Battlestar Galactica: Cylon God vs. Human Gods: A Monotheism vs. Polytheism Showdown
I don't know how many people here are Battlestar Galactica Fans(the current series), but I have been intrigued recently about the interplay of faith and consequences between the Cylons' "one true God" and humanity's "Gods(Lords of Kobol)." The original series was created by a Mormon, and "a number of elements from the show derive from Mormonism, the religion of series creator Glen Larson. In particular, the concept of a lost Thirteenth Tribe is from Mormon legend. The Quorum of Twelve is also a Mormon concept." One of the things I find interesting is that this seems to incorporate the idea that polytheism comes first and later develops into Monotheism. In the series, the Cylons had a peace with humanity for 40 years living apart from them, but then in the blink of an eye they attempted to make humanity go extinct supposedly because of a directive issued by their God. This holocaust of humanity by the Cylons is the central plot device for the entire show, yet the reason for the holocaust has never been fully explained. The issue of religion in the show, specifically the unspecified commandments of the Cylon God, was the prime motivating force for the destruction of an entire group of people.
"The humanoid Cylons, as well as a small minority of humans, worship a single deity they call only by the name of God. Cylons justify or attribute much of their actions, including the genocidal attack against humanity, as a requirement of their God. The Cylons profess a series of commandments given by their God. However, the specific commandments have not fully revealed.
While very knowledgeable of the Lords of Kobol, the Cylons feel that the Colonials worship false gods (Home, Part I)[1].
Several seemingly miraculous events suggest that there may be more to the Cylon God than mere myth. Virtual Six has claimed to be an agent of her deity, and has access to knowledge which seems to belie rational explanation. The healing of Derrick is similarly inexplicable."
I find this parallel between reality and Scifi to be a situation that provides an excellent objective viewpoint of how religion, belief in a God, really can change the world(in this case the universe) in a negative way. Both the humans and Cylons are following signs by the Gods and both groups seem to have some anectdotal evidence to support these claims. Some of the Cylons are Atheists with respect to God(Brother Cavil) and some of the humans are Atheists(Admiral Adama), but they both recognize the importance of using the beliefs of others to motivate their people and help them unite as a group with a common interest. The show excellently underscores the idea that leaders may not believe in religion, but they sure know how to use it to their advantage. I really can't wait to see if the writers ever reveal if one of their belief systems is correct and what the consequences of that revelation would be.
“Fear is the path to the dark side. Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering.” Yoda
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Love BSG
I'm only in the 3rd season, so don't ruin it for me. The series has awesome social and personal commentary, especially on religion. It's so cool.
Love Boomer/Athena. So hot. Starbuck is hot too, but you would have to be self destructive to go anywhere near her.
3rd season is getting a little slow. I mean, who gives a frag about Adama's dead wife?
But, back to topic, I also can't wait to see where they go with the religion theme. I really hope they have a major plot in mind so that it doesn't just fizzle out like the x-files.
Zen-atheist wielding Occam's katana.
Jesus said, "Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division." - Luke 12:51
I've just got into this
I've just got into this series in the last few weeks (always late to the party, it seems). I rented the 4 hour miniseries, became hopelessly hooked on it and bought Season 1.
(Season One - Episode Spoiler Alert)
I just watched the episode "Six Degrees of Separation", tonight. "Baltar", a human atheist intellecutal disparages religion, attributing it to the weak, the uneducated and the not so bright. His Cylon ("counterpart" ?) becomes furious w/ this, insisting that there is only one god and that man must serve him. The Cylon disappears only to reappear in human form by framing "Baltar". It's only when "Baltar" prays to god for help that the Cylon saves him from imprisonment/execution, thereby supposedly teaching him a lesson about the need for god. Interesting note: The lesson is only taught through fear and threat of death. The Cylon (6) takes on the human name of Shelley Godfrey.... as in "god-free" ? Anyway i'm really enjoying the religious/atheism themes as well.
"In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth becomes a revolutionary act."
George Orwell
God and Baltar
He is one of my favorite characters as well. The personal evolution of Baltar and his opinion of God/Gods and religion is quite fantastic since he is basically the greatest scientist left in humanity.
As for season 3, the first 4 eps kick ass and then it kinda drags on with a few stand alone eps that makes me think RDM must have been reliving his TNG writing days as everyone knows that too many stand alone episodes in an epic series driven by plotline can be death when trying to create suspense in the show's seasonal arc.
This is the beginning of the last season and so far it is pretty good. I would definitely have to say it is one of the best television shows in recent history among the likes of Rome, Deadwood, and Lost.
“Fear is the path to the dark side. Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering.” Yoda
Crap, already up to episode
Crap, already up to episode 3 of season 4, why didn't anyone tell me it was back on?
Not knowing mormonism much at all, I had no idea that was where it came from. I thought it was more a comparison of judaism. I can't remember the specifics exactly but I believe early jews were polytheistic until yahweh came along and said his infamous "I am the one true god, you shall have no other gods before me". The Cylon god I thought was akin to yahweh, and the humans 12 gods were akin to the other gods the jews worshiped prior to that with different groups each having their own preferred of the 12. Though, if memory serves in earths history it was more a case of a creator god who created the heavens and the earth, then had children of whom yahweh was one and then 3 or so other siblings - not 12 of them though?
I'm not fond of the references anyway as the religious/supersticious reason always wins out in the end over the rational one. At the very least, at least it makes for a good story and doesn't destroy it.
As for my favourite character, it has to be Kaylee Frye. Yeah, I know she's a character from a completely different show but that just goes to show how cool she is.
Organised religion is the ultimate form of blasphemy.
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Judeo-Christian BSG influence
The 12 Gods are basically the Greek Gods, there was a thirteenth God, known as the Jealous God(read Cylon God).
The Gnostics believed that there was a creator God(flawed creation) and a Divine Heavenly God, I don't believe Yahweh was ever thought to be a child of any other Gods. Yahweh in the OT warns about the other false Gods Molech, Ashtaroth, and Baal. Curiously, he never says they aren't real, just that they are false and he will punish anyone who tries to worship them.
The Jealous God
Elosha states that the exodus from Kobol was precipitated when "one jealous god began to desire that he be elevated above all the other gods, and the war on Kobol began."[7]
I would check out the Battlestar wiki pages which have a wealth of info from the show pulled together in a comprehensive format.
http://en.battlestarwiki.org/wiki/Religion_in_the_Twelve_Colonies
http://en.battlestarwiki.org/wiki/Cylon_Religion
http://en.battlestarwiki.org/wiki/Thirteenth_Tribe
http://en.battlestarwiki.org/wiki/The_Destiny
As for Kaylee, she is hot, and although Firefly was kick ass it never really had a shot with FOX. She is now on Stargate Atlantis as a doctor. Stargate Atlantis is more like old school Star Trek style Scifi, but I watch it occasionally.
“Fear is the path to the dark side. Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering.” Yoda