Let me hijack the thread long enough to recommend Joseph Campbell's "The Power of Myth." It's kind of an overview of what he discovered in his career of exploring religion and myth. The birth/death/resurrection of Jesus was not the first time that story was told. The Egyptians had a similar story in Isis, Osiris, and Horus. "The hero's journey" is another common theme across cultures: the young man who must undertake a journey to fight or win something. Myths about the stars, and constellations are common. Many cultures have myths about the Pleiades, for example.
I used to think that because the myths and religions may not be literally true, that they are invalid, but I no longer think that way. They are the guides we have to understanding life, and the transition to manhood / womanhood, and our place in the world.
Some would say some of the problems in our societies are due to the fact that we no longer pay attention to the myths, and miss the important lessons.
Films:
"Star Trek 2: The Wrath of Khan"
"Star Trek 4: The Voyage Home"
