Lord’s Prayer In The 23rd Century

Tom Basile is the Christian presenter of America Right Now on the conservative cable-TV broadcaster Newsmax.

He admits he rarely watches much television.

“Since the end of appointment viewing and the advent of reality TV, politically correct sitcoms and preachy, politically charged dramas, there have been few watchable, memorable or edifying programs,” he reflected.

But ever since he was a child, he’s been a big fan of Star Trek which is a phenomenon in the entertainment industry with 13 series and 14 movies over nearly 60 years.

WHY STAR TREK’S JOURNEY HAS LASTED 60 YEARS

“Star Trek was the best kind of escapism, providing a hopeful vision of a future when people of all races explored the galaxy together, reaching out to new worlds and civilizations with the aid of fantastic technology that helped us live better lives,” Tom Basile explained.

He wrote in the National Catholic Register about how he’s noticed Christian references in the latest series Star Trek: Strange New Worlds.

“Recently, there was an interesting exchange between Captain Christopher Pike of the Enterprise and his love interest, Federation starship Captain Marie Batel.”

“In some banter between the two following a harrowing encounter with a destructive reptilian species called the Gorn, Captain Pike revealed that he was once an altar boy.”

STARSHIP ENTERPRISE CAPTAIN WAS ONCE AN ALTAR BOY

“A 23rd-century starship captain admitting he at one time served during a Catholic Mass or a Christian religious service was unexpected, but I didn’t think that much of it — until the third episode of the season.”

“Captain Batel was fighting for her life in the Enterprise sick bay when Captain Pike uttered six words with tears in his eyes:”

“Our Father, who art in heaven…”

“While the prayer was interrupted by Batel regaining consciousness, Pike’s words were unmistakable.”

“It was the prayer given to the world by Christ himself.”

“CAPTAIN PIKE IS UNDOUBTEDLY A CHRISTIAN”

“An altar boy in his youth, who turns to the Lord’s Prayer in his moment of need, Christopher Pike is undoubtedly a Christian.”

“He is a member of a Church that had survived the relentless assaults from the secular left, threats from within, World War III, the Eugenics Wars, extraordinary advances in technology, and the discovery of life on other planets.”

“What an uplifting and courageous statement for the show to make.”

“STAR TREK PRESENTS CLARITY ABOUT GOOD AND EVIL”

“While many in the US want a godless, moral relativist future where subjective truth is the only guardrail for our reality, Star Trek largely presents clarity about right and wrong, freedom and oppression, good versus evil.”

Star Trek didn’t have a problem with other planetary civilizations having religions and gods, but its creator Gene Roddenberry was a fervent atheist.

He was most likely unimpressed when Star Trek: The Original Series made a reference to faith in God having survived humanity’s tumultuous future.

During one episode Captain Kirk quips: “Mankind has no need for gods. We find the one quite adequate.”

EARLY EPISODE’S REFERENCE TO JESUS

In another episode, the Enterprise visits a planet equivalent to the ancient Roman Empire complete with its violent oppression of a religious minority.

Captain Kirk and Spock referred to them as “sun worshippers,” but Lieutenant Shura clarified that wording:

“Mr. Spock, all of you. I’ve been monitoring some of their old-style radio waves.”

“The Empire spokesman is trying to ridicule their religion. But he couldn’t.”

“Don’t you understand? It’s not the sun up in the sky [they worship]. It’s the Son of God.”

Kirk replied: “Caesar and Christ. They had them both. And the word is spreading only now.”

HAS STAR TREK COME FULL CIRCLE ON FAITH?

Tom Basile noted subsequent series descended into “a woke ode to secularism” and distanced themselves from human religion.

But the latest series indicates it may have come full circle.

“The idea that our faith and our Church would survive well into Star Trek’s 23rd century, when men travel faster than light to the far reaches of the galaxy, is a rare comfort, because it validates the trends we pray will continue,” wrote Mr. Basile.

“Maybe even in Hollywood, every once in a while, there is some recognition that the greatest of all treks is the incredible human adventure we’re on together in the search for the real final frontier — our eternal home.”