Barge of the Dead

Star Trek & Faith

In The Original Series, an episode called "Bread and Circuses," found the crew visiting a parallel planet, where the Roman Empire never fell; there were televised gladitorial matches, coerced religion, and such like.

During the episode they learned of an underground group of sun worshippers, who were persecuted by the Roman government.

At the end of the episode, Uhura informs them that she's been listening to the planet's broadcasts and that the sun worshippers don't worship the sun in the sky; instead, they worship the Son of God, and the show closes with a direct picture of Christianity and the possibility that God is incarnated on other planets, and extends efficacious grace to races other than humanity.

There is also an episode "Barge of the Dead," that warns that we need to take the possibility of going to hell seriously.

In this episode, half-Klingon B'Elanna Torres has a near death experience, in which she is made to understand that, if she stays on her current path, she will go to hell (a Klingon-themed hell).

While there are many who would protest that this sort of imagery is nothing short of paganism, I would argue that these strong pictures and metaphores are just what is needed to "purify our imaginations," as Lewis liked to say.

Unless we begin to fill our fictional moments with the beauty of the Sun (Son), we will never love him in the reality of our hearts. When our fantasies, our dreams, and our idle musings become in some way, reflective of his glory, we will be that much closer to knowing him.

Conclusion: "Buy' ngop."

That's great news!