BSG and LDS - Spoilers

[Dancar]

In case any BSG fans are unaware, Glen Larson, the original creator of the Battlestar Galactica series in the 1970s, was a practicing Mormon, and in fact pitched his series (originally titled "Adama's Ark") to the networks as "Bible stories in an outer space setting." When the series aired, many people commented on parallels between the series and Mormon theology.

Ronald Moore is not a Mormon and claims to have been unaware of the Mormon influence on the original series until his own version way already underway. Still, the RDM BSG carries prominent religious themes througout, from the miniseries all the way to the final lines of the fanale.

The BSG episode threads here contain very little discussion of the religious themes of the show, I suspect because most scifi fans tend to be not very religious.

But I would like to ask LDS and former LDS members, or anyone else if they think that the religious themes in the modern BSG are still Mormon influenced, or just a mishmash of the original LDS influnce, Christian, polytheistic and New Age ideas Moore has heard of.

Spoiler Rule - Assume everyone reading has seen the Fanale. If you haven't seen it yet, go watch it and come back.

And I have to say this - please avoid any debate of which religions are right or wrong - stick to the religious themes in BSG (both versions) and how they connect to actual religious traditions.

[DevdogAZ]

First, it was Glen A. Larson who created Battlestar Galactica, not Gary Larson (The Far Side).

Second, I can't remember any religious references in the new BSG that I would consider influenced by LDS beliefs, while I remember several from the original.

[hummingbird_206]

I know nothing about LDS so don't know whether there were any LDS references or influences in BSG. I do know that the way Baltar and Six were portrayed as "Angels" in the finale really annoyed me. Whether that's an LDS thing or not:confused:

[Legion]

If BSG had a talking purple salamander and magic reading glasses then I would say you were on to something.

[wmcbrine]

It seems to me that the religious ideas in the new BSG were influenced by those in the old one, even with no direct reference to LDS. The intervention of (as it turned out) "angels" was straight from the old show, for example.

[Amnesia]

Well, LDS is a monotheistic religion and the "correct" religion in BSG turned out to be a monotheistic one (as opposed to the polytheistic beliefs of the majority of the humans).

[Dancar]

If BSG had a talking purple salamander and magic reading glasses then I would say you were on to something.

Well let's see... from the page http://www.michaellorenzen.com/galactica.html :

There are many parallels between the story of Battlestar Galactica and Mormon teachings. The Book of Mormon tells the story of how the Prophet Lehi took the remnant of the Tribe of Joseph to ancient America around the year 600 BC. In Battlestar Galactica, mankind founded twelve different colonies. In addition, mankind also founded a thirteenth colony on Earth that was lost from the other twelve. In the same way that The Book of Mormon has a Tribe of Israel lost on another continent beyond the knowledge of the other tribes, Battlestar Galactica has a lost colony of man separate from the main body of humanity. The lost Tribe of Israel is central to The Book of Mormon in the same way that the lost colony of Earth is central to Battlestar Galactica.

... the home world of all humanity is revealed to be the planet Kobol. This name is strikingly similar to the star Kolob which is discussed in Mormon theology. In The Pearl of Great Price, The Book of Abraham Chapter Three, Kolob is described as the star "nearest onto the Throne of God."...

Another similarity between Mormonism and Battlestar Galactica is in the political structure of the ruling bodies of each. The Mormon Church is run by a Quorum of the Twelve which is headed by a president. In Battlestar Galactica, the colonies are ruled by a Council of Twelve which is also headed by a president.

And all of this was used in the new series, not to mention 12 models of Cylons (well, until the final four episodes). And wasn't it a "Quorum of Twelve" in the new series? (not to mention this page: http://io9.com/384538/could-gaius-baltar-be----a-mormon which compares Baltar to Joseph Smith

The page I quoted goes on to describe some Mormon doctrines I didn't particualy see in the new series, fate verses free will, polytheism verses monotheism verses atheism, visions, angels, and apparently devine intervention. The show was more about these themes than it was about special effects space battles - certainly more than it was about advanced technology.

In fact, it was probably the most religious show since "Touched By an Angle." Though I am not religious myself, I think this made Battlestar Galactica a much more interesting show.

[Demandred]

...was probably the most religious show since "Touched By an Angle."

I hope it was at least (an) acute angle.

Seriously though I thought they could have done more with the religion angle, especially the polytheistic views of the humans. They did a little bit with the prophecies of Pythia in the early-mid part of the series but just like everything else with the series, I think that suffered from a lack of planning and foresight. If they'd sat down around the beginning of season 2 and said "You know we have this huge audience watching, let's think of 3-4 big "twists" to do over the next few seasons now, and then thought of things to foreshadow those it would have been better.

[Rocketslc]

If BSG had a talking purple salamander and magic reading glasses then I would say you were on to something.


Or Mark Hoffman blowing everyone up in the end. :)












Historical note: Hoffman forged a bunch of LDS documents. When thing started going wrong, he blew up two people (and, non-fatally, himself)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Hofmann

[DevdogAZ]

Something that I remember very vividly from the original series was a wedding where Adama presided and pronounced the couple married for "time and all eternity." That is directly influenced by Mormon theology. I don't remember seeing any weddings on the new series.

[sbourgeo]

Something that I remember very vividly from the original series was a wedding where Adama presided and pronounced the couple married for "time and all eternity."

I thought it was "sealed" instead of married?

[IndyJones1023]

RDM claims to never have known of the Mormon connection? I call BS. I thought even casual fans knew of that.

[DevdogAZ]

I thought it was "sealed" instead of married?
In BSG or in Mormonism? In Mormonism, they are one and the same. I don't remember if they used the term "sealed" in BSG.

[sbourgeo]

In BSG or in Mormonism? In Mormonism, they are one and the same. I don't remember if they used the term "sealed" in BSG.

It was sealed in TOS. As in: Apollo was sealed to a Serina (played by a smoking hot Jane Seymour). :up:

[DevdogAZ]

It was sealed in TOS. As in: Apollo was sealed to a Serina (played by a smoking hot Jane Seymour). :up:
In that case, it's an even stronger tie to Mormonism.

[Legion]

Well let's see... from the page http://www.michaellorenzen.com/galactica.html :



And all of this was used in the new series, not to mention 12 models of Cylons (well, until the final four episodes). And wasn't it a "Quorum of Twelve" in the new series? (not to mention this page: http://io9.com/384538/could-gaius-baltar-be----a-mormon which compares Baltar to Joseph Smith

The page I quoted goes on to describe some Mormon doctrines I didn't particualy see in the new series, fate verses free will, polytheism verses monotheism verses atheism, visions, angels, and apparently devine intervention. The show was more about these themes than it was about special effects space battles - certainly more than it was about advanced technology.

In fact, it was probably the most religious show since "Touched By an Angle." Though I am not religious myself, I think this made Battlestar Galactica a much more interesting show.

Mormons didnt corner the market on 12. I think the Jews had a tribe.....or 12.

[DevdogAZ]

Mormons didnt corner the market on 12. I think the Jews had a tribe.....or 12.
It's not the significance of the number as much as it is the "Council of the Twelve" or "Quorum of the Twelve" which are direct references to Mormonism.

[Dancar]

The number 12 is a reference to the 12 tribes of Israel, as well as the 12 Apostles. This is a Judeo-Christian reference not specific to Mornonism. There are others in the new series such as when the fleet was enlaved by the Clyons like the Jews were enslaved by the Egyptians. This seemed like an obvious parallel to me while it was being brodcast.

I was hoping that Daniel the hidden 13th Cylon corresponds with Earth the hidden Colony which corresponds with the Mormon 13th Tribe. I think RDM changed his mind about going there, unfortunately.