Arthur Chappell
From Philosopedia
Chappell, Arthur (9 February 1962 - )
Chappell, in a Freethinker (June 1994) article entitled “Humanism Keynote of Starship Space Quests,” disagrees with any critics who hold that the program’s creator, Gene Roddenberry, is guilty of militarism, racism, or fascism. Rather, he argues, “Star Trek is essentially a science fiction vision of mankind humanising a dangerous and exciting universe.”
He also notes that Roddenberry was a passionate humanist. Once, he relates, Roddenberry was asked to put a padre in the regular cast in order to explain Christian values to aliens. The author wisely put his foot down:
- How could you have a chaplain if you’ve got that many people of different and alien beliefs on your ship? With as many planets as we were visiting, every person on the ship would have to be a chaplain!
Chappell has a website that lists his essays, poetry, and other writings.
