Spoiler Alert!!!

In the latest installment of BSG's final season, the writers are leading us down a familiar path of American/Cylon analogies and counterpoints.  In season 3, one of the early themes involved the ethical quandries associated with employing tactical suicide bombings in asymmetrical insurgencies. What? Is this Iraq in space? The answer to that question is a resounding no, but the parallel drawn between the human resistance on New Caprica by the occupying Cylons, invoked not only the reality of the battlefield scenarios being played out in Afghanistan and Iraq, but also conjured memories of Nazis marching into Paris. As Centurions mechanically advanced through mainstreet NC-City, the awe-stricken human populace hung their heads in an all too familiar trepidation.

An emerging theme of season 4 is the previously foreshadowed struggle for religious dominance. In humanities' corner we have Zeus and Apollo etc., the Greek Gods of lore. In the Cylon corner, we are honored by the one true God, who shall remain nameless so as to not offend all the other one, true Gods, of course. The tensions have risen between the few humans who believe in monotheism versus the majority of sects who adhere to the multiplicity of the old Gods. Gaius Baltar, following the perfectly timed cues of the Model Six in his head, has gradually panned the spectrum of belief from Deconverted Fundamentalist Polytheist to Atheist to Monotheistic Prophetic Savior. Quite a gamut-run for a scientist/ex-president!

This latest shift of Baltar's begrudged acceptance of the idea of a single God, to becoming one of God's chosen people to spread the word, is one of many fascinating character twists. While there have been numerous personal experiences that seemed to allude to a hand of God guiding Baltar's actions(the Cylon Tilium reactor core location, and recently the spontaneous healing of a boy Gaius prayed for), these correlations do not imply causation. Nevertheless, Baltar, the once dyed in the wool skeptic, has become a true believer. Now he finds himself in the midst of a mostly resentful population who blaim the Cylon occupation, and his resulting collaboration, on his corrupt government. Getting off the hook in the eyes of the law does not dispel the belief that he is a traitor to humanity and deserves divine retribution for his sins.

Where can he turn? Perhaps he can find a little solace in a predominantly attractive, female group of believers in the one, true God. A perfect match for a self serving, womanizer with a panache for manipulating weaker minds. Well, he soon finds out that this harem of monotheistic fundamentalists, while seeming to keep to themselves, is not without enemies. Enemies that would like to strike at their newly adopted figurehead, Baltar the Betrayer. A new reason d'etre for Gaius reveals itself...he is to lead these people to the one true God, away from the petty old Lords of Kobol, and into the all knowing perfection of his new teacher.

As the latest episode starts off, the peace of Baltar's believers is shattered once again as a sect of Aries followers storms Baltar's safehouse and roughs up his disciples. As Baltar hides in fear, Six coaxes his him into accepting the events that are being thrust upon him. When the investigators come to the scene, the air of careless apathy is more than Baltar can bear. The only thing that will honor the injustices done to him and his, is to strike back in turn at those who have dealt the first blow, and this is where things gets interesting.

In an obvious homage to Jesus causing a riot in the temple, Baltar interrupts a polytheistic service preaching to the believers the error of their ways. Smashing the small sculpted idols of the Gods onto the floor and blaspheming their Gods as false, gains the ire of the churchgoers and the interest of the law. Gaius is arrested, and the President sees his cult as dangerous. She fears his rule of the people through religious zealotry will run humanity amok as it did before the occupation. She signs a law denying entrance of more than 12 people to his safehouse at a time, denying them access to worship, and prosyletize, and live in peace. Placing sentries outside his lair does not deter Gaius. Six, in the role of his guardian angel, pleads for him to move on, disobey the sentry's command, and lead his people into their home and place of worship. Six claims no harm will come to him as he steps forward. Whack! The butt of the sentry's assault rifle bloodies his lips. As he stands, thoughts of martyrdom flood his thoughts. As he steps toward the blocked entrance again, Lee Adama comes to his aide and commands the sentry to stand down. The quorum of 12 has overruled the president's decree as inhibiting religious freedom, and the crisis has been averted.

The scene cuts to Gaius, still bloodied and bruised, entering his home triumphantly and elucidating his knowledge of God. Gaius used to be selfish, and immoral, but this knowledge of God, and the miracles he can perform out of love have changed him. This God is a God of perfection. He is divine. We are his creations, for we have a divine spark within us. That divine spark, residing in us...is a reminder...that we are perfect...just as we are.

Thunderous applause breaks out as a maddened Baltar, hands still raised as he completes his sermon, receives his official coronation as prophetic redeemer of humanity's collective souls. The transition is complete. This former scientist is now a savior, and the battle between Gods and God has let out one more birth pang in her increasingly violent nascency.

Anyways, that is my take on the episode. The writers are really playing up this messianic prophet angle using Jesus as a template. The denial of Baltar into his temple really had a "let my people go" feel to it as well. I think it is a great social issue to tackle. Religion is one of many issues they have attempted to contrast and compare by shedding a little light on the subject. These heated contentions are central to the core of American life. Ron Moore, like his work on TNG, has effectively used a popular scifi tv show to ask some big questions, and probe a bit into some uncomfortable spaces that our preconceived notions occupy. While I might not always agree with the twists and turns those in the writer's seat take us on, I applaud the manner in which they beg the questions that need to be asked.