The Holy Trinity In The Star Trek Trilogy

The Holy Trinity in the Star Trek Trilogy

The Holy Trinity in the Star Trek Trilogy is an interesting notion. There have been many people who have used a variety of methods to explain the holy trinity. These examples have included:

The Shamrock – the three-leaf clover.
The Egg – eggshell, egg white, and yolk.
Water – an element that exists in three phases (gas, liquid, gas)
Three Dimensions of Space (height, width, breath, but they all occupy the same space.)

I believe that one could use a science fiction Star Trek illustration to also explain the idea of the Holy Trinity. The Star Trek trilogy is made up of three films which were made one after the other. Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, Star Trek III: The Search for Spock, and Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home form a loose trilogy. When one watches the three films in succession, one can see an analogy of the work of the Trinity in action. For example, let’s start with James T. Kirk.

James Kirk as God the Father

James T. Kirk is the most senior official. He begins as Admiral Kirk. The opening scene in Star Trek II shows him entering on the bridge with a halo effect behind his head. He is the one who makes the command decisions. Throughout the first movie, Kirk is in command. He fights an “old adversary” (like Satan who called the “Old Adversary”). He defeats Khan because Kirk is smarter and more experienced. After Spock‘s death, Kirk takes his crew, sacrifices his ship and his career to rescue Spock. In the closing scene on the Genesis in Star Trek III, Kirk helps Spock beam back up to the ship a form of resurrection.

Spock as Jesus Christ the Son

Spock serves Kirk on the Enterprise. Although he is Captain in rank, Spock chooses to serve under Kirk when the crisis comes in Star Trek II. At the end of this same film, to save the ship, Spock sacrifices his life. He is laid to rest on the Genesis planet. While there, He is resurrected. He ascends (with Kirk from Genesis to the ship. Spock is transported by ship to Vulcan where his soul (katra, soul or “everything that is not of the body”) is reunited with his body.

McCoy as the Holy Spirit

McCoy is Jim’s friend and confidant. He serves as his counselor at the beginning of Star Trek II, helping Kirk to deal with life and death. After the death of Spock at the end of the movie, McCoy reminds Kirk (and everyone else) that Spock (like Christ) is alive as long as we remember him. “To remember him” reveals another function of the Holy Spirit. Just as Spock told McCoy to “remember” as Spock gave McCoy his essence. McCoy serves the function of carrying Spock’s memory until it is rejoined. The Holy Spirit has the role of reminding Christians of the teachings of Christ. McCoy also submits to Spock as gives his authority up to help Spock regain his soul. In the same way, the Holy Spirit submits to Christ.

The Trinity exists in three Persons but one God. That is where this analogy fails. However, It should be enough for people to start talking about Jesus Christ.