# What was god in star trek V **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 13, 2014, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-god-in-star-trek-v/693033 "2014-07-13T23:39:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2014, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-god-in-star-trek-v/693033/1 "2014-07-13T23:39:02Z")
The god in the center of the galaxy. Was that always left unexplained or is there some backstory that was developed for it? I’m assuming it was some entity more powerful than carbon lifeforms (but not as powerful as the Q) that was imprisoned there for destructive behavior. But I really don’t know for sure. ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2014, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-god-in-star-trek-v/693033/2 "2014-07-14T00:03:01Z")
It was the Acme VP of Unfairly Promoted. I’d say you nailed it - some entity, trapped or imprisoned in the matrix, that could communicate with a receptive mind like Sybok’s but not escape without help. A dear friend, now gone, once described his vision of the writer’s conference for ST5: It has gone on until the small hours of the morning. Spilled booze covers the table, blue haze hangs in the air. Finally, a voice (probably Dee Kelley’s) comes from the back: “Let’s have Kirk go up against _God_… and **WIN!** ” ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2014, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-god-in-star-trek-v/693033/3 "2014-07-14T00:03:49Z")
That’s how I saw it. Just some vast powerful entity – like Metrons, Q, Organians, etc. – that happened to be malicious, and thought that playing on human religious beliefs would be a good way to catch a ride. (Jack McDevitt has a somewhat similar plot in “Cauldron.”) A bloke I know showed up to a sf convention wearing an ST:TOS style velour shirt with eleven (count 'em, eleven!) gold stripes up the sleeve. I raised an eyebrow, and he said, “God.” I said, “What does God need with a starship?” ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2014, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-god-in-star-trek-v/693033/4 "2014-07-14T00:05:02Z")
Old, old thread on the subject: > **[Star Trek V: So what was that "God" like entity?](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=175929)** > > If you’ve seen the movie you’ll recall how near the end of the film Kirk, Spock, and Sybok are on this small planet where they confront a being very much like the traditional Judao-Christian image of God. But this character turns out to be cruel... I don’t think it was ever explained in canon other than it was some kind of malevolent entity that was, indeed, trapped in the center of the galaxy. Author Greg Cox wrote a series of novels in which the being was imprisoned in the center of the galaxy by the Q. There was another powerful being that was cast out of the galaxy by the Q and they had created the barrier at the edge of the galaxy (from “Where No Man Has Gone Before”) to keep that one out. ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2014, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-god-in-star-trek-v/693033/5 "2014-07-14T00:09:19Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > There was another powerful being that was cast out of the galaxy by the Q and they had created the barrier at the edge of the galaxy (from “Where No Man Has Gone Before”) to keep that one out. Because, of course, insanely powerful insane galactic entities have no notion of this third dimension thing. ---
**Author:** ![An\_Gadai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2014, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-god-in-star-trek-v/693033/6 "2014-07-14T00:30:03Z")
Every single time I have watched that film I’ve felt like I fell asleep in the middle of it and it just ended. What a piece of shit. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2014, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-god-in-star-trek-v/693033/7 "2014-07-14T00:33:32Z")
> [@Amateur\_Barbarian](#): > > Because, of course, insanely powerful insane galactic entities have no notion of this third dimension thing. So you’re saying the Genesis Device gave Khan magic powers? ---
**Author:** ![blindboyard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blindboyard/32/2833_2.png) [@blindboyard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blindboyard)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2014, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-god-in-star-trek-v/693033/8 "2014-07-14T15:47:26Z")
Well after they escape the planet Kirk says “maybe god is in here” and points to his own chest. So I suppose Kirk ate him. ---
**Author:** ![PSXer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/48db29/32.png) [@PSXer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PSXer)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2014, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-god-in-star-trek-v/693033/9 "2014-07-14T16:10:20Z")
Just some alien Much less powerful than Q. Q doesn’t need a starship ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2014, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-god-in-star-trek-v/693033/10 "2014-07-14T17:05:12Z")
> [@An\_Gadai](#): > > Every single time I have watched that film I’ve felt like I fell asleep in the middle of it and it just ended. What a piece of shit. Are you sure you didn’t actually fall asleep in the middle? ---
**Author:** ![Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/intergalactic_gladiator/32/112_2.png) [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Intergalactic_Gladiator)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2014, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-god-in-star-trek-v/693033/11 "2014-07-14T17:13:14Z")
Heh, I just listened to the Mission Log podcast where they talk about Star Trek V. Man, what a complete misfire that movie was and it’s too bad. Some of the ideas in it were decent - I like the idea of Sybok and how he was gathering followers by taking away their pain, I like the idea of the malevolent entity, and I like the idea that the Federation, Klingons, and Romulans were actually engaging in peace talks. This movie is awful because of a lot of reasons including the endless flying boots chase up the turbo lift, the bad flying boots rescue off the mountain, the flimsy plot element that Sybok is Spock’s brother, the three breasted cat woman who gets thrown in the pool, the campfire singing, or the weak special effects. What’s worse though is that these characters (Kirk/Spock/McCoy) really didn’t seem like they were best friends who have been together and been through it all together. Shatner’s directing and story idea was a big part of the reason. This was also when Roddenberry began to lose his day to day control of the franchise and that hurt it as well. On top of that, there was a writer’s strike that affected the production. ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2014, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-god-in-star-trek-v/693033/12 "2014-07-14T17:25:51Z")
> [@An\_Gadai](#): > > Every single time I have watched that film I’ve felt like I fell asleep in the middle of it and it just ended. What a piece of shit. Why would you watch it more than once 😕 ---
**Author:** ![simster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/simster/32/1047_2.png) [@simster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/simster)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2014, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-god-in-star-trek-v/693033/13 "2014-07-14T17:44:35Z")
Letters from the [Roddenbery Archive](http://missionlogpodcast.com/discovereddocuments/095/) - Interesting stuff there - responses from Asimov, Clarke, etc - ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2014, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-god-in-star-trek-v/693033/14 "2014-07-14T17:56:17Z")
> [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](#): > > Why would you watch it more than once 😕 Insomnia cure. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2014, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-god-in-star-trek-v/693033/15 "2014-07-14T18:41:26Z")
> [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](#): > > Why would you watch it more than once 😕 To give it the MST3K treatment of course. Also, because I started to disbelieve how bad I remembered it being and needed to prove to myself it really was as bad as everyone says. I mean, everyone hates **Lost in Space** , but I loved that movie. ---
**Author:** ![Sauron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce7236/32.png) [@Sauron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sauron)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2014, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-god-in-star-trek-v/693033/16 "2014-07-14T18:45:13Z")
Does anyone else remember the promotional posters for this movie? With the big headline “Why are they putting seatbelts in movie theaters this summer?” After I saw the movie, I came up with two possible responses: 1. To keep people from running out of the theater before this turkey was over. 2. To prevent people from falling out of their seats when they go to sleep watching this turkey. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2014, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-god-in-star-trek-v/693033/17 "2014-07-14T18:47:18Z")
I firmly believe that [Kevin Pollak](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_nziS8brN00&feature=youtube_gdata_player) should have directed Star Trek V. ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2014, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-god-in-star-trek-v/693033/18 "2014-07-14T18:49:32Z")
> [@blindboyard](#): > > Well after they escape the planet Kirk says “maybe god is in here” and points to his own chest. So the entity is a manifestation of William Shatner’s ego? ---
**Author:** ![emarkp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/3be4f8/32.png) [@emarkp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/emarkp)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2014, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-god-in-star-trek-v/693033/19 "2014-07-14T20:43:22Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > To give it the MST3K treatment of course. Dude, [the Rifftrax for that movie](http://www.rifftrax.com/rifftrax/star-trek-v-final-frontier) was the first one I saw, [and it was EPIC](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3_Y5yA33XjQ). ---
**Author:** ![dzeiger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/46a35a/32.png) [@dzeiger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dzeiger)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2014, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-god-in-star-trek-v/693033/20 "2014-07-14T20:45:05Z")
> [@Sauron](#): > > Does anyone else remember the promotional posters for this movie? With the big headline “Why are they putting seatbelts in movie theaters this summer?” I believe I may still have one of those rolled up somewhere. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-god-in-star-trek-v/693033.md?page=2)