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| − | |align="center" colspan="2"|[[File:HumanGod.jpg|200px|]] |
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| − | |align="center" class="even" colspan="2"|"[[God]] of [[Sha Ka Ree]]" |
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| − | |align="center" colspan="2"|[[File:Q as God.jpg|200px|]] |
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| − | |align="center" class="even" colspan="2"|[[Q]] as "God" |
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{{disambiguation|the being imprisoned in the center of the galaxy|God (Sha Ka Ree)}} |
{{disambiguation|the being imprisoned in the center of the galaxy|God (Sha Ka Ree)}} |
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| + | [[File:HumanGod.jpg|thumb|"{{dis|God|Sha Ka Ree}}" of {{dis|Sha Ka Ree|planet}}]] |
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| − | A '''god''' is a [[Powerful and godlike beings|supernatural being]] often conceived as the omnipotent, omniscient supreme being and principle object of faith, worshipped by individuals and usually perceived as enormously powerful, and charged with responsibility for some or all aspects of nature or creation. Additionally, most benign gods have malign counterparts. The identity of God and gods varies over different cultures, but the idea remains the same. |
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| + | [[File:Q as God.jpg|thumb|[[Q]] appearing as "God"]] |
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| + | A '''god''' or '''deity''' was a being with principal [[religion|religious]] significance. Gods were often perceived to have power over aspects of natural or spiritual existence, and may be the subject of worship or [[prayer]]. A multitude of gods have been developed by various [[culture]]s. |
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| ⚫ | |||
| − | == Cultural views == |
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| ⚫ | |||
| ⚫ | |||
| ⚫ | On [[Earth]], gods |
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| ⚫ | On [[Earth]], gods ranged from those with names and specific areas of expertise to the omnipotent God of [[Christianity]] and [[Judaism]], to spirits believed extant within aspects of nature ([[pagan]]ism of various sorts), to powerful [[alien]] beings. An alternate name for God was the Lord, or when praying directly to him, simply Lord. |
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| ⚫ | |||
| − | Often, one being's god |
+ | Often, one being's god was another being's myth. Sometimes, one being's god was merely another being's powerful alien, as was the case of many of the gods worshipped on Earth. This was the case with [[Apollo]] and [[Kukulkan]]. ({{TOS|Who Mourns for Adonais?}}; {{TAS|How Sharper Than a Serpent's Tooth}}) |
Some of Earth's benign gods had malign counterparts, the most well-known of which was called the [[Devil]]. ({{TNG|Devil's Due}}) |
Some of Earth's benign gods had malign counterparts, the most well-known of which was called the [[Devil]]. ({{TNG|Devil's Due}}) |
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| − | Where a situation existed in which an individual had no other choice and had to |
+ | Where a situation existed in which an individual had no other choice and had to kill to protect themselves or another, that individual might ask a god for forgiveness. In [[2266]], [[Doctor]] [[Leonard McCoy]] said, ''Lord, forgive me'', before he killed the [[M-113 creature]]. The doctor was saving the life of {{dis|Captain|rank}} [[James T. Kirk]]. ({{TOS|The Man Trap}}) |
| + | Certain concepts might also be idolized. [[Lenore Karidian]] described the [[play]] ''[[Hamlet]]'' as being about a [[time]] when "''life was cheap and ambition was God.''". ({{TOS|The Conscience of the King}}) |
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| + | |||
| + | Observing the [[month]]ly [[Luna|lunar]] [[Sol|sunrise]] was a [[religion|religious]] experience for [[Dorian Collins]]. According to her, "''I felt like I met God every morning.''" ({{DS9|Valiant}}) |
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| + | |||
| + | ==In non-Human cultures== |
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=== Bajoran === |
=== Bajoran === |
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| + | [[File:The Image in the Sand.jpg|thumb|A Prophet manifesting as [[Sarah Sisko]] in a vision]] |
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| − | The [[Bajoran]] people |
+ | The [[Bajoran]] people worshiped their [[Prophet]]s as gods, although to most non-Bajorans, the Prophets were simply powerful beings referred to as "wormhole aliens". For them {{dis|Captain|rank}} [[Benjamin Sisko]] was their "{{Emissary}}", the person who was chosen by the Prophets to lead the Bajoran spiritual life. ({{DS9|Emissary|In the Hands of the Prophets}}) |
| − | The malign counterpart to the Prophets were known to the Bajorans as the [[Pah-wraith]]s. Some Bajorans |
+ | The malign counterpart to the Prophets were known to the Bajorans as the [[Pah-wraith]]s. Some Bajorans believed these counterparts to be the true gods of [[Bajor]]. ({{DS9|Covenant}}) |
=== D'Arsay === |
=== D'Arsay === |
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| + | [[File:Masaka symbol remastered.png|thumb|The symbol for Masaka]] |
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The mythology of the [[D'Arsay]] contained an epic drama involving [[Masaka]], a [[sun]] goddess, and [[Korgano]], a figure implied to be a [[moon]] god. Picard's dealings with this drama imply that Masaka was seen as a malign goddess, with Korgano as the benign counterforce that kept her in check. ({{TNG|Masks}}). |
The mythology of the [[D'Arsay]] contained an epic drama involving [[Masaka]], a [[sun]] goddess, and [[Korgano]], a figure implied to be a [[moon]] god. Picard's dealings with this drama imply that Masaka was seen as a malign goddess, with Korgano as the benign counterforce that kept her in check. ({{TNG|Masks}}). |
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| − | {{bginfo|Although not explicitly stated, Picard's allusion to the two as seemingly equivalent to the sun and the moon in Earth's history indicates the likelihood that the D'Arsay are [[Polytheism|polytheistic]], or believe in more than a single god, much like the ancient [[ |
+ | {{bginfo|Although not explicitly stated, Picard's allusion to the two as seemingly equivalent to the sun and the moon in Earth's history indicates the likelihood that the D'Arsay are [[Polytheism|polytheistic]], or believe in more than a single god, much like the ancient [[Egyptian]]s of Earth.}} |
| − | === |
+ | === Dominion === |
| − | + | The [[Founder]]s of the [[Dominion]] [[genetically engineered]] their servant races, the [[Jem'Hadar]] and the [[Vorta]], to revere them as gods as a means of control. The Vorta were fully aware of this and saw it as only natural for their gods to compel worship. Conversely, these races dismissed the spirituality of other species. ({{DS9|The Jem'Hadar|Hippocratic Oath|To the Death|Tears of the Prophets|Treachery, Faith and the Great River}}) |
|
| − | === |
+ | === Edo === |
| + | [[File:Edo god.jpg|thumb|The god of the Edo]] |
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The [[Edo]] of [[Rubicun III]] worshipped an orbiting lifeform as [[Edo God|their god]]. This lifeform considered the Edo its children, protecting and caring for them. ({{TNG|Justice}}) |
The [[Edo]] of [[Rubicun III]] worshipped an orbiting lifeform as [[Edo God|their god]]. This lifeform considered the Edo its children, protecting and caring for them. ({{TNG|Justice}}) |
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| + | |||
| + | === Kelemane's species === |
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| ⚫ | During the late [[2370s]], the {{USS|Voyager}} became trapped in orbit around a planet, where time on the surface moved at an accelerated rate. Some of the planet's ancient [[Kelemane's species|inhabitants]] were able to see the [[starship]] in the sky, and began to regard it as a deity or god, even setting aside a specific fruit which was only to be offered to the new deity, which they initially called the "groundshaker." Later on in Kelemane history, after they had developed telescope technology, they discovered that the "groundshaker" was actually a vessel, which they called the "[[Sky Ship]]." ({{VOY|Blink of an Eye}}) |
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=== Klingon === |
=== Klingon === |
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| − | The [[Klingon]]s at one time had gods, but according to legend, the gods were slain by the Klingon warriors they had created (led by [[Kortar]], the first Klingon) as "they were more trouble than they were worth." ({{DS9|Homefront}}; {{VOY|Barge of the Dead}}) |
+ | The [[Klingon]]s at one time had gods, but according to legend, the gods were slain by the Klingon warriors they had created (led by [[Kortar]], the first Klingon) as "they were more trouble than they were worth." ({{DS9|Homefront|You Are Cordially Invited}}; {{VOY|Barge of the Dead}}) |
| + | |||
| + | ===Mintakan=== |
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| + | The [[Mintakan]]s once believed in a god, the {{dis|Overseer|god}}, but abandoned belief in the supernatural millennia before the [[24th century]]. ({{TNG|Who Watches The Watchers}}) |
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=== Vulcan === |
=== Vulcan === |
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| + | [[File:Stone of Gol artifact.jpg|thumb|The Vulcan Gods of War and Death depicted on the Stone of Gol]] |
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| − | Captain Picard once noted that, according to Vulcan mythology, the [[psionic resonator]] was destroyed by "the gods," although whether this referred to ancient Vulcans gods, or whether it was simply part of an allegorical tale is unclear. ({{TNG|Gambit, Part I}}) |
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| + | The ancient Vulcans recognized a pantheon of gods, including the [[God of War]] and the [[God of Death]]. According to legend, the [[Stone of Gol]] was destroyed by the gods. ({{TNG|Gambit, Part II}}) |
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| − | In [[2237]], [[Spock]], who had time-traveled from the year [[2269]] to |
+ | In [[2237]], [[Spock]], who had time-traveled from the year [[2269]] to avert his own death, posed as a pilgrim traveling to a shrine dedicated to "[the Vulcan people's] gods." ({{TAS|Yesteryear}}) |
| − | + | == Specific encounters == |
|
| ⚫ | In [[2265]], following an encounter with the [[Galactic barrier]], [[Lieutenant Commander]] [[Gary Mitchell]] and [[Dr.]] [[Elizabeth Dehner]] of the [[United Federation of Planets|Federation]] [[starship]] {{USS|Enterprise|NCC-1701}} developed incredibly strong [[psionic]] powers. Mitchell, becoming completely [[insanity|mad]] with power, believed he had evolved to a God-like state and used his power to force {{dis|Captain|rank}} [[James T. Kirk]] to [[prayer|pray]] to him as one. Dehner, herself, lamented to Kirk that he had no idea what it's like to be almost a God. ({{TOS|Where No Man Has Gone Before}}) |
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| ⚫ | During the late [[2370s]], the {{USS|Voyager}} became trapped in orbit around a planet, where time on the |
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| ⚫ | In [[2287]], [[Sybok]] began the final leg in his quest to find God, whom he believed was located at {{dis|Sha Ka Ree|planet}} in the [[galactic core]]. It is however discovered that [[God of Sha Ka Ree|Sybok's god]], though seemingly well versed in the Gods of the Universe, was in fact a malevolent entity who, himself, was on a quest to obtain a [[starship]] and leave his confinement. ({{film|5}}) |
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| − | == Godly encounters == |
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| ⚫ | In [[2265]], following an encounter with the [[Galactic barrier]], [[Lieutenant Commander]] [[Gary Mitchell]] and [[ |
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| ⚫ | In [[2369]], [[Q]] claimed to Picard that he was in fact God when Picard was having a near death experience after being wounded. Despite Q's admittedly all-powerful nature within our plane of existence, Picard retorted, ''"No. I am not dead. Because I refuse to believe that the afterlife is run by you. The universe is not so badly designed."'' (Given the fact that this occurred while Picard was in a near-death state, however, it is possible that this was all an hallucination and Q never really made such a claim.) ({{TNG|Tapestry}}) On {{dis|Brax|planet}}, Q was referred to as "The God of Lies". ({{DS9|Q-Less}}) |
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| ⚫ | In [[2287]], [[Sybok]] began the final leg in his quest to find God, whom he believed was located at |
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| − | |||
| ⚫ | In [[2369]], [[Q]] claimed to Picard that he was in fact God when Picard was having a near death experience after being wounded. |
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| − | |||
| − | == Appendices == |
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| − | === Additional references === |
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| − | * {{TNG}} |
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| − | ** {{e|Justice}} |
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| − | ** {{e|Who Watches The Watchers}} |
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== See also == |
== See also == |
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*[[Gods|List of gods]] |
*[[Gods|List of gods]] |
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| + | *[[Goddess of Empathy]] |
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| + | *[[Kitchen Goddess]] |
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| − | + | == Appendices == |
|
| + | === Background information === |
||
| − | [[Gene Roddenberry]] was known to be a |
+ | [[Gene Roddenberry]] was known to be a humanistic atheist or agnostic, and debunking both Human and [[alien]] gods and superstitions was a regular theme in his stories. Episodes such as {{TOS|The Return of the Archons|Who Mourns for Adonais?|The Apple}}, {{TAS|How Sharper Than a Serpent's Tooth}}, ''[[Star Trek: Phase II]]'': "[[In Thy Image]]", and {{TNG|Justice}}, would show a god as actually an alien or a machine (or both). In an [http://www.startrekanimated.com/tas_david_gerrold.html interview] with [http://www.startrekanimated.com StarTrekAnimated.com], scriptwriter [[David Gerrold]] complained that, "''when in doubt, Gene always had Kirk get into a fight with God.''" |
| − | On the other hand, in the |
+ | On the other hand, in the {{s|TOS}} episode {{e|The Ultimate Computer}}, the [[M5]] computer credited God as a source of the illegality of [[murder]], and Kirk later repeated that credit. |
| − | == External links == |
+ | === External links === |
| − | * {{ |
+ | * {{mbeta}} |
* {{Wikipedia}} |
* {{Wikipedia}} |
||
[[de:Gott]] |
[[de:Gott]] |
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[[fr:Dieu]] |
[[fr:Dieu]] |
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| − | [[Category: |
+ | [[Category:Biblical figures]] |
Revision as of 15:45, 27 September 2019
"God" of Sha Ka Ree
Q appearing as "God"
A god or deity was a being with principal religious significance. Gods were often perceived to have power over aspects of natural or spiritual existence, and may be the subject of worship or prayer. A multitude of gods have been developed by various cultures.
In Human cultures
On Earth, gods ranged from those with names and specific areas of expertise to the omnipotent God of Christianity and Judaism, to spirits believed extant within aspects of nature (paganism of various sorts), to powerful alien beings. An alternate name for God was the Lord, or when praying directly to him, simply Lord.
Often, one being's god was another being's myth. Sometimes, one being's god was merely another being's powerful alien, as was the case of many of the gods worshipped on Earth. This was the case with Apollo and Kukulkan. (TOS: "Who Mourns for Adonais?"; TAS: "How Sharper Than a Serpent's Tooth")
Some of Earth's benign gods had malign counterparts, the most well-known of which was called the Devil. (TNG: "Devil's Due")
Where a situation existed in which an individual had no other choice and had to kill to protect themselves or another, that individual might ask a god for forgiveness. In 2266, Doctor Leonard McCoy said, Lord, forgive me, before he killed the M-113 creature. The doctor was saving the life of Captain James T. Kirk. (TOS: "The Man Trap")
Certain concepts might also be idolized. Lenore Karidian described the play Hamlet as being about a time when "life was cheap and ambition was God.". (TOS: "The Conscience of the King")
Observing the monthly lunar sunrise was a religious experience for Dorian Collins. According to her, "I felt like I met God every morning." (DS9: "Valiant")
In non-Human cultures
Bajoran
A Prophet manifesting as Sarah Sisko in a vision
The Bajoran people worshiped their Prophets as gods, although to most non-Bajorans, the Prophets were simply powerful beings referred to as "wormhole aliens". For them Captain Benjamin Sisko was their "Emissary", the person who was chosen by the Prophets to lead the Bajoran spiritual life. (DS9: "Emissary", "In the Hands of the Prophets")
The malign counterpart to the Prophets were known to the Bajorans as the Pah-wraiths. Some Bajorans believed these counterparts to be the true gods of Bajor. (DS9: "Covenant")
D'Arsay
The symbol for Masaka
The mythology of the D'Arsay contained an epic drama involving Masaka, a sun goddess, and Korgano, a figure implied to be a moon god. Picard's dealings with this drama imply that Masaka was seen as a malign goddess, with Korgano as the benign counterforce that kept her in check. (TNG: "Masks").
Dominion
The Founders of the Dominion genetically engineered their servant races, the Jem'Hadar and the Vorta, to revere them as gods as a means of control. The Vorta were fully aware of this and saw it as only natural for their gods to compel worship. Conversely, these races dismissed the spirituality of other species. (DS9: "The Jem'Hadar", "Hippocratic Oath", "To the Death", "Tears of the Prophets", "Treachery, Faith and the Great River")
Edo
The god of the Edo
The Edo of Rubicun III worshipped an orbiting lifeform as their god. This lifeform considered the Edo its children, protecting and caring for them. (TNG: "Justice")
Kelemane's species
During the late 2370s, the USS Voyager became trapped in orbit around a planet, where time on the surface moved at an accelerated rate. Some of the planet's ancient inhabitants were able to see the starship in the sky, and began to regard it as a deity or god, even setting aside a specific fruit which was only to be offered to the new deity, which they initially called the "groundshaker." Later on in Kelemane history, after they had developed telescope technology, they discovered that the "groundshaker" was actually a vessel, which they called the "Sky Ship." (VOY: "Blink of an Eye")
Klingon
The Klingons at one time had gods, but according to legend, the gods were slain by the Klingon warriors they had created (led by Kortar, the first Klingon) as "they were more trouble than they were worth." (DS9: "Homefront", "You Are Cordially Invited"; VOY: "Barge of the Dead")
Mintakan
The Mintakans once believed in a god, the Overseer, but abandoned belief in the supernatural millennia before the 24th century. (TNG: "Who Watches The Watchers")
Vulcan
The Vulcan Gods of War and Death depicted on the Stone of Gol
The ancient Vulcans recognized a pantheon of gods, including the God of War and the God of Death. According to legend, the Stone of Gol was destroyed by the gods. (TNG: "Gambit, Part II")
In 2237, Spock, who had time-traveled from the year 2269 to avert his own death, posed as a pilgrim traveling to a shrine dedicated to "[the Vulcan people's] gods." (TAS: "Yesteryear")
Specific encounters
In 2265, following an encounter with the Galactic barrier, Lieutenant Commander Gary Mitchell and Dr. Elizabeth Dehner of the Federation starship USS Enterprise developed incredibly strong psionic powers. Mitchell, becoming completely mad with power, believed he had evolved to a God-like state and used his power to force Captain James T. Kirk to pray to him as one. Dehner, herself, lamented to Kirk that he had no idea what it's like to be almost a God. (TOS: "Where No Man Has Gone Before")
In 2287, Sybok began the final leg in his quest to find God, whom he believed was located at Sha Ka Ree in the galactic core. It is however discovered that Sybok's god, though seemingly well versed in the Gods of the Universe, was in fact a malevolent entity who, himself, was on a quest to obtain a starship and leave his confinement. (Star Trek V: The Final Frontier)
In 2369, Q claimed to Picard that he was in fact God when Picard was having a near death experience after being wounded. Despite Q's admittedly all-powerful nature within our plane of existence, Picard retorted, "No. I am not dead. Because I refuse to believe that the afterlife is run by you. The universe is not so badly designed." (Given the fact that this occurred while Picard was in a near-death state, however, it is possible that this was all an hallucination and Q never really made such a claim.) (TNG: "Tapestry") On Brax, Q was referred to as "The God of Lies". (DS9: "Q-Less")
See also
Appendices
Background information
Gene Roddenberry was known to be a humanistic atheist or agnostic, and debunking both Human and alien gods and superstitions was a regular theme in his stories. Episodes such as TOS: "The Return of the Archons", "Who Mourns for Adonais?", "The Apple", TAS: "How Sharper Than a Serpent's Tooth", Star Trek: Phase II: "In Thy Image", and TNG: "Justice", would show a god as actually an alien or a machine (or both). In an interview with StarTrekAnimated.com, scriptwriter David Gerrold complained that, "when in doubt, Gene always had Kirk get into a fight with God."
On the other hand, in the Star Trek: The Original Series episode "The Ultimate Computer", the M5 computer credited God as a source of the illegality of murder, and Kirk later repeated that credit.
External links
- God at Memory Beta, the wiki for licensed Star Trek works
- God at Wikipedia