Battlestar Galactica: Baltar's Messiah Complex

buddytv · 04-29-2008, 06:05 AM

Religion has always been an important underlying theme within the universe of Battlestar Galactica. The monotheistic beliefs of the Cylons have clashed with the polytheistic views of the humans since the very first episode of the series. Though religion has always played a big role in the lives of the characters, their beliefs have often taken a back seat to the sci-fi storytelling. The story arcs involving Laura Roslin (Mary McDonnell) and Number Six address the topic more overtly, but outside of those two characters, the series has mostly kept religion in the background.

All of that has changed now that the show is in its fourth and final season. Number Six is now intent on spreading the word of the One True God throughout the Galactica, and she's using Gaius Baltar to do it. Is the show making a mistake by moving the religious subtext to the forefront?

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hikinggirl70 · 04-29-2008, 01:34 PM

Even though Baltar is now talking about the one true God, it has been talked about before. Now that he has a cult following him, I wonder what Number 6 wants Baltar to do with them. I hope the writers are aware that we don't need another story about Jesus Christ.

BuddyD · 04-29-2008, 01:51 PM

There's always the possibility that they'll get to Earth, find that it's Biblical times, and Baltar will actually BE Jesus Christ. Highly unlikely, but you never know!

managizzle · 04-29-2008, 02:24 PM

Knowing the BSG writers, just when we think it is all about religion, they will suddenly knock us in a different direction....

leoscuro · 04-29-2008, 03:47 PM

I think the large majority of BSG followers are missing the real point behind this. We are the ones making the paralles between Jesus and Baltar. Since head six appeard upon Gaius Baltar she has insisted she is an angel of "God" and that "God" has a plan for him.
The whole Jesus parallel is really showing how easy religious believe can make people suspend logic and reason. This whole thing is not about Baltar reaching redemption but what a foil religion can be if eventually Baltar will be regarded as a messiah by the people he inflicted unintentional pain upon.
People believe Jesus was a great human trough FAITH not FACT. That is really the point here and how dangerous this blind adoration will turn out to be.
The same is happening with the Cylon believe system regarding the finale five. Natalie is for the Cylons as Baltar is for the humans and Roslin is for the humans as Cavil is for the Cylons.
In my opinion this is defintely brilliant and people seem to be wasting their time readi

leoscuro · 04-29-2008, 03:50 PM

(continued) wasting their time reading this whole plot as simply Jesus=Baltar.
The implication here is more: what if Jesus was really like Baltar? Would it matter if at the end his teachings and words will eventually heal the wounds?

MeggK · 04-29-2008, 04:21 PM

Yeah well there is a lot of people out there would prefer to watch the best sci-fi show ever, not go so crazy out of touch with the plot line. I would guess to say that most of the fan's of this show love it for the basic plot line which is: Will the human prevail over the cylons? Who is the real bad guy in this show? Will they find earth and survive if the cylons follow them there? Will the finale five go completely crazy and kill everyone on Galactica? Will star buck ever decide that Apollo and she do really love each other and belong together? Is Adama and Starbuck possibly cylons? How did Starbuck come back to life after her ship blew up? Sorry I think this questions and plot lines are way more interesting then going in the direction of debating if Jesus was as bad as Baltar?

MeggK · 04-29-2008, 04:21 PM

My goodness I don't watch sci-fi to hear and think about sermans and church. Plus the writers run the real danger of just plain ticking people off. I know I'm close to that. I want answers to my questions, not answers to what the writers think of religion. I don't care what they think. To me they are almost mocking anyone of faith, that's not a good in my book, not good at all!

leoscuro · 04-29-2008, 04:33 PM

well MegganKillough2, I think we are watching two entirely different shows and I respect your views but religion has being an integral part of this show since day one. They are expanding it now beacuse the plot is warranting it and it is an integral part to answer the questions you are posing.
And remember, if you are feeling so insulted by it You can always stop watching. The mere fact that you are feeling insulted by it shows to ME this show is one of the greatest show on TV of all time. It makes you cringe, it mankes you think and face issues you normally will not see on TV.
The writers should write thinking about what they want to achieve as storytelllers and is up to you if you want to engage on that particular conversation.

nwfierro · 05-01-2008, 09:43 AM

While there are a few things Baltar has in common with Jesus, his whole theology is not quite Christian enough to really worry me. He was simply making statements that apply to the show and its characters.

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04-29-2008, 06:05 AM	#1
buddytv Administrator Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 11,778,730	Religion has always been an important underlying theme within the universe of Battlestar Galactica. The monotheistic beliefs of the Cylons have clashed with the polytheistic views of the humans since the very first episode of the series. Though religion has always played a big role in the lives of the characters, their beliefs have often taken a back seat to the sci-fi storytelling. The story arcs involving Laura Roslin (Mary McDonnell) and Number Six address the topic more overtly, but outside of those two characters, the series has mostly kept religion in the background. All of that has changed now that the show is in its fourth and final season. Number Six is now intent on spreading the word of the One True God throughout the Galactica, and she's using Gaius Baltar to do it. Is the show making a mistake by moving the religious subtext to the forefront? To read the rest, click here.

04-29-2008, 01:34 PM	#2
hikinggirl70 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Farmingdale, NY Posts: 546	Even though Baltar is now talking about the one true God, it has been talked about before. Now that he has a cult following him, I wonder what Number 6 wants Baltar to do with them. I hope the writers are aware that we don't need another story about Jesus Christ.

04-29-2008, 01:51 PM	#3
BuddyD Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 1,005	There's always the possibility that they'll get to Earth, find that it's Biblical times, and Baltar will actually BE Jesus Christ. Highly unlikely, but you never know!

04-29-2008, 02:24 PM	#4
managizzle Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 1	Knowing the BSG writers, just when we think it is all about religion, they will suddenly knock us in a different direction....

04-29-2008, 03:47 PM	#5
leoscuro Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 18	I think the large majority of BSG followers are missing the real point behind this. We are the ones making the paralles between Jesus and Baltar. Since head six appeard upon Gaius Baltar she has insisted she is an angel of "God" and that "God" has a plan for him. The whole Jesus parallel is really showing how easy religious believe can make people suspend logic and reason. This whole thing is not about Baltar reaching redemption but what a foil religion can be if eventually Baltar will be regarded as a messiah by the people he inflicted unintentional pain upon. People believe Jesus was a great human trough FAITH not FACT. That is really the point here and how dangerous this blind adoration will turn out to be. The same is happening with the Cylon believe system regarding the finale five. Natalie is for the Cylons as Baltar is for the humans and Roslin is for the humans as Cavil is for the Cylons. In my opinion this is defintely brilliant and people seem to be wasting their time readi

04-29-2008, 03:50 PM	#6
leoscuro Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 18	(continued) wasting their time reading this whole plot as simply Jesus=Baltar. The implication here is more: what if Jesus was really like Baltar? Would it matter if at the end his teachings and words will eventually heal the wounds?

04-29-2008, 04:21 PM	#7
MeggK Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 29	Yeah well there is a lot of people out there would prefer to watch the best sci-fi show ever, not go so crazy out of touch with the plot line. I would guess to say that most of the fan's of this show love it for the basic plot line which is: Will the human prevail over the cylons? Who is the real bad guy in this show? Will they find earth and survive if the cylons follow them there? Will the finale five go completely crazy and kill everyone on Galactica? Will star buck ever decide that Apollo and she do really love each other and belong together? Is Adama and Starbuck possibly cylons? How did Starbuck come back to life after her ship blew up? Sorry I think this questions and plot lines are way more interesting then going in the direction of debating if Jesus was as bad as Baltar?

04-29-2008, 04:33 PM	#9
leoscuro Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 18	well MegganKillough2, I think we are watching two entirely different shows and I respect your views but religion has being an integral part of this show since day one. They are expanding it now beacuse the plot is warranting it and it is an integral part to answer the questions you are posing. And remember, if you are feeling so insulted by it You can always stop watching. The mere fact that you are feeling insulted by it shows to ME this show is one of the greatest show on TV of all time. It makes you cringe, it mankes you think and face issues you normally will not see on TV. The writers should write thinking about what they want to achieve as storytelllers and is up to you if you want to engage on that particular conversation.

05-01-2008, 09:43 AM	#10
nwfierro Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 4	While there are a few things Baltar has in common with Jesus, his whole theology is not quite Christian enough to really worry me. He was simply making statements that apply to the show and its characters.