Gene Roddenberry created one of the most beloved science fiction franchises of all time. Star Trek is the ultimate vision of a futuristic human utopian society. But to achieve that, Roddenberry created a philosophy of human excellence at the centerpiece of Star Trek. That means each property in the Star Trek franchise must adhere to the guidelines of his philosophy in order to maintain the core idea that humans have reached a level of maturity as a species and moved beyond their own petty squabbles to explore the universe. These rules include diversity among Starfleet officers, addressing both men and women officers as "Sir," and the the absence of war and money on planet Earth.
The latest show in the franchise, the upcoming Star Trek: Discovery, will break the rule that Starfleet officers do not come in direct conflict with one another. But it also nearly broke another rule according to a section from Entertainment Weekly's upcoming cover story:
The director halts the action and Lorca, played by British actor Jason Isaacs of Harry Potter fame, steps off the stage. The episode's writer, Kirsten Beyer, approaches to give a correction on his "for God's sakes" ad lib.
"Wait, I can't say 'God'?" Isaacs asks, amused. "I thought I could say 'God' or 'damn' but not 'goddamn.' "
Beyer explains that Star Trek is creator Gene Roddenberry's vision of a science-driven 23rd-century future where religion basically no longer exists.
"How about 'for f—'s sake'?" he shoots back. "Can I say that?"
"You can say that before you can say 'God,' " she dryly replies.
And it makes sense, considering humanity has moved beyond silly things like cussing and religion. That's part of what makes Star Trek so appealing—the dream that humans can be better than they are now.
But I do seem to recall one character saying the word "God."
