I remember an episode of the original series, in which at the end, they were all seated around a table and told that if they drank of this cup they would either die, or live forever.....very fuzzy, but It was a trip for sure...Anyone know the episode????

If you can extend your search to books, "Stranger in a Strange Land" by Heinlein. I'm betting it will eventually become a movie or DVD. --Walt.

There's also an SF short story - I believe by Arthur C. Clarke - of a spaceship captain chasing about the galaxy because of rumors that the messiah has been to this or that planet. The captain keeps missing him (and missing the point, in Clarke's view).

Star Trek on acid -- I got to see this!

"The Way to Eden also ends with the guru and said hippies on the planet they think is Eden, where they intend to pursue their perfect lifestyle, only to discover the plants and fruits growing on the planet are deadly toxic. Bones steps around and announces that the fruits are "full of acid" and this is the reason for thier deadly nature.

I bet you'd like "The Way to Eden." The central figure is a guru-like guy who used to be an engineer but who contracted a disease that is specifically a product of a highly technological lifestyle (as I recall). So, he and his group reject technology of all kinds, and seek to return to the mythical Eden. (But space ships are okay, since they have to get to this planet somehow.)

This episode also has great Haight-Ashbury period costumes and verbiage, and - if I remember correctly - a jam session with Mr. Spock grooving with the cult members. I'm sure you can see how this episode reflected the 1960's.

I think it had more to do with the "Son God" thought by Kirk to be the "sun god". Kirk was corrected by the Communications officer, Uhura

Check out The Return of the Archons from season 1. It revolves around a semingly "pre-technical" culture directed by the omniscient Landru (who turns out to be a computer).

Thanks for all the replies. I am a bit overwhelmed with all the choices, because now it seems as if Star Trek was ONLY about messiahs. I think I'll start with the "Bread and Circuses" episode.

Trekkies coming out of the woodwork! It reminds me of an old remedy for a broken down car in the state of Oregon: Quickly place a Greatful Dead sticker on your car.

This did seem to be a common theme in old Star Trek as I remember. There was also a really good one on an old Twilight Zone With Rod Serling..therein lies the rub.

In the original series it could have been The Paradise Syndrome:

"Now free from the obelisk, Kirk is found by the natives, who come to believe Kirk (calling himself Kirok with his damaged memory) is a god. Kirk both becomes the tribe's medicine chief and marries the priestess Miramanee."

There was also the novel "Spock, Messiah!" by Theodore R. Cogswell.

It can also depend on your definition of "early days." Star Trek: The Next Generation featured a couple of episodes where a planet had its own God. And one episode the captian had to convince the people he wasn't a god.

In the episode Rightful Heir Worf seems to meet the Klingon messiah, Kahless.

In Deep Space Nine the captain is effectively the messiah for the planet near the space station.

Finally, in Voyager, the episode Prophecy has a group of Klingons who believe a Voyager crew member is about to give birth to their messiah.

In the episode "Bread and Circuses":
http://www.startrek.com/library/tos_episodes/episodes_tos_detail_68746.asp
the planet's civilization had a historical evolution parallel to ours except that in their 20th century the Roman Empire still ruled. Kirk & Co. thought that the pious folk they encountered, who were oppressed by the Romans, were "sun" worshippers and finally put two and two together and figure out that the are "Son" worshippers, followers of their Messiah, the Son of God.

this site gives descriptions of each of the original star trek episodes: http://www.startrek.com/library/episodes_tos.asp

i looked at several and also did a web search on theological writings about star trek, the three that came closest to what you are seeking seem to be:

omega glory
friday's child
assignment earth

unfortunately, there is no way to search the episodes by keyword.

According to my roomate, a big Trekkie, there are several possibilties:

"Errand of Mercy" Ep #27

'The Omega Glory" Ep # 54

"Patterns of Force" Ep #52

I remember this episode. I may have it in my collection. As I recall, the messiah was actually a Star Fleet captain who was marooned on the planet, and developed a religion around himself (based on his technological advancement - following Arthur C. Clarks maxim). He had a Bible, and when Kirk and Spock show up and attempt to persuade the guy to observe the Prime Directive, he gets pissed, and tried to discredit them by pointing our that Spock looks just like the illustration of Satan in his illustrated Bible.

I'll look through my collection and see if I can come up with the name of the episode.