Somehow, I doubt the writers of Star Trek: The Next Generation intended to include Christianity in their show. But there is a scene where Commander William Riker is unintentionally made a Christ figure. Allow me to explain:
In "The Measure of a Man", the ninth episode in the second season, Data, an android serving on the USS Enterprise, is given orders to report to a cybernetics expert to be the subject of an experiment. Commander Bruce Maddox's intentions are to dismantle Data so he "can learn from it and make more." The judge of a newly formed JAG corp rules that Data is Starfleet property and, therefore, is required to obey. Captain Picard challenges this ruling and becomes Data's defense councilor. Commander Riker is chosen to be the prosecutor. Riker objects to this, claiming that Data is his friend and comrade. But when he learns that the judge's ruling will be executed if he refuses, he agrees to prosecute. Picard wins the court case and Data is spared. In the final scene, Data walks into the observer's lounge to find Riker standing by the window. He asks why he's here and not with the others celebrating the victory in the court case. When he finds out, he says, "You injured yourself and saved me."
That line reminds me of what Jesus did on the cross. He was injured, even killed, and He saved us.
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Creation vs. Evolution: Morality
It occured to me recently that whoever invents something makes the rules regarding that thing. If there is no inventor, there is no invention. If something is just "there," there are no rules for using it.
Creationists and other believers of Intelligent Design, the idea that the universe was created by an intelligent being, believe that the universe was created. Therefore, what they are implying is that there is a creator to whom we are held accountable because He makes the rules. He has the right to since He invented the universe and everything in it. As a result, there is a sense of right and wrong. There is order.
Evolutionists believe that there is no creator. They believe that the universe was formed by random processes. If they are right, than there are no set rules. There is no morality to which we can consult. Everybody can do whatever they want. Therefore, what Evolutionists are implying is that there is nothing set in stone that condemns people killing, raping, stealing, extorting, beating, torturing, bullying, enslaving, and cheating their fellow humans. Now that is a scary concept.
Scary concept? Where do I get the idea that these things I mentioned are immoral? Where do you readers get the idea that they are immoral? It can only mean that we have a sense of right and wrong. Where do we get it from? Our parents, of course. Where did they get it from? Their parents. We can go down the line, but the question is "Who came up with the idea that there is good and there is bad, that there are things you should and shouldn't do?"
Is the law king or is the king law? What came first, Despotism or Morality? If the law is king, then morality is set in stone and everybody from merchant to monarch is held accountable to it. If the king is law, then morality changes constantly with every ruler's whim. Of course, the ruler is not held accountable to the laws he makes.
Which would you rather have?
Creationists and other believers of Intelligent Design, the idea that the universe was created by an intelligent being, believe that the universe was created. Therefore, what they are implying is that there is a creator to whom we are held accountable because He makes the rules. He has the right to since He invented the universe and everything in it. As a result, there is a sense of right and wrong. There is order.
Evolutionists believe that there is no creator. They believe that the universe was formed by random processes. If they are right, than there are no set rules. There is no morality to which we can consult. Everybody can do whatever they want. Therefore, what Evolutionists are implying is that there is nothing set in stone that condemns people killing, raping, stealing, extorting, beating, torturing, bullying, enslaving, and cheating their fellow humans. Now that is a scary concept.
Scary concept? Where do I get the idea that these things I mentioned are immoral? Where do you readers get the idea that they are immoral? It can only mean that we have a sense of right and wrong. Where do we get it from? Our parents, of course. Where did they get it from? Their parents. We can go down the line, but the question is "Who came up with the idea that there is good and there is bad, that there are things you should and shouldn't do?"
Is the law king or is the king law? What came first, Despotism or Morality? If the law is king, then morality is set in stone and everybody from merchant to monarch is held accountable to it. If the king is law, then morality changes constantly with every ruler's whim. Of course, the ruler is not held accountable to the laws he makes.
Which would you rather have?
Sunday, June 20, 2010
Anonymous God
How many readers have read the book of Esther? To the unbeliever, Esther would still be good reading material, especially in this era: The protagonist is a woman, and the story is one of courage. It also has no mention of God, except when Mordecai is pleading with Esther to go before the king on behalf of the Jews.
So where is God in Esther? He's there, but He remains anonymous. To non-Christian readers, the villain in the story was defeated in a series of circumstances.
1. King Xerxes, while completely drunk, asks Queen Vashti to wear her crown in front of the men at his party (this is like the President asking the First Lady to join a White House party in revealing attire). He banishes her after she refuses.
2. Adassa (Esther's Hebrew name), is beautiful enough to catch the king's eye among a throng of beautiful women.
3. Mordecai happens to hear an assassination plot being discussed by Bigtha and Teresh, two of the king's servants, and, after Queen Esther credits him with overhearing the plot, somebody forgets to reward him.
4. The king shows favor to Esther when she enters the throne room without being summoned.
5. The king happens to have insomnia on the night when Haman comes to ask him for permission to build a gallows to hang Mordecai. He happens to catch the lack of reward given to Mordecai and wants it rectified immediately.
6. When the king, after hearing of Haman's sinister extermination plot, returns from the garden after stewing over the revelation, Haman just happens to be in a position that is easily mistaken for rape.
Christian readers and Jewish readers, however, can see God's work from backstage. But why is He not mentioned by the narrator? For one thing, this story takes place after the exiles' return to Jerusalem. This story is about the Jews who chose to remain in Persia because they considered their businesses more important than their love of their country. Even so, if you read with a Christian or Jewish perspective, you can see how God took care of His people.
So where is God in Esther? He's there, but He remains anonymous. To non-Christian readers, the villain in the story was defeated in a series of circumstances.
1. King Xerxes, while completely drunk, asks Queen Vashti to wear her crown in front of the men at his party (this is like the President asking the First Lady to join a White House party in revealing attire). He banishes her after she refuses.
2. Adassa (Esther's Hebrew name), is beautiful enough to catch the king's eye among a throng of beautiful women.
3. Mordecai happens to hear an assassination plot being discussed by Bigtha and Teresh, two of the king's servants, and, after Queen Esther credits him with overhearing the plot, somebody forgets to reward him.
4. The king shows favor to Esther when she enters the throne room without being summoned.
5. The king happens to have insomnia on the night when Haman comes to ask him for permission to build a gallows to hang Mordecai. He happens to catch the lack of reward given to Mordecai and wants it rectified immediately.
6. When the king, after hearing of Haman's sinister extermination plot, returns from the garden after stewing over the revelation, Haman just happens to be in a position that is easily mistaken for rape.
Christian readers and Jewish readers, however, can see God's work from backstage. But why is He not mentioned by the narrator? For one thing, this story takes place after the exiles' return to Jerusalem. This story is about the Jews who chose to remain in Persia because they considered their businesses more important than their love of their country. Even so, if you read with a Christian or Jewish perspective, you can see how God took care of His people.
Monday, June 7, 2010
Esther: Is God Absent?
The book of Esther is a unique book in the Bible: It is the only book where God is not mentioned. The unbeliever can read this story and think it a story of courage in the midst of the threat of genocide. The Jews, (s)he would say, were saved by a series of circumstances:
Xerxes happened to be drunk when he requested that Vashti, the woman he'd been married to for who knows how long, parade herself to be ogled at by a group of drunk men. He also was drunk when he decreed that she be banished for refusing to obey such a stupid order.
Hadassah (Esther) happened to be chosen, out of many beautiful girls, to be the next queen.
Mordacai happened to overhear Bigtha and Teresh plan together to assassinate Xerxes, and somebody happened to forget to reward him.
The lots Haaman cast happened to indicate a date that was far off.
Xerxes happened to have insomnia on the night before Haaman was to ask him for permission to build the gallows to hang Mordicai, and he happened to be reminded of Mordicai's loyalty before he fell asleep.
Haaman happened to be in a position where Xerxes would mistake his actions as sexual assault.
The gallows meant for Mordicai happened to be completely built in time for Haaman to be hanged on it.
Was God absent when all this occured? To the Jews of that time who were condemned to die, it must have seemed that way. But God was "backstage" all along, making sure things went as He planned them.
Just like the Jews in Persia, we are living in difficult times. Does that mean God is absent? No. He's in control of everything. He has a plan.
Xerxes happened to be drunk when he requested that Vashti, the woman he'd been married to for who knows how long, parade herself to be ogled at by a group of drunk men. He also was drunk when he decreed that she be banished for refusing to obey such a stupid order.
Hadassah (Esther) happened to be chosen, out of many beautiful girls, to be the next queen.
Mordacai happened to overhear Bigtha and Teresh plan together to assassinate Xerxes, and somebody happened to forget to reward him.
The lots Haaman cast happened to indicate a date that was far off.
Xerxes happened to have insomnia on the night before Haaman was to ask him for permission to build the gallows to hang Mordicai, and he happened to be reminded of Mordicai's loyalty before he fell asleep.
Haaman happened to be in a position where Xerxes would mistake his actions as sexual assault.
The gallows meant for Mordicai happened to be completely built in time for Haaman to be hanged on it.
Was God absent when all this occured? To the Jews of that time who were condemned to die, it must have seemed that way. But God was "backstage" all along, making sure things went as He planned them.
Just like the Jews in Persia, we are living in difficult times. Does that mean God is absent? No. He's in control of everything. He has a plan.
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