Do Vulcans,Klingons or Romulans believe in Religion?
- Thread starter steve1961
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Klingon religion was never delved into in TOS, but in TNG, DS9 and even VOY it got a little fleshed out. Basically they have a religion, but it's one where they killed their own gods. They also have a hell, and for that matter a Valhalla-esque heaven of warriors called Sto Vo Kor.
Vulcans have a lot of ceremonious rituals; but neither in TOS or anywhere else is it said they believe in anything supernatural... well, unless the belief in 'katras' count, but then again, we've seen rather obviously that those things work, so it's the sort of soul that a most logical Vulcan might concede to.
Vulcans have a lot of ceremonious rituals; but neither in TOS or anywhere else is it said they believe in anything supernatural... well, unless the belief in 'katras' count, but then again, we've seen rather obviously that those things work, so it's the sort of soul that a most logical Vulcan might concede to.
A Voyager episodes made mention of a Vulcan "pagan" ritual called Rumarie which was abandoned after they embraced logic. This would appear that Vulcans at one time believed in some sort of religion. Since Romulans came from Vulcans and refused to accept Surak's teachings, it might suggest that they may still believe in the "old ways". Since their society is also somewhat based on ancient Rome, some writers/fans might also assume that Romulans also have a pantheon of deities.
This thread would probably do better in General Trek.
This thread would probably do better in General Trek.
Technically it's defined as all sorts of things (not all of which fit), but your definition would make communism, the free market, liberal democracy and the like into religious ideals.
It's a trifle broad, simply put. However it is true that Vulcan ritualism is semi-religious in itself - this is a society with Vulcan priestesses and temples for that katra-hopping experience.
I don't believe in religion. I don't think religions exist.
Not sure if this is what you were getting at or not, but it could be that "Rumarie" is or was the religion of "those who march under the raptors wings"? perhaps Rumarie is the origin of "Romulan", before it was corrupted by time and translations (particularly by humans)?
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Vulcans did have religoius beliefs and gods, but abandoned them when they embraced logic.
In Spock's World and The Romulan Way by Diane Duane, she fleshes out a bit about religion on both pre-Surak Reformation Vulcan and amongst the Rihannsu (Romulans). Apparantly, pre-Surak Vulcan religion was pretty diverse, IIRC, and there were a lot of deities recognized on Vulcan. At one point Duane writes something along the lines of "if you asked a Vulcan back then if he or she believed in god, they'd probably answer 'which one?'
As for the Rihannsu, Duane gives us a picture of a sort of pan-theistic/animistic religious philosophy that develops during the long migration to ch'Rihan. Amonsgst other believes, there seems to be an emphasis on the classic elements (similar to some early terran philosophies), i.e. Air, Earth, Fire, and Water.
DISCLAIMER: It's been awhile since I've read either of these books, so I may have some of the details a bit off. Sorry.
As for the Rihannsu, Duane gives us a picture of a sort of pan-theistic/animistic religious philosophy that develops during the long migration to ch'Rihan. Amonsgst other believes, there seems to be an emphasis on the classic elements (similar to some early terran philosophies), i.e. Air, Earth, Fire, and Water.
DISCLAIMER: It's been awhile since I've read either of these books, so I may have some of the details a bit off. Sorry.
In the animated episode Yesteryear, Spock, pretending to be a distant relative, told Sarek that he was traveling to the family shrine to "Honor our gods." And during Voyager, didn't Tuvok recieve a communication fron his wife that she and the children prayed for him (or did a offering) at the local temple?
I (somewhat) remember in Spock's World by Diane Duane, Spock telling McCoy that Vulcan have a sense of all, of everything, When McCoy ask if Vulcans can sense God Spock stated yes.
Embracing logic does not preclude having faith or spirituality.
I (somewhat) remember in Spock's World by Diane Duane, Spock telling McCoy that Vulcan have a sense of all, of everything, When McCoy ask if Vulcans can sense God Spock stated yes.
Embracing logic does not preclude having faith or spirituality.
The Vulcan "katra" thing implies that Vulcans survive in an afterlife...it would be strange if there was no religion attached to that.
One could write a few papers on this topic. And in the forty-some years of fandom, I'm sure more than a few folks already have.
Katras only survive in another host's mind or in a vrekatra.
I think logic took over as Vulcan's religion if that makes sense. It did the same thing as religion does to many people. Romulan religion doesn't seem to exist. There must have been some serious deal go on with Vulcan that made the Romulans basically atheist and the Vulcans abandon religion for logic.
We really haven't seen much of Romulan culture to say one way or the other just how spiritual they are. If I were to pick sides, though, I'd say Vulcans are more likely to be on the agnostic side, while Romulans would cling mightily to the ancient Pagan ways, which is probably what prompted the exodus from Vulcan in the first place.
I don't think that the modern Vulcans are spiritual at all despite all the dress attire and "look" seen in ST III. The soul is made up of the intellect, will, and emotions. The Vulcans seem to favor logic and intellect because they couldn't control their strong passionate emotions in their warlike past. They don't seem to pursue bodily pleasures and pursuits much either. I personally don't buy into Roddenberry's explaination in his STTMP novel about the Vulcans being connected with the All (God). If they were, it would seem likely that a lot more Vulcans would have already had the "revelation" that Spock did in STTMP with his mind meld with V'Ger. Wouldn't you think?
I thought it was pretty clear that Vulcans were Jews. The planet vulcan is the planet Israel. The Vulcan rituals are Jewish mysticism (kabbalah).
Okay, maybe not.
But Nimoy certainly invested a fair amount of his own interest in Jewish mysticism in creating their rituals, even their wasn't any Jewish component to it.
But it still would have been fun to see Spock leave the Enterprise Christmas party and return to his quarters to light his Menorah!
Okay, maybe not.
But Nimoy certainly invested a fair amount of his own interest in Jewish mysticism in creating their rituals, even their wasn't any Jewish component to it.But it still would have been fun to see Spock leave the Enterprise Christmas party and return to his quarters to light his Menorah!
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