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This article investigates the role of humanism in the Star Trek franchise by concentrating on three narratives: the original series episode 'Who Mourns for Adonais?' (1967), the movie Star Trek V: The Final Frontier (1989) and The Next Generation episode, 'Skin of Evil' (1988). I will ask whether the depictions of deicide in these stories may be considered the ultimate manifestation of the liberal-secular humanism that the franchise espoused under Roddenberry's control and, if so, to what extent that declined with Roddenberry's fading health. The article not only contextualizes these stories within Roddenberry's stewardship of Star Trek but also draws upon interviews and other known facts about Roddenberry to establish his attitude toward humanism.
Star Trek and Humanism
The future that Star Trek portrays 'is by and large a secular place, a representation of Gene Roddenberry's humanistic vision' (Kraemer et al 2003: 220). Roddenberry was an avowed humanist who, when explicitly asked 'you identify yourself philosophically as a humanist?', answered 'yes' (Alexander 1991: 7). From 1986, he was a member of the American Humanist Association, and he was presented with the Association's Humanist Arts Award in recognition of his distinguished contributions to humanism and humanist thought in 1991 (Alexander 1991: 5). After receiving this award, Roddenberry acknowledged that he was unequivocally humanist in outlook: 'My philosophy is based upon the great affection I have for the human creature' (Alexander 1991: 30). He also believed that 'one of the underlying messages of both series [Star Trek and Star Trek: The Next Generation] is that human beings can, with critical thinking, solve the problems that are facing them without any outside or supernatural help' (Alexander 1991: 8), and that 'through critical thinking and cooperative effort, humanity will progress and evolve' (Alexander 1991: 5).
According to Tony Davies, humanism arose in the Renaissance as a result of cultural and educational reform, and constitutes a philosophical and ethical stance that emphasizes the value and agency of human beings, not only individually but also collectively, through rationalism (critical thinking) and empiricism (evidence-based observations) as opposed to fideism (established doctrine or faith). The precise definition varies according to the intellectual movements that embrace humanism, and that espoused in Star Trek is a liberalsecular form of humanism. Liberal humanism broadly refers to...