Burnham's Religion

[XCV330]

T'pol mentioned that there were many groups on Vulcan that claimed they were following the teachings of Surak, but that was before the Kshara was found. I'd like to think that just complicated it more and there are diverse and fascinating discussions on the meaning of the commentaries on the Kshara in various Vulcan yeshivas.

 

[Kor]

Alien civilizations in Star Trek are not allowed to be diverse like real-life human civilization.

All the inhabitants of a particular planet must have only one culture, and must dress the same, have the same stupid haircuts, eat the same foods, and have the exact same philosophical/ideological/religious/whatever beliefs. Having two or more cultures on the same planet would just be way too complicated.

To be fair, this is a shortcoming of most popular sci-fi, not just Trek.

Kor

 

[Nyotarules]

T'pol mentioned that there were many groups on Vulcan that claimed they were following the teachings of Surak, but that was before the Kshara was found. I'd like to think that just complicated it more and there are diverse and fascinating discussions on the meaning of the commentaries on the Kshara in various Vulcan yeshivas.

Just as there are for real life human holy books. The in universe perception that all Vulcans are the same in belief and culture is lazy world building.

 

[Nyotarules]

Alien civilizations in Star Trek are not allowed to be diverse like real-life human civilization.

All the inhabitants of a particular planet must have only one culture, and must dress the same, have the same stupid haircuts, eat the same foods, and have the exact same philosophical/ideological/religious/whatever beliefs. Having two or more cultures on the same planet would just be way too complicated.

To be fair, this is a shortcoming of most popular sci-fi, not just Trek.

Kor

I think its the writers way to make humans seem so special and unique to the universe. Probably to pander to its real life mainly US audience, some who see fictional Star Trek humanity, as 'the USA in space'...hence the final frontier culture of the franchise etc.

 

[Tenacity]

Vulcan religious diversity. There's ...

Spock's family's polytheist religion.
Tuvok's family's temple religion.
The religion behind the monastery in ENT.
Gene Rodenberry's "All" Vulcan religion from the novelization of TMP.
Duane's similar Vulcan religion in the novel Spock's World.

 

[Nyotarules]

Gene Rodenberry's "All" Vulcan religion from the novelization of TMP.

And those love instructors for the 7 year itch

 

[Tenacity]

Must not. forget the love instuctors

 

[Charles Phipps]

I suspect she's a Star Trek atheist.

Surakians are a nontheistic religion. Not everyone defines their religion via supernatural phenomenon, not that Star Trek has any lack of that. The fact Vulcans have a confirmable verifiable soul equivalent also means they probably have no reason to define themselves otherwise too.

Which is kind of why DS9 exists. You can tell the writers loved writing about subjects Gene would hate.

Mind you, I find it kind of funny the Vulcans are basically a branch of Zen Buddhism in Roddenberry's world.