BSG, 'Hand of God'

[eye_of_a_cat]

(don't spoil me, kind people)

Interesting prophecy. I suppose what it actually says will get discussed in more detail later on or in the next season(s), but right now I'm more interested in where it came from - this prophet that a few people have vaguely heard about, but nobody really considered that important up to now. Baltar got taught about her writings at school once, but couldn't remember what the prophecy said, and Laura Roslin hadn't heard about her at all. The priest describes them as 'part of the Sacred Scrolls', though, so presumably they're just a part that people didn't pay a huge amount of attention to before the Cylons. This isn't really surprising, since from what we know they're a collection of surreal-sounding visions about the end of the world, and people usually have more important things to pay attention to.

It makes sense for the priest to pay attention to them now - suddenly it is the end of the world, and it makes sense to start trying to match up what's happening with any prophecies that might help, no matter how crazy they always sounded beforehand. Besides, it's part of her job to know what her holy texts say. But Six knew about them, too, and that seems more interesting. Why would the Cylons put such importance on a prophecy that the humans had, but never considered important? Unless they think this is the way that the End Of The World will happen, and see themselves as instrumental in making sure it takes place.

Obviously there's a lot in the show anyway that can be mapped onto various ideas of religious fundamentalism. I don't think one-on-one allegories usually work, here or anywhere else (also, they're usually not very interesting when they do), but in this case - a collection of weird-sounding prophecies about the End Of The World contained in a part of the holy texts people don't usually pay all that much attention to, a bunch of people who not only give it a great deal of importance but think it's going to happen really soon, and a general agreement among those people that the End Of The World will feature a) huge amounts of bloodshed, b) the death/disappearance of a lot of people, and c) even more violence and bloodshed for the survivors, carried out by God's messengers and condoned by a God who still loves them but chooses this way of showing it. Hm. Substitute the prophecies of Pythia for the book of Revelation, put the word 'Rapture' in there somewhere, and I bet the Cylon equivalent of the Left Behind books were selling like hot cakes just before the invasion.

(As for the Earth version of Left Behind (in which Jesus really shows everyone what that 'Prince of Peace' thing was about), slacktivist's commentary is funny and informed and worth a read - he's working his way through a page at a time, and the post titled Welcome To The Hellmouth explains why he thinks it's worth doing.)

Comments

Re Left Behind'

[eken95.livejournal.com]

After reading about this book and series of books I think God is more likely to toss the whole of humanity into a chasm. When I read stuff like this it makes me feel the Cylons got it right. And if anyone, anyone can show me where in the New Testament Jesus advocates behaving like the Terminator I'd be happy to read it. What a sad bloody lot we are.

[eye-of-a-cat.livejournal.com]

where in the New Testament Jesus advocates behaving like the Terminator

Snerk. I think this is indeed ActionMovie!Jesus - going for the special effects over anything of actual value.

[kiaforrest.livejournal.com]

The priest describes them as 'part of the Sacred Scrolls', though, so presumably they're just a part that people didn't pay a huge amount of attention to before the Cylons. This isn't really surprising, since from what we know they're a collection of surreal-sounding visions about the end of the world, and people usually have more important things to pay attention to.

Also - the end of the first Cylon War was 40 or 50 years ago - when folks focused on Sacred Texts - they were probably focusing on Rebuilding/ Mercy/ New Era or stuff like that. They *might* have thought they'd already Survived The End and those prophecies were already met. ??

Like in the first millennium? Many were sure the world was nearly over... but uh, nope, sorry... keep working >smile<.

[eye-of-a-cat.livejournal.com]

They *might* have thought they'd already Survived The End and those prophecies were already met. ??

Oooh, I like that idea. If they thought the Apocalypse had already happened, there'd be no real reason to pay any attention to End-Of-The-World prophecies any more. Maybe the Cylons got fed up with it not happening the way they'd hoped for and decided to take matters into their own hands?

[kiaforrest.livejournal.com]

it's possible - perhaps the Cylons are trying to force the prophecies & that is 'The Plan'?

[eye-of-a-cat.livejournal.com]

Maybe. I really hope they do have a plan, after all this buildup - I still feel a bit wary after thinking there was some coherent planned outline to The X-Files.

[kiaforrest.livejournal.com]

I still feel a bit wary after thinking there was some coherent planned outline to The X-Files.

I can't count the number of times I said, "This better not be another X-files by the seat of your pants - o this would be cool, let's do this- week to week plan!" I Want to hope but I still feel like an utter idiot for trusting in CC.

[jesus-freak1234.livejournal.com]

to eken95-

Someone happy to throw us all into a chasm? Maybe not. I just know that sin can't get into heaven, so he is likely to chuck all the evil down with the evildoers (which we all are). It's just a matter of whether or not you have Jesus in you to erase your sin.

[eken95.livejournal.com]

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<<Someone happy to throw us all into a chasm? Maybe not. I just know that sin can't get into heaven, so he is likely to chuck all the evil down with the evildoers (which we all are). It's just a matter of whether or not you have Jesus in you to erase your sin>>

"The latest is "Glorious Appearing," which has Jesus returning to Earth to wipe all non-Christians from the planet"

I seriously doubt anyone writing that sort of stuff has Jesus in them, at least not the Jesus I grew up with.

[eye-of-a-cat.livejournal.com]

Which still allows for very different views on whose sins get erased, from the very limited one-denomination-only idea to the all-inclusive. Still, though, I don't think Jesus throwing people into chasms here has anything to do with salvation; it doesn't seem to be about peace or love or forgiveness or compassion even in the slightest, and comes across as a much pettier "just wait till the Apocalypse, and you'll pay for disagreeing with us!" grumble.

[kiaforrest.livejournal.com]

which IS how the Cylons appeared in the beginning/ mini... but Six & Boomer both SEEM to be implying there IS a place for sinners/ Colonials. I think it's interesting how the writers are playing with the image of 'hope' the Cylons might offer in the future as a way to get the Colonials to cooperate... and how those select Colonials who have had daily interaction with Cylons seem to alter their view - heck even Hours of interaction changes their preconceived expectations Very Quickly. Only Adama has remained rooted in his original impression, but this Seems to be his basic temperament in all areas of his life, interactions....?