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As you read this book, you might consider the following questions. You need not
address every question here (quality and depth of thought is more important than
quantity of issues addressed). You are certainly encouraged to address whatever
other issues this reading may raise for you. What do you think? (you can
write your ponderings in your journal):
Chapter 1: Is there God in the Universe
- What would it take to merit the label "god"? (p. 15)
- What are the characteristics of divinity?
- You might begin by compiling a list of such characteristics as
associated with the various false "gods" of Star Trek
- What additional characteristics would be needed to distinguish a real
god from a false one? (what do these false gods lack)?
- If a false god did not have some of the characteristics of a real god, it
would not be mistaken for a god in the first place. So what differentiates a
true god from a false god? How can we ever really know whether the god we
encounter is a true god or not? What might be a "test" for
godliness? And when, if ever, would god pass it? (is the test on-going?)
Chapter 2: What Evil Lurks Beyond the Stars?
- Identify the four kinds of evil (pp. 57 - 58) and offer an example of each
- from real life or, if real life examples are unavailable, from fiction
(books, TV, movies)
- What kind of evil was Iraq? (the "axis of evil")?
- What kind of evil does Hitler embody?
- What kind of evil does a common criminal embody?, the "mob"?,
a mass murderer or serial killer?, a suicide bomber?
- "evil is an absence of good" (p. 75, bottom): Is there any real
substance to evil or is it little more than an absence of good? (evil is
like a hole - empty?). Can we see it the other way 'round - can goodness be
the absence of evil?
- What is the natural (default) state: goodness or evil? Do we begin with
goodness or is goodness added to us (and/or the world)?
Chapter 3: Religious specialists
- What is the essential differences between the various "spiritual
specialists" noted on page 96 (and throughout this chapter):
- The shaman
- The priest
- The prophet
- The mystic
- Page 97 posits some serious questions to ponder:
"What is it that convinces perfectly 'ordinary' people to follow a
teacher or preacher despite hardship, sacrifice, and ridicule? Is this a human
weakness or a human strength? On what basis are we to decide whether such a
person is legitimate, the cause just and true, or the results worthwhile and
inspired?"
Star Trek may not be able to answer these questions; but how would you
answer them?
Chapter 4: Mythic Enactment and Ritual Performance
- What is the function of myth and ritual?
- How are myth and ritual described/defined here (pp. 130-33)
- What is the "larger, more important kind of truth" contained in
myths that are "not literal, historical, or scientific truth"? (p.
132)
Chapter 5: What Happens When You Die?
- "Life without death... is not truly life." (p 182) Is it really
better to die a meaningful death than live a meaningless life?
- Death gives meaning to human life (p. 186). Would you agree (why/why not?)
that if you live a meaningful life you need not concern yourself with what
happens when you die (p. 185, bottom)?
What do you think the above suggestions might mean or imply? Do you agree
or disagree? Why?
Chapter 6: The question of Salvation
- If "the goal of religious life is [not universally] a better life to
come in heaven" (p. 187) then what is the goal of religious
life? Can we really say there is one, overarching, general religious goal
into which all various forms may fit? What, if anything, might all forms of
salvation have in common?
- Page 190 suggests one "model of salvation as the personal quest for
the meaning of life." Does this "model" of salvation
"speak" to you? Why or why not? (be sure to read chapter 6,
footnote #1 [p. 235] regarding the distinction between "this
worldly" and "other worldly salvation).
- Atone = at one (p. 196) - to be "at one" with... suggests that
salvation is a "connectedness," a oneness - with others as well as
within oneself (a wholeness). Does this make any sense to you? Discuss.
- Page 196-97 suggests there is a relativity of religion: "the truths
of the doctrines of various religions are relative: All have symbolic truth,
but none is uniquely, literally true" (p. 197). What do you think of
this suggestion?
- Is salvation to be found in this life or in the "hereafter"?
Star Trek suggests that salvation issues and issues of the afterlife are not
necessarily related. How might you separate salvation from issues of life
beyond death? How does Star Trek do it (see page 209)? Does this possibility
even make any sense to you? Explain.
General considerations:
Star Trek envisions a human future devoid of religion (as well as "a
host of other ills" p. 189, top). Yet countless alien cultures they
encounter - even technologically advanced cultures (e.g., Bajorans and Klingons)
- do still have religion and wars. How realistic do you think this vision of the
future may be? Will religion ever die out? Why would human culture (of the
future) be the only one without religion? Why do alien cultures of the future
still have religion? What is more realistic: continued religion in human culture
or no religion in alien cultures as well?
Earn some credit:
In addition to writing your thoughts in your journal, when you are done
reading this book, you might want to write and submit
your own "customer review" to Amazon.com. You can earn some
additional course credit if you do this. You can submit your review to your
mentor for feedback before you submit it to Amazon. Credit will be granted when
I read your review online at Amazon, so be sure to let
me know when you've submitted it.
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