S07.E09: Covenant

[iMonrey]

Quote

Dukat, now a religious leader, holds Kira hostage. Mika, one of Dukat's followers, gives birth to a half-Cardassian child.

First of all, I really enjoyed what this episode had to say about religion. When Dukat asked Kira to explain why the Prophets would allow her people to suffer under the Cardassian occupation, she had the same answer any person of faith would have: God has a path for us and it's beyond our understanding. And I liked when she pointed out to Dukat that "when people try to convince others of their beliefs it's really because they're trying to convince themselves." It's also interesting to note that Odo wanted to believe but couldn't and suggested maybe an Orb experience would do the trick. But Kira tells him it doesn't work that way: faith has to come first. That seems to suggest these "experiences" only happen if you're pre-disposed to having them, sort of like self-hypnosis. Yet both Jadzia and Benjamin had Orb experiences without any prior devotion to the Prophets. 

However, this episode does raise the question of whether religion still exists on Earth. I cannot recall a single Star Trek character ever professing any kind of faith, whether it be Christianity, Judaism, Islam or Buddhism. Has Earth become completely secular by the 24th century? Certainly the Klingons and the Bajorans have their own religions, and often the metaphors are about as subtle as an anvil. Where are the people of faith from Earth?

[John Potts]

1 hour ago, iMonrey said:

However, this episode does raise the question of whether religion still exists on Earth. I cannot recall a single Star Trek character ever professing any kind of faith, whether it be Christianity, Judaism, Islam or Buddhism

Well, that's because Gene Roddenbury was an atheist (or humanist, if you prefer) and thought humanity would have evolved "beyond such primitive superstitions" (I think Captain Picard put it that way in Who Watches the Watchers) - I have my doubts, and not just because I still hold those "primitive beliefs" myself. But I believe Keiko was revealed as a Buddhist at her wedding* (Data's Day) and Admiral Ross refers to a (human) Minister potentially performing Sisko's wedding later this Season.

* A quick trip to Memory Alpha reveals there's no such Keiko reveal, but the Data does refer to a celebration of the Hindu Festival of Lights (Divali?) taking place aboard the Enterprise.

[readster]

5 hours ago, John Potts said:

Well, that's because Gene Roddenbury was an atheist (or humanist, if you prefer) and thought humanity would have evolved "beyond such primitive superstitions" (I think Captain Picard put it that way in Who Watches the Watchers) - I have my doubts, and not just because I still hold those "primitive beliefs" myself. But I believe Keiko was revealed as a Buddhist at her wedding* (Data's Day) and Admiral Ross refers to a (human) Minister potentially performing Sisko's wedding later this Season.

* A quick trip to Memory Alpha reveals there's no such Keiko reveal, but the Data does refer to a celebration of the Hindu Festival of Lights (Divali?) taking place aboard the Enterprise.

In Tapestry when Q was pretending he was God, Picard said it perfectly: "You are certainly not, God! The universe isn't that poorly constructed." Showing that Picard had some beliefs and as he pointed out in the Watches the Watchers. 

[Maverick]

 In Rodddenberry's original Trek there is certainly no religion.  The brief mentions in later series seem to indicate that religious belies may still exist for some, but "evolved" humans don't war over it, judge other people by it or try to impose their beliefs on others.   

[readster]

1 minute ago, Maverick said:

 In Rodddenberry's original Trek there is certainly no religion.  The brief mentions in later series seem to indicate that religious belies may still exist for some, but "evolved" humans don't war over it, judge other people by it or try to impose their beliefs on others.   

Then you add in the entire Indian situation in Journey's End and most of Voyager. 

[VCRTracking]

For a final episode between Kira and Dukat I like it a lot. Also agree with her how more terrifying he was now that he believed in the Pah Wraiths.

[rmontro]

On 8/18/2017 at 10:11 PM, readster said:

In Tapestry when Q was pretending he was God, Picard said it perfectly: "You are certainly not, God! The universe isn't that poorly constructed." Showing that Picard had some beliefs and as he pointed out in the Watches the Watchers. 

That strikes me as more of a commentary on Q's competence than an expression of faith.  But I don't agree with Roddenberry.  I'm not an atheist, and I happen to think there is value to faith, rather than denouncing it as "primitive superstition" that we should grow out of.  That's one reason I find the Kira character so refreshing, because she is one of the few Trek characters that follows some sort of spirituality.

That said, another episode where they throw another twist into the Dul Dukat character, this time casting him as a sort of James Jones.  He must desperately seek Kira's approval for some reason, to demand that she be present to see his persona as a religious leader.  Whether it's because of her mother, or because she is such a tough judge, it's hard to say.

Dukat was originally intending to kill his daughter Ziyal before having a change of heart.  And here it again appears that he is willing to kill another one of his offspring.  What a psychopath.

Kira was apparently convinced that Dukat really did believe he was doing the Pah-Wraith's will.  At least until he found it an inconvenience.