Or are they?So, as a self published sci-fi writer, I like to take long , hard looks at the genre from time to time. You know; to gauge the trends and seek insight on how I can make my stories better.
Well, see, I was at Taco Bell when just such a flash came to me.
Basically, I find it paradoxically interesting that Christians would be a fan of Star Trek. Why? Well, you see, it's like this; in the Star Trek universe Earth is run by one world wide government (Born from a great world war and subsequent technological revolution.) that has one single currency (credited accounts) and recognizes no official religious doctrine. (Though it does allow the belief in any religion within socially acceptable tolerances.)
Why, you may ask, is this paradoxical? Well, if you read along in their story book, you'll see that a cashless (I could spend time here drawing correlations to the whole mark of the beast nonsense in regards to money; but I'm hoping you've already seen it.), un-Christian, one world society is part of the plan for their anti-Christ. It is, in fact, part of the end times.
In effect, the Federation is Satan.
Yet I know a metric ass ton of ST fans whole also profess to be devoutly Christian. It leads me to wonder why they aren't out there denouncing ST like Harry Potter. (Especially when there's lots of other, really good reasons to dislike Harry Potter.)
Conversely is the paradox of Firefly. (Hey, it's my fav, too. So, don't feel singled out.)
In interviews, Whedon talks about the American Civil War as the primary inspiration for the Friefly universe. To put not to fine a point on it, Mal, Zoey, and all the Brown Coats were The South.
Well, minus the slavery...
Anyway, we cheered for them through 14 episodes, two comic mini series, and a movie, as they did their best to stick it to the evil, over bearing, man; namely the Alliance. All the while we, led by our ingenious story teller, vilified the government over lords who, audaciously, tried to bring about "their right way" of living. In shirt, we rooted for the bad guys who worked hard to short the system that brings law, order, and a better way of life to the backward planets.
Here's the kicker, though. We love the Federation, but hate the Alliance. Why?
Both were established after a considerable, and costly, war. Each strives to bring about the best for the people it governs. The two have brought great advancements to their peoples, as well as expanded free trade, commerce, and social-economic trade that has lead to a blending of social cultures. (Of note that this, too, flies in the face of Christian doctrine.)
I think one interesting place to look is what perspective we are viewing these worlds through. In Star Trek, we are looking it through the eyes of the Federation. The victors, if you will. We have no idea what has happened to the lesser human cultures that lost out after World War 3, or the subsequent colonies that let lose into space. All we know is that, at some point, Earth became unified, war, disease, and a host of other social evils were wiped out; which led the way for the Federation. (Also of note: in ST, to become a member of the Federation, a planet must be globally unified and enlightened, as the Federation sees fit to define.)
In Firefly, we see their universe through the eyes of the losers. Freedom to be who and what they deem fit to be are stripped away, and all must conform to Alliance way of life. You have rights, but only those that the Alliance deems to give you; within the confines of the law. Taxes are to be paid, territories to be respected, and all must bend to the whim of the law. The Alliance is an evil conglomerate (Which tied into the Blue Sun corporation; though thanks to the FOX cancellation, we'll never know how.) They move in, set up camp, and say "you will do it our way because it's for your own good and we know best."
But here's the real kicker... the true paradox, if you will. They both are reflections on us. On how we, as a nation, and society, conduct our affairs; both domestically, as well as internationally. And it's not just us, either. No. One can look back into history to Egypt, Rome, and a host of Mesopotamian cultures; as well as France, Germany, and even The United Kingdom.
When dissecting this, though, one comes to some interesting observations. After all, sure Rome stripped away cultural identity; but wasn't life under Roman ways better? (Think: literacy, health, art, technology, agriculture. Hell, in some cases, any culture.)
So, who really are the villains and who are the heroes? How can we vilify the Alliance and hold dear to the Federation? Why were the Brown Coats the good guys? Why doesn't the Federation just move in a blast the Ma'key out of the black? (Apologizes if I misspelled that name.)
Like wise, in real life, how do we despise the power of large, advancing society over the weaker, less evolved, tribal nomad? Do the rights of the many out weigh the needs of the few, or the one? In an episode of Friefly, River is almost burned alive for being a witch. We make think that that is totally backwards and wrong headed, but, to support the idea of the heroic Brown Coats is to support the right of a back water society to believe and practice what we believe to be archaic and foolish.
Then again, it's all just make believe, anyway. And I am just a story teller; so what do I know?
Well, see, I was at Taco Bell when just such a flash came to me.
Basically, I find it paradoxically interesting that Christians would be a fan of Star Trek. Why? Well, you see, it's like this; in the Star Trek universe Earth is run by one world wide government (Born from a great world war and subsequent technological revolution.) that has one single currency (credited accounts) and recognizes no official religious doctrine. (Though it does allow the belief in any religion within socially acceptable tolerances.)
Why, you may ask, is this paradoxical? Well, if you read along in their story book, you'll see that a cashless (I could spend time here drawing correlations to the whole mark of the beast nonsense in regards to money; but I'm hoping you've already seen it.), un-Christian, one world society is part of the plan for their anti-Christ. It is, in fact, part of the end times.
In effect, the Federation is Satan.
Yet I know a metric ass ton of ST fans whole also profess to be devoutly Christian. It leads me to wonder why they aren't out there denouncing ST like Harry Potter. (Especially when there's lots of other, really good reasons to dislike Harry Potter.)
Conversely is the paradox of Firefly. (Hey, it's my fav, too. So, don't feel singled out.)
In interviews, Whedon talks about the American Civil War as the primary inspiration for the Friefly universe. To put not to fine a point on it, Mal, Zoey, and all the Brown Coats were The South.
Well, minus the slavery...
Anyway, we cheered for them through 14 episodes, two comic mini series, and a movie, as they did their best to stick it to the evil, over bearing, man; namely the Alliance. All the while we, led by our ingenious story teller, vilified the government over lords who, audaciously, tried to bring about "their right way" of living. In shirt, we rooted for the bad guys who worked hard to short the system that brings law, order, and a better way of life to the backward planets.
Here's the kicker, though. We love the Federation, but hate the Alliance. Why?
Both were established after a considerable, and costly, war. Each strives to bring about the best for the people it governs. The two have brought great advancements to their peoples, as well as expanded free trade, commerce, and social-economic trade that has lead to a blending of social cultures. (Of note that this, too, flies in the face of Christian doctrine.)
I think one interesting place to look is what perspective we are viewing these worlds through. In Star Trek, we are looking it through the eyes of the Federation. The victors, if you will. We have no idea what has happened to the lesser human cultures that lost out after World War 3, or the subsequent colonies that let lose into space. All we know is that, at some point, Earth became unified, war, disease, and a host of other social evils were wiped out; which led the way for the Federation. (Also of note: in ST, to become a member of the Federation, a planet must be globally unified and enlightened, as the Federation sees fit to define.)
In Firefly, we see their universe through the eyes of the losers. Freedom to be who and what they deem fit to be are stripped away, and all must conform to Alliance way of life. You have rights, but only those that the Alliance deems to give you; within the confines of the law. Taxes are to be paid, territories to be respected, and all must bend to the whim of the law. The Alliance is an evil conglomerate (Which tied into the Blue Sun corporation; though thanks to the FOX cancellation, we'll never know how.) They move in, set up camp, and say "you will do it our way because it's for your own good and we know best."
But here's the real kicker... the true paradox, if you will. They both are reflections on us. On how we, as a nation, and society, conduct our affairs; both domestically, as well as internationally. And it's not just us, either. No. One can look back into history to Egypt, Rome, and a host of Mesopotamian cultures; as well as France, Germany, and even The United Kingdom.
When dissecting this, though, one comes to some interesting observations. After all, sure Rome stripped away cultural identity; but wasn't life under Roman ways better? (Think: literacy, health, art, technology, agriculture. Hell, in some cases, any culture.)
So, who really are the villains and who are the heroes? How can we vilify the Alliance and hold dear to the Federation? Why were the Brown Coats the good guys? Why doesn't the Federation just move in a blast the Ma'key out of the black? (Apologizes if I misspelled that name.)
Like wise, in real life, how do we despise the power of large, advancing society over the weaker, less evolved, tribal nomad? Do the rights of the many out weigh the needs of the few, or the one? In an episode of Friefly, River is almost burned alive for being a witch. We make think that that is totally backwards and wrong headed, but, to support the idea of the heroic Brown Coats is to support the right of a back water society to believe and practice what we believe to be archaic and foolish.
Then again, it's all just make believe, anyway. And I am just a story teller; so what do I know?
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