By Rev. Dr. Frank Marangos
Like a newly discovered Old Testament Apocryphal text, the film provides critical yet previously lacking background information concerning the physical, emotional and even spiritual formation of the primary Star Trek characters. Who were they before entering Star Fleet? What were their personalities, and how did they become friends? The film resolves the queries of many fans by providing more than a passing glimpse into their formative years and succeeds in briefly outlining a process of spiritual development that generally follows what many Orthodox Christian authors have proffered throughout the centuries.
According to the Holy Fathers, spiritual growth includes: (a) increasing the understanding of God’s Word and Will through spiritual mentorship, (2) decreasing the frequency and severity of sin through spiritual warfare, (3) increasing the practice of Christ-like qualities in community, and (4) prayerfully celebrating through prayer trust in God’s Grace. Perhaps the best summary of this process of spiritual growth is the desire to become more like Jesus Christ. For over four decades, many clergymen and teachers have employed Star Trek vignettes in their sermons and lessons to springboard into conversation with teens, young adults, and adults regarding biblical teachings and patristic observations concerning the proper formation of the spiritual life. From such a perspective, a close examination of Star Trek XI’s plot discloses the existence of the salient elements: (a) calling, (b) risk/sacrifice, (c) mentorship, (d) warfare, (e) community, and (f) celebration.
As the prequel introduces younger Trekies to a better understanding of past science fiction traditions, there is also a need for the Church to teach and explain these elements of spiritual formation to each new generation of young Christians. Who are we and why are we here? Who or what determines our future existence? Is there a God, and does He have a purpose for our life? Is there a risk, a cost, associated with accepting God’s call? Do we fight alone or do we overcome life’s difficulties together? These and other soul-centered questions are at the heart of Star Trek XI. They are the salient questions whose answers engrave our hearts with spiritual maturity.
Star Trek XI opens with the U.S.S. Kelven encountering a lightning storm in space. After a sinister Romulan enemy murders its captain, Commander George Kirk, the Kelvin’s most senior officer, assumes the responsibilities of command. With the autopilot function destroyed, the new captain has no choice but to sacrifice himself and his crew by flying the Kelven into a mining ship. His pregnant wife escapes before impact along with 800 passengers aboard fleeing ships and gives birth to their son, James T. Kirk!
For the next 25 years, young Kirk is tethered to the flat lands of Iowa. Although mentally brilliant he is emotionally immature, choosing to break the law by spending most of his time fighting and womanizing. It is here, during a bar fight with a number of Star Fleet cadets on leave, that Kirk receives his call to destiny. He is challenged by an officer that knew his father. “Your father was captain of a starship for 12 minutes and saved hundreds of lives, including yours,” he tells him. “I dare you to be better!”
For the very first time in its long film history, the Star Trek prequel describes the initial call of James T. Kirk. The non-stop action of the film revolves around this most important invitation . . . a choice that must be made. In the powerful vignette that follows his invitation to join Star Fleet, Kirk rides his motorcycle, a symbol of his rebellious self, into a recruiting center. He tosses the keys to the first person he encounters and unflinchingly boards a spacecraft with a group of eager young cadets headed for training.
Not so hidden in the entire Star Trek narrative is the issue of personal destiny . . . of divine calling. Whereas each Star Trek episode begins with the statement “to boldly go where no man has gone before,” Christian viewers might consider the expression as an invitation by God. Like Abraham in the Old Testament who was exhorted “ to leave his country, people and father's household and go to the land God would show him” (Gen. 12:1), each and every one of us is challenged to accept God’s call by boldly going where He alone will lead us.
Scripture is replete with examples concerning such divine callings. A list of the most prominent might include Moses, Abraham, Samuel, Gideon, Esther, Jonah, and the disciples Andrew and Peter. Whereas the disciples were invited by Jesus to leave their boats, nets and relatives in order to become “fishers of men,” it is significant that the Old Testament prophet Jonah was caught in the belly of a large fish because he did not respond affirmatively to God’s call. While both images center on the issue of freedom, Jonah-type choices rest on the illusion that we are capable of successfully living according to our personal ideology and desires while denying those of God! Like a defiant young Kirk living a flatland existence in Iowa, lifestyle choices that do not consider God’s calling will never provide the wings of spiritual flight but tethers our existence to the earthly. Entombed in the whale of such a self-centered perspective, our spiritual development is stymied!
Like the prophet Jonah, however, young Kirk repents and accepts the risks and sacrifices associated with his initial calling. His, is to become a captain whose leadership is based on sacrifice. From the ensuing mentorship and wise council he receives from Spock (Mind) and McCoy (Body), to the fierce warfare and subsequent celebration of the Star Trek crew’s victory over their Romulan enemy, Star Trek XI hosts its viewers to a delicious multi-course banquet of spiritual development for the soul. Like Captain Kirk, when we are willing to follow in the footsteps of our Heavenly Father, then we are emboldened to throw away the keys to temporal pursuits and achievements, choosing rather to embark on a trek towards loftier aspirations. In the final analysis Star Trek XI is as much interested with the soul as it is with stars. To boldly engage the invitation of God is to accept a Soul Trek towards mankind’s ultimate frontier!
Rev. Dr. Frank Marangos is the Dean of the Archdiocesan Cathedral of the Holy Trinity in New York City. He is also an Adjunct Assistant Professor at Saint John’s University (NY). Please visit http://www.thecathedral.goarch.org/FOSSummary/ to view the on-line series of lectures that inspired this article.
