One of the things I've always liked about the Star Trek movies and TV shows, is that they are morality plays. They explore all the moral issues of our time, in a context my kids were able to accept. I'd never be able to discuss these things with my kids directly, but I can in a Star Trek context. My kids and my stepson are nonreligious former Catholics and wouldn't dream of discussing these issues in a religious context, but they have no problem discussing the very same things in the context of science fiction.
Heinlein and Asimov and Bradbury started the practice of science fiction as morality play, and the Star Trek series has carried on the tradition very well.
I'm looking forward to seeing this latest movie, and I hope the series will come back to television in some form soon.
-Joe-