Randomness

[Alelou]

Well, yes, of course, the epic hero exists outside fantasy. I don't think Archer ever rose to the level of epic hero, though I suppose they did try at times. With Kirk, too. (He did kind of have super powers -- he could make computers and androids blow up at will, and women always melted in his arms. And Shatner appeared to think he should play him like God's Gift to Us All.)

I'm afraid I didn't watch enough of DS9 to be able to comment on Sisko.

I guess my point was simply that the classic hero of fantasy and myth existed in culture long before any specifically Christian influences came along. Indeed, Christianity took some pains to conform itself to that structure. So it all resonates to a lesser or greater degree, depending on how saintly and self-sacrificing the hero is. But just because there are strong parallels doesn't mean their creators have 'gotten religion'.

(Though sometimes it very intentionally does mean that, as in Narnia.)

[JadziaKathryn]

I agree with KTR that the author missed the boat on DS9, which had a much more nuanced view of good vs. evil. The later seasons tackled war without defining every single aspect in black-and-white, and I applaud the writers for that. And if you're going to talk about religion, you really should look at DS9. Of course, the parallels to Christianity are inexact for Sisko. Still, he should've examined it. (Plus, there's an interesting idea in the Founders as false gods. The Vorta referred to the Founders as gods, and I think the Jem'Hadar shared that view, and yet in the end the Founders were dying and lost the war. False gods, see.)

Also, I'm not sure I see all the terrorism parallels in ENT that the author mentioned. Xindi attack, right. Got that. But otherwise?

Oh! There were the renegade Klingons who thought Tom and B'Elanna's unborn baby was their prophesied savior...

[Alelou]

If I had to guess (not having watched more than a season or two), I'd say DS9 seemed a little more respectful towards the idea of religion that the other Trek shows, but it wasn't Christian-themed. More just open to something beyond this existence. More Eastern. On TNG religion amounted to superstitious cultural practices by the alien of the week and annoying aliens like Q and Guinan who had 'scientific' reasons for their godlike powers, and if there was any exciting thing beyond this life it was just something cool to do with the space time continuum. Not counting the occasional soul-sucking bad guy. And on Enterprise, only crackpot Phlox seemed interested in religion, much as he was interested in funky slug cures. They were downright hostile to it in that third season one about the Triannons (reasonably so, in that case, but they could have balanced it a little). I do think they had an interesting take on 'received truth' in the Vulcan arc, which could have been interpreted as a bit of a commentary on the history of Christianity. And katras are eternal souls, technically, so I guess that would have to count as a religious story line.

[Alelou]

Who needs aliens with bizarre customs when we have the Swiss?

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/17/world ... ss.html?em

[Asso]

[JadziaKathryn]

I'm with the guy worried about sunburn. Or freezing, on the other end. And then there's the kids issue...

I guess these people don't have body image issues, though.

[Alelou]

Or shrinkage...

I guess at least in theory we once roamed the planet in the winter unclothed. I don't know how we actually survived that, but whatever. Definitely a great incentive to start using tools....

[Linda]

I like the change of seasons and am fairly cold weather tolerant, but the naked hiking in snow makes me want to shiver. I can see how constant movement, like in hiking, could keep you somewhat warm. But I am curious. Not being male, I am wondering if naked male genitals would be more susceptible to frost bite than, say naked bum? Just curious.

As to the sight of nakedness, you can get used to it. I did when lifeguarding at a pond where people stripped to the buff to go swimming. But of course it would have been unprofessional for the lifeguard not to wear a swim suit.

[Alelou]

On the average Maine beach, you see enough Quebecois in tiny whispered suggestions of bathing suits that you figure you essentially have gotten used to seeing people naked.

I can't imagine being an adolescent male on a crowded beach while utterly naked. There you are, right in the middle of the candy store, and everyone can see if you find someone particularly interesting. No wonder they're always running into the water.

[Bether6074]

Not to change the subject on the naked beach talk, but today is Connor's birthday, isn't it?

Happy Birthday, Connor!

I think it's his birthday anyway...

[Linda]

We should start a birthday thread for Connor if that is true. Shamed to say, I don't know his exact birthdate.

[Alelou]

Poorly timed driving lesson on an airport runway:

http://www.reuters.com/article/oddlyEno ... ews&rpc=69

[Linda]

Well in the case of this van and aircraft near miss, whether it is safer to drive or to fly came out about even, eh?

[Kevin Thomas Riley]

20 ridiculous complaints made by holidaymakers

Yeah, people really are stupid!

[justTripn]

Interesting article I stumbled upon: How Science Fiction Found Religion

While it's nice that the author applauds ENT, I think he has missed the point of DS9, if he even watched that series much. If there's any 24th century Trek that's brought up religion and was different from the others, it's DS9. And since he writes about religion in SF, I think he should've mentioned Babylon 5 as well.

Well the author of the article is obviously right about the Messianic subtext of the Matrix and Superman. And Yes, he should have mentioned DS9 if he wants to talk about religion, but I'd argue DS9 was more about religion in general, not Christianity in particular. In DS9 the Bajoran religion centered around a group of godlike entities rather than One God in the christian sense, so whatever point they were trying to make, it was more general, with parallels to many religions including Christianity.