A PREACHER has decided to boldly go where no cleric has gone before by writing the gospel according to Star Trek.

Alyson Leslie, an Episcopalian lay pastor from Newport-on-Tay in Fife, hopes to spread the word of God by appealing to fans of the science fiction series.

Her Star Trek gospel provides a list of religious and moral parables that can be drawn from episodes of the programme, which celebrates its 40th birthday this year.

Leslie has already published her Testament for Trekkies on the internet and as a book in New Zealand. She is now in talks with British publishers.

The original Star Trek, which featured James T Kirk, Spock and the cantankerous engineer Scotty, began in 1966. It gained a new lease of life in the 1980s when Patrick Stewart, the English actor, took the helm as Captain Jean Luc Picard.

It has since spawned the spin-off series Deep Space Nine, Voyager and Enterprise.

“I am inviting people to journey through the galaxy to find the meaning of life,” said Leslie, who is also a member of the Audit Commission and General Medical Council.

“As captains Kirk, Picard, Sisko, Janeway and their crews explore the Star Trek universe they encounter situations and species that challenge their beliefs and ours.

“True exploration is always a journey towards greater understanding. I want people to join the quest to better understand our universe, ourselves and our place in time and space.”

Leslie intends to chronicle as many episodes as possible, adding lists of “points to ponder” and spiritual questions.

“Contrary to popular misconception, Star Trek is not a silly programme about fighting bug-eyed aliens,” she said.

“The characters in the series are often able to look beyond themselves and beyond the ordinary on their journeys.”

The Star Trek Gospels have been backed by the Scottish Episcopal church. “We do encourage innovative and modern means of communicating the message of the gospels,” said a spokeswoman.

However, it is unlikely that the late Gene Roddenberry, Star Trek’s creator, would have approved. “Religions vary in their degree of idiocy, but I reject them all,” he said before his death. “I condemn the effort to take away the power of rational decision, to drain people of free will and a hell of a lot of money into the bargain.”

Times Recommends

• Swine flu vaccine for all as drug rushed through
• Artificial sperm and the race to build a baby
• BBC jets out stars to tout for prizes