The Left Gets Star Trek Dead Wrong

by Ray Keating

In an episode of the original Star Trek series, Mr. Spock observed, “In critical moments, men sometimes see exactly what they wish to see.” Indeed, that’s the case with Leftists when it comes to Star Trek itself.

Liberals love to proclaim that Star Trek’s popularity had to do with the original show advancing a liberal viewpoint, including the idea of a universe without God and faith. One comes across this take on Trek seemingly all of the time.

The latest instance of note came in an Entertainment Weekly story on the new series Star Trek: Discovery, set to launch its first episode on CBS on September 24^th, with subsequent episodes beaming up via the online CBS All Access service. EW reported the following exchange taking place on the set of the new show:

The director halts the action and Lorca, played by British actor Jason Isaacs of Harry Potter fame, steps off the stage. The episode’s writer, Kirsten Beyer, approaches to give a correction on his “for God’s sakes” ad lib.

“Wait, I can’t say ‘God’?” Isaacs asks, amused. “I thought I could say ‘God’ or ‘damn’ but not ‘goddamn.’”

Beyer explains that Star Trek is creator Gene Roddenberry’s vision of a science-driven 23rd-century future where religion basically no longer exists.

“How about ‘for f—’s sake’?” he shoots back. “Can I say that?”

“You can say that before you can say ‘God,’” she dryly replies.

Really? Well, it’s true that Roddenberry was an atheist, and actually very hostile toward religion. But that doesn’t mean that was the case with the original Star Trek series.

I’m a Star Trek fan, particularly of the original series. And in that series, God or faith only seemed to be mentioned or noted prominently three times.

In one episode ("Balance of Terror”), a member of the crew prays on her knees in a chapel after the death of her fiancé.

In another episode ("Who Mourns for Adonais?"), Captain Kirk tells off a powerful alien who wants the crew to worship him. Kirk says, “Mankind has no need for gods. We find the one quite adequate.”

Most interesting perhaps was an episode ("Bread and Circuses") in which the crew visits a planet where the Roman Empire is still running things in a 20^th-century-like setting. After Captain Kirk, Spock and Dr. McCoy escape to the Enterprise, Lt. Uhura notes that she has been monitoring transmissions, and discovered that the peace-loving "sun" worshipers on the planet, who were central to the episode, were not actually worshipping the sun, but instead, the Son of God. Kirk remarks: "Caesar and Christ, they had them both and the word is spreading only now."

Hmmm, seems like God and faith very much are in the mix during Star Trek’s 23^rd century – or at least they were in the mix.

In reality, spouting off liberal views or presenting a Leftist take on life in space had nothing to do with Star Trek getting on the air in 1966, struggling to last three seasons, and being reborn via a string of movies – particularly regaining its mojo with the second film Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (1982). Instead, Star Trek succeeded in, well, more traditional ways.

First, the three lead characters – Kirk (William Shatner), Spock (Leonard Nimoy) and McCoy (DeForest Kelley) – and their friendship had deep, lasting appeal. Most important, viewers have long loved Kirk, Spock and McCoy as they helped, supported, needled, laughed, and argued with each other, and in various ways, proved to be courageous, wise, resourceful, and compassionate.

Second, entertaining, interesting and varied stories were told (in particular, episodes like “City on the Edge of Forever,” “Balance of Terror,” “Bread and Circuses,” “Space Seed,” “Mirror, Mirror,” “The Trouble with Tribbles,” “The Menagerie,” “Journey to Babel,” “Court Martial,” “The Galileo Seven,” and “Amok Time,” to name a few).

Third, Star Trek served up a good deal of humor, and, when at its best, some crisp, smart dialogue.

Fourth, viewers could enjoy plenty of action and adventure as the crew explored distant stars and planets.

Fifth, the show offered an inspiring and optimistic view of the future, along with a cool starship (the special effects were quite good for 1960s television), and actually spurred many real-life individuals to pursue careers related to space.

Sixth, tie it all together, and Star Trek was fun, entertaining and intelligent television. That is, it was, overall, good storytelling.

Were there times when Star Trek offered preachy lefty tidbits? Sure. That got particularly heavy-handed at times in the Star Trek: The Next Generation television show. And Trek usually has been at its most clunky when going down that path.

That brings us back to Star Trek: Discovery. Will it succumb to painful preaching, or will it serve up the best of Trek, that is, compelling characters, good storytelling, humor, and space-faring fun? I have to say that, at this point, I’m not optimistic.

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Ray Keating is the author of the PASTOR STEPHEN GRANT NOVELS. The latest in the series is WINE INTO WATER, with LIONHEARTS: A PASTOR STEPHEN GRANT NOVEL to be published later this month (August 2017).

Keating on Armed Lutheran Radio Podcast

I had a great chat with Lloyd Bailey on his Armed Lutheran Radio podcast. Please tune in. I hope you enjoy it.

Go to http://www.armedlutheran.us/alr-episode-81/

Early Look at LIONHEARTS Cover

Friends: Here's an early look at the cover (not necessarily the final version) of the forthcoming LIONHEARTS: A PASTOR STEPHEN GRANT NOVEL. Thanks for your support and patience. The book will be available very soon! Ray Keating

“Dunkirk” – Christopher Nolan Forges a Masterpiece

5 Stars out of 5

Two retreats, or narrow escapes, in wartime stand out in my mind.

The first was during the Battle of Long Island during the American Revolutionary War. General George Washington’s army took a drubbing by British forces in late August 1776. The Americans were surrounded, with their backs to the East River. The end of Revolution loomed as a very real possibility. But under the cover of darkness and fog starting on August 29^th and into the next day, the Americans escaped – moving some 9,000 troops, with supplies and cannons, quietly across the river to Manhattan. Washington was among the last to leave. His army was saved, and so was the Revolution.

The second occurred in late May into early June of 1940. It came to be known as the “Miracle at Dunkirk.” After being beaten and pushed to the coast by the Germans, the British Expeditionary Force, along with French troops and some Belgian and Dutch forces, were trapped at the French seaport of Dunkirk. The British government launched Operation Dynamo, cobbling together a bizarre collection of vessels, including fishing boats and pleasure craft, in the hopes of rescuing some 45,000 troops. Instead, 330,000 troops were evacuated.

This case of snatching survival – the ability to carry on the fight – from the jaws of defeat is the focus of Christopher Nolan’s “Dunkirk.” Nolan has written and directed a masterpiece that is sparse in dialogue, rich in tension, and innovative in its storytelling in terms of perspective, the use of time, and special effects. It’s also hard to think of another film that has presented aerial combat in such an intense and realistic manner, thereby generating high levels of suspense.

But while “Dunkirk” most certainly is an epic; it is more than that in that Nolan communicates the intensity of war, and how different men react under such horrors, in an intimate way. With limited screen time, one is still gripped by the stories of various individuals. Assorted stand-out and economical performances are served up by Tom Hardy, Mark Rylance, Tom Glynn-Carney, Fionn Whitehead, Jack Lowden, and Kenneth Branagh.

The film fittingly closes out with one of the soldiers reading Winston Churchill’s famous Dunkirk speech from a newspaper: “We shall go on to the end, we shall fight in France, we shall fight on the seas and oceans, we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air, we shall defend our Island, whatever the cost may be, we shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender, and even if, which I do not for a moment believe, this Island or a large part of it were subjugated and starving, then our Empire beyond the seas, armed and guarded by the British Fleet, would carry on the struggle, until, in God’s good time, the New World, with all its power and might, steps forth to the rescue and the liberation of the old.”

Nolan’s “Dunkirk” brings this critical moment in history to life – this most important retreat or escape – in innovative, respectful and impressive fashion.

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Ray Keating is the author of the PASTOR STEPHEN GRANT NOVELS. The latest in the series is WINE INTO WATER.

Kindle Sale with New Pastor Stephen Grant Novel Arriving Soon - 33% Off

LIONHEARTS: A PASTOR STEPHEN GRANT NOVEL – the next thriller from Ray Keating – is due very soon. That means it’s time to either get started with or get caught up on the first six Pastor Stephen Grant thrillers/mysteries – WINE INTO WATER, MURDERER’S ROW, THE RIVER, AN ADVENT FOR RELIGIOUS LIBERTY, ROOT OF ALL EVIL? and WARRIOR MONK. The Kindle version of each book is now reduced by better than 33%. This Kindle sale lasts until LIONHEARTS is published. Sounds like a great and affordable summer delight. Indeed, why not spend the summer with a Lutheran pastor who used to be a Navy SEAL and a CIA operative? It turns out, by the way, that he didn’t fully leave his old life behind, which makes for exciting and thought-provoking storytelling from an award-winning novelist. The Washington Times says that Keating “takes you on an intriguing summer ride.” Take advantage of the Kindle sale today!

Visit https://www.amazon.com/Wine-Into-Water-Pastor-Stephen-ebook/dp/B01MCT217H/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1500301820&sr=8-1

Review of THE GIFT AND THE DEFENDER

Review of THE GIFT AND THE DEFENDER (THE LUMEN LEGENDS SERIES – BOOK 1) by Tyrel Bramwell, Grail Quest Books, 2016

As one begins to move through Tyrel Bramwell’s THE GIFT AND THE DEFENDER, the reader is pulled in, wondering how the two timelines or worlds the author offers could possibly relate. We are introduced to a familiar, modern-day world via a character bestowed with a staggering power. But we also get to know another individual and his allies in a Medieval-like, fantasy setting.

Bramwell does not disappoint. Without spoiling anything, the reader discovers the truth, and is set on a fascinating path. The book serves up a great deal about human nature, as well as being rich with biblical allegories. THE GIFT AND THE DEFENDER manages to be both thought-provoking and a true page-turner. The reader will be delighted, especially, for this reader, over the second-half of the book. In the end, Bramwell offers the rare combination of imaginative, substantive, and fun. Well done!

                           - Ray Keating, author of the PASTOR STEPHEN GRANT NOVELS