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Dis While the holodeck certainly couldn't have ordained holograms it is a useful to give someone a basic idea of the basics of a person's faith. For example, I think DATA used to download all sorts of info from the computer then make holo programs to experience what he learned.

But I'm with you. It doesn't make much sense to kill off faith.

I'm guessing there were multiple reasons we didn't see chaplains on Star Trek:

1) I seem to remember Rodenberry being hostile to the idea of religion, so he probably wanted to portray a future where humanity had 'outgrown' religion.
2) The whole 'multicultural' thing that WarpGirl mentioned: You risk offending people if you show some religions but not others.
3) Having a chaplain on the ship would mean having to actually show religion being practiced, which is something few writers in the film and TV industries seem to have any personal experience or comfort level with.

I don't really mention chaplains and religion in my stories, mainly due to number 2) above. (People are notably easy to offend these days.) I do *allude* in passing to faith and religion, because (like dis) I don't think it's going away.

As for TNG, I never did like the whole concept of a 'ship's counselor'. It was way too touchy-feely for my tastes. Actually, the fact that they didn't have a counselor on ENT was one of the attractions for me. That, and no holodeck. (And no Wesley Crusher giving me a rash!)

As for Captains performing weddings, just because they can't do it today doesn't mean they won't in the future. Given the vastness of space and the length of interstellar trips, I think the idea makes sense.

As for TNG, I never did like the whole concept of a 'ship's counselor'. It was way too touchy-feely for my tastes. Actually, the fact that they didn't have a counselor on ENT was one of the attractions for me. That, and no holodeck. (And no Wesley Crusher giving me a rash!)

Oops! I forgot there are four people in the world who actually like Wesley crusher (!!!) and one of them hangs out here.

Now you're just being snarky! Leave me my dang review!

Data would actually have been a perfect chaplain. Chaplains don't always share the faith of the people they minister to. Look at army chaplains. They have to be available for soldiers of all faiths. Data would be capable of assimilating the belief systems of every human faith so that he could provide spiritual counseling within the bounds of their belief system to everyone aboard. A holodeck program could likely do the same thing. Voyager had a holographic doctor. Why not a holographic chaplain? But GR didn't want to go there because he was atheist and socialist. He believed in the Marxist philosophy that "religion is opium for the masses", and who wants to be hooked on opium? He just didn't get it, though.

Even Marx thought that elimination of religion was impossible as long as the universe wasn't perfect and painless. Here's a translation:

Religion is the general theory of this world, its encyclopedic compendium, its logic in popular form, its spiritual point d'honneur, its enthusiasm, its moral sanction, its solemn complement, and its universal basis of consolation and justification. It is the fantastic realization of the human essence since the human essence has not acquired any true reality. The struggle against religion is, therefore, indirectly the struggle against that world whose spiritual aroma is religion. Religious suffering is, at one and the same time, the expression of real suffering and a protest against real suffering. Religion is the sigh of the oppressed creature, the heart of a heartless world, and the soul of soulless conditions. It is the opium of the people. The abolition of religion as the illusory happiness of the people is the demand for their real happiness. To call on them to give up their illusions about their condition is to call on them to give up a condition that requires illusions. The criticism of religion is, therefore, in embryo, the criticism of that vale of tears of which religion is the halo.

When you're in pain you need a pain killer, and existence is inherently painful.

Yeah, Wes did rub me a bit too gary stu-ish

In fact they did have holodecks on ENT in "Unexpected" and "Oasis". That is actually one of the gripes I have with the show. They threw the whole prequel and 'early exploration' concept overboard way too quickly. They were all mortally afraid of the transporter in "Broken Bow", but by season 2 they were using it every other week. And it took only 4 episodes till the first holograms and 8 till the first tractor beam. By season 3 photonic torpedoes were about. So what in the name of all thats holy did humanity invent until the time of TOS? Other than learning how to make ships *really ugly*

Distracted wrote:But GR didn't want to go there because he was atheist and socialist. He believed in the Marxist philosophy that "religion is opium for the masses", and who wants to be hooked on opium? He just didn't get it, though.

I think you're over-simplifying it. I'm atheist and I don't neccessarily think that religion is obsolete. Also many socialists are religious. I think he really believed in the idea of a perfect universe, which is why TNG came across so holier-than-thou-ish. The season 1 finale 'The Neutral Zone' is a prime example. Picard's self-righteous preaching in that one was very annoying.

On VOY the Doc liked to play a priest and was facinated by many faiths. He said that if he hadn't been "programed" as a Doctor he would have considered some sort of spiritual advisory career.

Wesley was supposed to be a "Motzart" like character.

And I don't think Dis is oversimplifying GR's attitude. If you read his interviews he oversimplifies faith and people who are religious.

In a story I hope will be put up (soon) I have phlox studying religion on Vulcan while studying medicine tere. He becomes a novice priest and it is Phlox who performs the Vulcan ceremony for the other Trip and T'Pol on the Ent that was thrown back in time. I believe that was in the episode that the other TnT were married in a Vulcan ceremony.

SB

That is very interesting.

Kirk performed a marriage ceremony (that was interrupted) in Balance of Terror. And didn't Picard wed O'Brien and Keiko?

I'm pretty sure you're right on both counts, KTR.

Yes and YES! One of my very favorite episodes of TNG Bev tap-dances, we see the hair salon, and DATA gives the bride away!

WarpGirl wrote:Now you're just being snarky!

Yes I am. It's what I do and I'm good at it.

WarpGirl wrote:Leave me my dang review!

Working on it! The reason it's taking so long is I'm going back and re-reading the prior chapters. I haven't forgotten you. Honest.