST 29, 2011 BY DREW COSTEN IN MORALITY

Everything I Need to Know About Morality I Learned FromStar Trek

Im going to let you in on a secret.

The best source of morality generally cant be found in a church. Likewise, you wont learn how to be the

best person you can be in the Bible.

No, the best way to discover how to be a truly ethical person is in a completely different place. Its in the

science fiction section of your local video and book stores.

If youre basing your morals on what youre taught on Sunday morning, odds are high that youre going to

have to wade through a lot of sexism, homophobia and erotophobia, not to mention a lot of conservative

greed. If youre reading the Bible literally and hope to find good advice, youre going to have to learn to

distinguish between helpful ideas such as loving your neighbours and harmful doctrines that tell us women

are second class citizens, that its okay to invade other nations and kill people with different religions, and

that slavery is a perfectly acceptable way to run a household.

If you turn to Star Trek instead, youll find that exploring new places is

desirable, but that perhaps you should think twice before interfering in local

affairs, and that you definitely shouldnt steal other peoples land. Youll learn

to respect people who look, act and speak differently than you. Youll discover

that working together is more productive than always fighting over riches and

resources. And youll see that going out of your way to help those in need,

even if it increases the time you spend on your voyage, might just be the right

thing to do. Also, we probably shouldnt allow all the whales to go extinct if we

want to survive as a species.

Growing up, what I learned from church was that people with different beliefs

were dangerous and that new concepts would lead us astray. Well, its true,

new ideas might lead you in a different direction than the way your religious leaders would prefer you go, but

those new paths might very well be preferable, and far more ethical, than the ways they want you to live.

Theres nothing wrong with studying Scripture to find positive teachings, but one should first be firmly

grounded in a positive form of morality, one that respects varying opinions, and isnt calling for discrimination

against people because they might have different sexual preferences than you do, otherwise you wont be

able to tell the good from the bad and might think harmful dogmas are actually helpful.

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9 COMMENTS - LEAVE A COMMENT!

Start with the various Star Trek series and films but dont stop there. Dig deeper by watching Babylon 5,

Stargate, Firefly, and even Battlestar Galactica. Once youve finished these series youll not only have a

good grounding in whats actually in the best interest of both you and those around you, youll also know

how to appreciate shades of grey and situational ethics. Then, and only then, you might just be ready to start

trying to interpret Scripture in positive ways.

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This was originally posted on my other site, but I thought it was a lot more relevant here so I re-posted it herefor all of you to enjoy. :)

Drew Costen

Like Reply1 year ago

" Dig deeper by watching Babylon 5, "

AMEN!

Andrew Hackman


Always nice to meet more B5 fans. :)

Drew Costen

Like Reply1 year ago in reply to Andrew Hackman

Glad to see you're not merely a philosopher but also a geek. Speaking of morality, you're right there are a lotof good morals in not only Star Trek but so many other places also. If the bible and Christianity were limited tothe places to get your morals, the world would be in even a sadder state than it is. In fact, I have had to un-learn a lot the morals I learned from my church upbringing. Believe it or not, I have found morals in atheismand well... a lot of other "isms" also.

I have seen a couple of movies recently, namely "Season of the Witch" and "Priest" which reflect some of mysentiments perfectly. The main one being, we fight for God, not the Church. Those who are completelycontrolled by the Church are brainwashed by it.

I'd like to be included in your "Other Interesting Sites" list. Your site will certainly be on mine. Truth or Heresydot com.

Doug

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Copyright 2012 Drew Costen

Hi Doug. I grew up on science fiction and computers, so I guess I qualify as a geek. :)

I may not agree with them on their views on theism, but I've actually found many atheists to be farmore moral than many followers of the Christian religion are.

I'll take a look at your site, and if I like it I'll definitely add it to my links.

Thanks for your thoughts.

Drew Costen

Like Reply1 year ago in reply to truthorheresy

Drew,I'm a Universalist myself although I haven't posted much on my site about this -- there is somuch already written on the subject on the web...But I agree with you Drew, I have seen a lot of atheists on the web and the do seem moremoral than most Christians. I can't agree that there isn't a God, I guess it's just inborn in us tobelieve in the existence of God. However, thought atheists claim they don't believe in theexistence of God, because they can't prove it or haven't seen him, the very fact that they feelthe meed to be moral shows that there is a God that either lives or is working in them.

Doug

truthorheresy

Like Reply1 year ago in reply to Drew Costen

I have seen a couple of movies recently that contained morals that reflected my sentiments perfectly: "I fightfor God not the Church". Those were "The season of the Witch" and "Priest".

I'd like you to put a link to my website up there on "other interesting sites", for certain yours will be on mine.

Truth or Heresy (dot com)

Doug

truthorheresy


Hellow, Drew! I am new to the site, but I've been struggling with Universalism for the past year now. Any timethat I bring it up with one of my friends or even my wife, anger and hostility and worry and anxiety just springup. Do you know of any sites or groups that are sort of like support groups for people that are ridiculed forbelieving these wonderful truths about God's grace and mercy?

Joshua deCarlo


Hi Joshua. I don't know of any support groups (sadly, the Universalist home church I used to be a partof here in Toronto stopped meeting a while back), but check out the Tentmaker forums, as somebodythere might be able to give you some suggestions.

Drew Costen

Like Reply1 year ago in reply to Joshua deCarlo



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