Who watches the Watchers

[YankeyMCC]

Just happened to land on this Star Trek Episode while flicking through the channels as I wait on someone to show up.

I'd forgotten about this one. A civilization that managed to shed itself of superstitions early in their development of complex societies. And things start to go terribly bad when some of them trying to use the ancient myths to explain the sudden appearance of space men (the crew of the enterprise and other Federation scientists).

Oh the moral outrage of the idea of encouraging a religion and the expression of admiration of the Captain at the accomplishment of these people "...send them back into the dark ages of superstition and fear - NO!" he says.

What a wonderful episode. :)

[beam me up scottie]

1. I remember that one.

It was a great episode.
I think all of them were wonderful, myself!
:loveya:

[Taxloss]

2. Your name would suggest so.

We need to refer to religion as "superstition and fear" more.

[beam me up scottie]

3. Yes.

That would be logical.
:evilgrin:

[onager]

4. Gene Roddenberry...

...from what I've read, was absolutely committed to keeping religious nonsense out of "Star Trek." (We all probably know he was an atheist. And a former member of the Los Angeles Police Dept., for a variation on the "no atheists in foxholes" hokum.)

I remember reading that the show got pitched with all sorts of Woo-Woo scripts ending with the Enterprise finding Heaven or God or somesuch. Roddenberry's script analysts had standing orders to reject anything that went down that path.

Then there was one of Roddenberry's favorite writers, the atheist Harlan Ellison.

Ellison went to pitch a story once to an "Executive Story Editor" who was, like, somebody's nephew. And he had some sort of Woo-Woo Religious Hobby-Horse about the Mayan civilization.

The big wheel started out by saying exactly what he wanted in a story: a spaceship travels thru a time warp, and ends up at the Dawn Of Time, where it finds the Mayan civilization.

Ellison piped up and said: "There weren't any Mayans around at the dawn of time."

Big wheel asked: "And who are you?"

Ellison replied: "I'm a writer. I don't know what the fuck you are." Then he stood up and walked out.

[Az]

5. Quick bio on Roddenberry

Gene Roddenberry, Creator of Star Trek (1921-1991).
See statements by Roddenberry in the March/April 1991 issue of The Humanist magazine, and the fall 1992 issue of Free Inquiry magazine. In these he explains how his purpose with Star Trek was to create a god-free, humanistic view of the universe.
"I condemn false prophets, I condemn the effort to take away the power of rational decision, to drain people of their free will--and a hell of a lot of money in the bargain. Religions vary in their degree of idiocy, but I reject them all. For most people, religion is nothing more than a substitute for a malfunctioning brain."
"We must question the story logic of having an all-knowing all-powerful God, who creates faulty Humans, and then blames them for his own mistakes."

[beam me up scottie]

7. Awesome!

That quote was my sig line for a while!

"We must question the story logic of having an all-knowing all-powerful God, who creates faulty Humans, and then blames them for his own mistakes."

You're a regular fountain of knowledge, Az!

[SheepyMcSheepster]

10. wow, didn't know that about Roddenberry

thanks for posting.

[beam me up scottie]

6. I love Harlan Ellison.

LOL, my other internet name is Harlequin, as in
"Repent Harlequin! Said the TickTock Man".

(what's a Woo Woo?)

[onager]

8. A term I probably use too much...

But it generally refers to people who believe in the unbelievable. Including but not limited to pSyKiK powers, ass-trology, talking to the dead, ESP/remote viewing, dowsing, alien abductions, etc. etc.

You'll see the term used a lot in the "Skepticism..." group. Also at this guy's useful website...

http://www.randi.org

[beam me up scottie]

9. Cool website.

Got it bookmarked.
I need to hit the rack (haha) otherwise I'll sleep though my alarm again.
Don't think you're off the hook about this DI crap.
You people tried to kill me in bootcamp, I know it, you know it, so don't even try to lie about it...

I'll see you tomorrow!