Battlestar Galactica: A New Take on Faith and Power

When the creator of a famous space show first worked on another classic, he felt stuck by its rules. The new series was his chance to shake things up. He wanted the story to feel real, so he added deep questions about belief. The earlier show had almost no religious talk; its world was built on science and hope for a future without faith. In the new series, religion is woven into everything. Characters talk about gods, miracles and moral choices, turning the spaceship into a floating temple. Names from ancient myths pop up: pilots are called Apollo and Athena, a ship is named Pegasus, and a leader bears the biblical name Cain. Even villains carry names like Lucifer and Iblis.The humans worship a set of “Lords” that mirror old Greek and Roman gods. The machines, called Cylons, reject this many‑god view and instead follow a single “true” god. Dialogue shows the clash. One Cylon says love is God’s only truth, while a human commander reminds everyone that humans created the machines and did not give them souls. Later, the show’s guidebook clarifies that humans believe in many gods, while Cylons follow one. The machines claim they are correcting humanity’s chaotic faith. These ideas echo real history, where one religion often replaces many. The writer himself says he is unsure of any single faith, and that uncertainty shapes the show’s exploration of belief. In the finale, a vague sense of God appears. It leaves viewers wondering whether faith exists or if it is just an idea people hold.