Pilgrim motifs in Star Trek
Throughout the Star Trek franchise there are pilgrim stories, although the human society of the future seems to be a very secular one (Gene Roddenberry, the series’ inventor, was an atheist). What is the reason for the recurring pilgrim stories despite the atheist world view of the Creator? What motives do pilgrims have in space?
The spiritual or religious experience or the search for it is a specific characteristic of all pilgrimages and can be found in all cultures and religions. So it is not surprising that the series authors also equip extraterrestrial cultures such as the Klingons, Vulcans and Bajorans with pilgrim rituals in their religions.
The presentation Pilgrim Motifs in Star Trek gives an overview of pilgrim rituals in the Star Trek series and films and tries to show how pilgrimages fit into the Star Trek universe.