I come to this as a secular Christian who practices as a Methodist and finds evangelists and fundies supremely irritating at best. (At worst they're a danger to the future of the planet.) I've also got a fair amount of experience with other religions: I have Reform Jew cousins, a Wiccan uncle, and one of my best friends in middle school was Baha'i. (I wish more people had that kind of interreligious contact; we might not have as many problems.)
I frankly think the Federation is more believable as a government that is not actively atheist (the heck with what Roddenberry wanted), but rather one that is secular and doesn't give a rat's TRIBBLE whether you believe in God, the Flying Spaghetti Monster, or no higher power at all. I would imagine the only reason the UFP cares that the Bajorans' gods and demons actually exist is because they have strategic implications.
I also like what kirkfat did in "Relics" where a 16th century human is shown that the pre-Copernican scientific orthodoxy of an Earth-centric universe is completely wrong, and comes to the conclusion that the complexity and beauty of the universe proves God exists.
"Great War! / And I cannot take more! / Great tour! / I keep on marching on / I play the great score / There will be no encore / Great War! / The War to End All Wars"
— Sabaton, "Great War"
I also like what kirkfat did in "Relics" where a 16th century human is shown that the pre-Copernican scientific orthodoxy of an Earth-centric universe is completely wrong, and comes to the conclusion that the complexity and beauty of the universe proves God exists.
that was so awesome.
It illustrates nicely just how widely varied the points of view really are.
I also like what kirkfat did in "Relics" where a 16th century human is shown that the pre-Copernican scientific orthodoxy of an Earth-centric universe is completely wrong, and comes to the conclusion that the complexity and beauty of the universe proves God exists.
I did find that scene quite amusing. We try to settle in a guy from the past using a recreation of his time on the holodeck, then shove in blue skinned girl with antenna and take him on a 3D tour of the universe beneath his feet. Surprised he didn't have a heart attack! Kind of like putting an agoraphobic in a small room but then making the walls glass and putting it in the centre of Times Square.
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I frankly think the Federation is more believable as a government that is not actively atheist (the heck with what Roddenberry wanted), but rather one that is secular and doesn't give a rat's TRIBBLE whether you believe in God, the Flying Spaghetti Monster, or no higher power at all. I would imagine the only reason the UFP cares that the Bajorans' gods and demons actually exist is because they have strategic implications.
I also like what kirkfat did in "Relics" where a 16th century human is shown that the pre-Copernican scientific orthodoxy of an Earth-centric universe is completely wrong, and comes to the conclusion that the complexity and beauty of the universe proves God exists.
— Sabaton, "Great War"
Check out https://unitedfederationofpla.net/s/
It illustrates nicely just how widely varied the points of view really are.
My character Tsin'xing
I did find that scene quite amusing. We try to settle in a guy from the past using a recreation of his time on the holodeck, then shove in blue skinned girl with antenna and take him on a 3D tour of the universe beneath his feet. Surprised he didn't have a heart attack! Kind of like putting an agoraphobic in a small room but then making the walls glass and putting it in the centre of Times Square.