Is there a God? What evil lurks beyond the stars? Can science save one's soul? Profound questions like these have consumed human thought over the ages; they also inspired the original creators of the canon of TV series and films. tackles these challenging questions head-on in a remarkable look at one of sci-fi's great success stories. Analyzing more than three decades of screen adventure, the authors depict a transformed, corresponding to the resurgence of religion in American public discourse. The authors identify the many religious characters in , tracing the roots of scientific humanism to more contemporary aspects of religion and spirituality. Through it all, the creators' visionary outlook remains constant: a humanistic faith in free will and the salvific nature of dispassionate scientific inquiry. This book was not prepared, licensed, approved, or endorsed by any entity involved in creating or producing the television series or films.