I owe a debt of gratitude to Gene and the entire crew. I was doubting my religion, and felt like I was losing my moral compass in the process. I was asking myself what type of person I wanted to be. The values that TNG showed me helped me in the 10 years since — being open to other cultures and their beliefs (Half a Life), to hold truth above others, and nothing can break that (Chain of Command), and to live my life more open, honestly, and fully (Inner Light)
I condemn false prophets, I condemn the effort to take away the power of rational decision, to drain people of their free will--and a hell of a lot of money in the bargain. Religions vary in their degree of idiocy, but I reject them all. For most people, religion is nothing more than a substitute for a malfunctioning brain. -Gene Roddenberry