Topic > Examining the Religious Imprint on Battlestar Galactica

Humanity has an insatiable desire to pursue the unknown. A key aspect of the human condition is questioning humanity's place in the universe and what the future holds. Many believe this is an important factor that distinguishes humanity from the rest of the animal kingdom: the ability to peer into the world on a deeper level. There have been many ways to do this, from observing the planetary ecosystem to analyzing the rest of humanity, to contemplating whether there is a higher power or entity in the universe. It is through these processes that humanity has developed the theories and beliefs founded in religion. However, with the latest development in science and technology, society is facing a whole series of problems regarding this television show which had a first season in the 1970s, followed by a four-season reboot in 2004. In original show, the religious resonance with the Mormon faith is very clear, with an entire article by Neumann dedicated to “Mormonism in Battlestar Galactica.” Not surprisingly, the creator, Glen Larson, was actually a Mormon, which becomes apparent when you realize that “the show incorporated many themes of Mormon theology, such as marriage for 'time and eternity' called sealing and a 'council of twelve'. The show ends up becoming almost “an allegory of Mormon theology” (Neumann, 227-228). They also make obvious use of “Mormonism's most sacred number, 13…[is] prominently displayed in BSG” (Neumann, 232). In Mormon theology there are “the 12 tribes of Israel plus the one that went overseas,” while Earth is supposedly the thirteenth colony of humanity (Neumann, 232). Furthermore, their plot is heavily based on the concept of exoduses. Just as the humans banished the Cylons after the war, the Mormons were driven out of almost every place they went. Even the names of the planets have meaning, Battlestar Galactica's Kobol is based on the planet Kolob in Mormon theology, which is believed to be closest to God. It is clear that the original series is heavily based on Christian theology, making it not surprising discovery which was originally titled "Adam's Ark" and was focused on the retelling of biblical stories in space. A few changes were made, Adam became Adama, and the rest is history. This change of pace laid the groundwork for the subsequent Battlestar Galactica, but the series' impact was limited by its one-season length, the sexism and gender roles the series is riddled with, and, most importantly, the only religious theme throughout the series. course of the show. Using a singular religion makes it rather one-dimensional, poor