Star Trek: DS 9 Netflix - S1 E19 A reflection of our times

[sealchan]

I purposefully am posting this in the religious debates category even though it is (nominally) about a TV syndicated show

I do not post much anymore on RF but as I was (binge) watching DS9 on Netflix - I came across this episode which I thought was eerily similar to some of the debate that goes on here - "In the hands of the prophets"

From the episode - the Bajorans have their religious leaders called Vedeks - and believe in their prophets. One of the conservative leaders wants to change what is taught in schools as it pertains to the wormhole - when the teacher asks whether Evolution will be the next to be changed - she does not get an answer. What is also interesting is that conservative religious leader condemns scientific advances as being "soul-less" and the "work of the devil" -

As a contrast the Commander of the station - Sisko - explaining the situation to his son - points out (elegantly I thought) that "their faith is what kept them going when times were bad"

Turns out that the conservative religious leader is in a power struggle with a more liberal one to become the head of the order and the way she manipulates an employee to cause explosions and kill others - all the while proclaiming - "The Prophets demand sacrifices" and "You will be rewarded in the hereafter" - brought home to me the similarities of how some religious leaders preach

This show was made probably sometime in 1993 and yet almost three decades later we are still talking about such matters

Thought that was interesting

For me this episode fairly captures my own view on faith and its role. As the series progresses the past fate of the Bajorans becomes the dark despair of all of the Federation. Having a light to hold onto while one is emotionally overwhelmed is the point of faith IMO.

 

[sealchan]

and you noticed the play on the word.....gods

I'm not sure that I did...did someone use the word "gods" in that episode?

 

[sealchan]

Pretty sure the Q would wipe the floor with the Prophets.

That depends on whether he can wrap his intellect around the eternity in which the Prophets exist.

 

[Revoltingest]

my grandad and his brother

You come from a very intelligent looking family.
What happened with you?

 

[Dan From Smithville]

I like the one wherein the crew and Picard are dealing with a powerful spirit entity
that wants to be left alone

that entity loved one woman who was killed in a senseless war

the spirit responded with genocide
he killed all of the species

and in grief and guilt put himself to solitary confinement
with only the reincarnated image of his lost love
for comfort

when Picard realized their intrusion and …….invasion of his privacy
Picard carefully conceded.....
We have no law for the scope of your crime

the crew left......leaving a warning buoy for all other ships to stay away

One of my favorite episodes.

On DS9, one of my favorite episodes is "In the Pale Moonlight", where Sisko engages in bringing the Romulans into the war against the Dominion.

 

[sealchan]

She is a great actress and her character is my favourite star trek character.

I love Kira, Quark, Sisko, O'Brien mainly in Season 1. So far in Season 2 I see Quark and Dax being developed in interesting ways. But some of the best characters are the supporting, recurring characters such as Gul Dukat and Garrick. And who can forget Morn, once you've spotted him there isnt an episode that can go without him.

 

[Dan From Smithville]

I purposefully am posting this in the religious debates category even though it is (nominally) about a TV syndicated show

I do not post much anymore on RF but as I was (binge) watching DS9 on Netflix - I came across this episode which I thought was eerily similar to some of the debate that goes on here - "In the hands of the prophets"

From the episode - the Bajorans have their religious leaders called Vedeks - and believe in their prophets. One of the conservative leaders wants to change what is taught in schools as it pertains to the wormhole - when the teacher asks whether Evolution will be the next to be changed - she does not get an answer. What is also interesting is that conservative religious leader condemns scientific advances as being "soul-less" and the "work of the devil" -

As a contrast the Commander of the station - Sisko - explaining the situation to his son - points out (elegantly I thought) that "their faith is what kept them going when times were bad"

Turns out that the conservative religious leader is in a power struggle with a more liberal one to become the head of the order and the way she manipulates an employee to cause explosions and kill others - all the while proclaiming - "The Prophets demand sacrifices" and "You will be rewarded in the hereafter" - brought home to me the similarities of how some religious leaders preach

This show was made probably sometime in 1993 and yet almost three decades later we are still talking about such matters

Thought that was interesting

Star Trek has always dealt with social issues, philosophical questions and human behavior. I have watched it since I was five. I even learned how to make gunpowder from watching Star Trek. That was a lot of fun.

 

[Dan From Smithville]

I love Kira, Quark, Sisko, O'Brien mainly in Season 1. So far in Season 2 I see Quark and Dax being developed in interesting ways. But some of the best characters are the supporting, recurring characters such as Gul Dukat and Garrick. And who can forget Morn, once you've spotted him there isnt an episode that can go without him.

I really liked the character of Garrick. Such a mix of compartmentalized motivations.

 

[sealchan]

I purposefully am posting this in the religious debates category even though it is (nominally) about a TV syndicated show

I do not post much anymore on RF but as I was (binge) watching DS9 on Netflix - I came across this episode which I thought was eerily similar to some of the debate that goes on here - "In the hands of the prophets"

From the episode - the Bajorans have their religious leaders called Vedeks - and believe in their prophets. One of the conservative leaders wants to change what is taught in schools as it pertains to the wormhole - when the teacher asks whether Evolution will be the next to be changed - she does not get an answer. What is also interesting is that conservative religious leader condemns scientific advances as being "soul-less" and the "work of the devil" -

As a contrast the Commander of the station - Sisko - explaining the situation to his son - points out (elegantly I thought) that "their faith is what kept them going when times were bad"

Turns out that the conservative religious leader is in a power struggle with a more liberal one to become the head of the order and the way she manipulates an employee to cause explosions and kill others - all the while proclaiming - "The Prophets demand sacrifices" and "You will be rewarded in the hereafter" - brought home to me the similarities of how some religious leaders preach

This show was made probably sometime in 1993 and yet almost three decades later we are still talking about such matters

Thought that was interesting

Given that I believe that modern science fiction epics which deal with spiritual and moral matters can be "mined" (interpreted, studied, used for discussion) for spiritual knowledge and learning, i have been toying with analyzing this series on a literary level much as I have with Genesis and the Gospel of Matthew to look for spiritual, psychological and moral content.

I have just looked through available resources online which include an amazingly complete wiki breakdown of every episode as well as the availability of the screenplays for each episode so it looks like I could review an episode without having to watch it and take hand-typed notes...i could review after watching and copy and paste from the screenplay or other resources before preparing a thread so it would be practical for me.

I have had some success drawing in participants with the Genesis and Matthew threads...I wonder how much participation I could expect on a Deep Space Nine Study Group thread series?

 

[Thief]

You come from a very intelligent looking family.
What happened with you?

forum addiction

 

[Stevicus]

I wonder how much participation I could expect on a Deep Space Nine Study Group thread series?

I would participate. Although I'm a veteran of a few Star Trek discussion forums, where just about every nuance, every line, every conceivable detail that can be discussed has been discussed.

 

[Thief]

I would participate. Although I'm a veteran of a few Star Trek discussion forums, where just about every nuance, every line, every conceivable detail that can be discussed has been discussed.

trekker addiction

yeah I know it

I suffer

 

[Neutral Name]

I purposefully am posting this in the religious debates category even though it is (nominally) about a TV syndicated show

I do not post much anymore on RF but as I was (binge) watching DS9 on Netflix - I came across this episode which I thought was eerily similar to some of the debate that goes on here - "In the hands of the prophets"

From the episode - the Bajorans have their religious leaders called Vedeks - and believe in their prophets. One of the conservative leaders wants to change what is taught in schools as it pertains to the wormhole - when the teacher asks whether Evolution will be the next to be changed - she does not get an answer. What is also interesting is that conservative religious leader condemns scientific advances as being "soul-less" and the "work of the devil" -

As a contrast the Commander of the station - Sisko - explaining the situation to his son - points out (elegantly I thought) that "their faith is what kept them going when times were bad"

Turns out that the conservative religious leader is in a power struggle with a more liberal one to become the head of the order and the way she manipulates an employee to cause explosions and kill others - all the while proclaiming - "The Prophets demand sacrifices" and "You will be rewarded in the hereafter" - brought home to me the similarities of how some religious leaders preach

This show was made probably sometime in 1993 and yet almost three decades later we are still talking about such matters

Thought that was interesting

That is amazing, a definite foreshadowing,