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As with just about any television show, it's hard to make any sweeping generalizations about the goals and ideology behind the images the audience sees. So many people are involved, production demands change things, performances add nuance to words on the script. Just talk to Brannon Braga about third season's much-hated "Threshold," and he'll tell you intended messages don't always come across as planned. Thus, it's hard to make any generalizations about how the producers wish the viewers` would view religion. Likely their viewpoints are as varied as the ideas presented throughout the show's seven years. And those ideas are varied:
  • False Gods are uncovered (but only to the crew of Voyager, leaving the peoples of the planets pleasantly oblivious-"False Profits," "The Caretaker")
  • characters who find comfort, peace and answers in their own and other's beliefs and practices ("Barge of the Dead," "The Cloud," "Gravity," etc.)

In the end the general message gleaned from the show seems to be that religion is fine, if used correctly. Don't believe because it's what everyone tells you it's true. Don't be afraid to ask questions and to explore the truth. Don't look at any faith or philosophy as though you have all the answers. There may be some truth to every faith.

It's certainly a pluralistic outlook, that suggests there may be no "absolute truths" but a different one for every person, but it's also rather tolerant and understands that religion serves many purposes. While in some ways religion can be used to coerce people and drive them to do some strange things, often it's just a part of life, that isn't easily shrugged off and forgotten and, in many cases, shouldn't be.

That's a little different than The Original Series.
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