Cult

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Cult of BaltarCult of the Serpent

The shrine in the cultists' commune.

The Cult of Baltar are a growing group of Colonials within the Fleet who believe Gaius Baltar to be a messianic figure for the "one true God".

This cult, which began sometime after Gaius Baltar's capture by the Colonials and likely as a result of both Baltar's book and legal proceedings, contains a majority of nubile, well-proportioned young women, with a smattering of male supporters, also athletic (over time the cult appears to expand slightly beyond this demographic). Members of this cult use an abandoned dry stowage compartment located on deck eight, section fourteen on Galactica as their commune, where they have erected a shrine with a large, string-lighted star and a photo of Baltar taken during his position as president of the Twelve Colonies ("He That Believeth in Me," "Escape Velocity").

Baltar's initial reaction to this cult is one of fear and loathing; he initially desires to leave, finding himself willing to be despised and hated by his fellow men rather than being stuck in the commune, which he likens to a "loony bin". However, he soon finds himself convinced by Virtual Six to embrace his new role as the cult's leader, particularly when Jeanne's deathly-ill young boy, Derrick, miraculously and completely recovers from his viral encephalitis ^{(TRS: "He That Believeth in Me")}.

Baltar's salvation and indoctrination

Baltar and Tracey Anne surrounded by well-proportioned, nubile cultists, including Jeanne.

The first indications of this cult are shown to Baltar himself just before his trial, as five devotees (including Jeanne) visit him in the brig, and over 30 wrote to him ^{(TRS: "Crossroads, Part I")}.

Jeanne and two other women attend the trial as spectators ^{(TRS: "Crossroads, Part I")}. These women earn a stare from Laura Roslin during Lee "Apollo" Adama's testimony, which Jeanne (the then-de facto leader of the cult) returns.

After applauding Baltar's not guilty verdict, they whisk Baltar away to his "new life," when Galactica experiences power-loss after their FTL jump to the Ionian nebula ^{(TRS: "Crossroads, Part II")}, and bring him to the commune. At the commune, Baltar's needs and appetites are provided for by the cultists. At Virtual Six's urging, Baltar begins to reiterate his views on the class warfare within the Fleet, the "aristocracy," and the fact that there is only one true God. Baltar further contends that the Lords of Kobol and other religious trappings were created by the ruling elite to suppress the lower-class.

His role as the messianic idol in this cult is emboldened by his prayer, where he offers to exchange his life so that Derrick may live, and the fact that his prayer appears to result in Derrick's miraculous recovery ^{(TRS: "He That Believeth in Me")}.

Religious beliefs and practices

The "bird-like" symbol of the cult, as seen on a drapery in the commune.

At the outset, the cult's belief system seems to be somewhat vague, other than a messianic view of Baltar. Over time Baltar begins to flesh out a more well defined belief system, setting his Cult in conflict with the "old gods". This is done at the behest of Virtual Six and, curiously, Baltar's own Virtual Baltar. Like with the majority of Baltar's actions, Virtual Six appears to be the one truly in control.

Baltar tells his followers that there is something in the universe that loves them, which he calls "God," and that they can also see this "singular spark that dwells in the soul of every living being" by looking deeply into themselves. He urges them to accept and embrace their faults, to love themselves, because if they don't love themselves, they couldn't love others. Influenced by Tory Foster's words, Baltar thinks that all of them are "perfect" ^{(TRS: "Escape Velocity")}. After that, Baltar's sermons are being broadcast throughout the ship, and likely the entire Fleet on the wireless ^{(TRS: "The Road Less Traveled")}.

Additionally, the cult has a formal bird-like symbol (pictured right), which the cultists begin painting as Baltar attacks a mainstream temple (Escape Velocity) and later adopting it on shrouds and other draperies (The Road Less Traveled). The symbol represents a "gull," which is an acronym for "grace, unity, life, and love" (Daybreak, Part II Podcast).

Reaction of the Fleet

The cult soon becomes the target of the Sons of Ares, a violent, likely religious, group that attacks and vandalizes the commune. In retaliation, Baltar disrupts a temple service.

To prevent such civil unrest in the future, President Roslin authorizes an emergency measure, forbidden assemblies of groups larger than twelve. On Galactica, Marines prevent Baltar's followers from gathering in their rooms, causing a tense confrontation. However, some Quorum delegates, such as Lee "Apollo" Adama and Reza Chronides, find this religious discrimination troubling are willing to tolerate the cult as long as they stay peaceful. They open the issue to a full vote in an emergency session and the Quorum rescinds Roslin's order ^{(TRS: "Escape Velocity")}.

After the disappointing discovery of Earth, Baltar expressed anger at God for breaking his promises and abandoning his people ^{(TRS: "A Disquiet Follows My Soul")}. This change of view towards God appears to have been incorporated into the cult's theology ^{(TRS: "Deadlock")}.

The number of people who attend Baltar's speeches continues to grow, and includes both civilians and members of Galactica crew. It is unclear whether all are official members of the cult. Such attendees include Brendan Costanza and Galen Tyrol ^{(TRS: "A Disquiet Follows My Soul")}.

The cult appeared to stay largely neutral during the attempted coup (The Oath, Blood on the Scales), but Roslin was permitted to use the group's radio to address the fleet. During his brief exile on the Cylon baseship Baltar reveals his true contempt for his cult's devotion, although he expresses guilt for abandoning them.

Shortly before the Battle of the Colony, Baltar finally decides to turn the cult over to Paulla Schaffer. Baltar stays on Galactica to take part in its defense while the rest are evacuated ^{(TRS: "Daybreak, Part II")}.

Cult Members

In addition to various women with a smattering of male participants, notable members of the cult include:

• Jeanne
• Tracey Anne
• Paulla Schaffer
• Lilly
• Tory Foster

See also

Soldiers of the One - an older group of human monotheists in the Twelve Colonies

References

This article has a separate continuity. This article is in the Richard Hatch continuation separate continuity, which is related to the Original Series. Be sure that your contributions to this article reflect the characters and events specific to this continuity only.

The Cult of the Serpent is a Sagittarian religious cult operating within the Pit aboard Ursus and is the most powerful group in that vessel's underbelly. The cult is led by Tybalt, who styles himself as the "high priest of the Serpent."

Organization and influence

The Cult of the Serpent wields considerable power within the Pit, with many members maintaining jobs and functions throughout the fleet. Despite having the financial means to leave the Pit, many cultists choose to remain, leading Captain Morgan to wonder what they are hiding from. The cult may even have Colonial Warriors among its ranks, though they do not live in the Pit itself.

The cult's devotion to Tybalt is absolute. Morgan notes that any one of the cultists would give their life for their leader without hesitation, demonstrating an intense fanaticism that both impresses and disturbs the captain of Ursus.

The inhabitants of the Pit genuinely fear the Serpent Cult, keeping their distance from the cult's quarters, which are located in the cleaner, more organized sections of the Pit. The cult's living area is secured by a coded tech-lock on an iris door.

Activities and beliefs

The cult maintains ritual practices, including crude etchings on the floor of their quarters arranged in a circle where members gather. These markings suggest ceremonies that extend beyond simple prayer.

Political agenda

The cult becomes a militant force supporting Ambassador Puck{{'}s campaign for command of the fleet following Commander Adama{{'}s death. Tybalt describes the cult as "a special interest group, looking out for our special interest, which, as I've said, is the appointment of Ambassador Puck to the position of commander."

Connection to Iblis

The cult operates under the influence of Count Iblis, who appears to Tybalt as a shadowy figure in the darkened Pit. Lieutenant Troy observes Tybalt receiving instructions from "a silhouette there, the size of a man, though it seemed to blend in with the other shadows."

When Troy publicly questions whether the serpents the cult worships are connected to the reptilian Cylons, Tybalt reacts with desperation, and several of his own followers begin to doubt him. One Tauran woman asks, "Are the serpents you have us praying to some kind of Cylon gods?" Tybalt's violent response—killing the woman—and his inability to adequately deny the accusation causes his followers to turn against him.

Violent actions

The cult engages in murder and terrorism to further its goals:

• The cult murders Terence, an agro-worker from Agro-3, decapitating him to silence him as a potential witness to Puck's murder by Iblis.

• When Colonial Warriors Troy and Dalton investigate Terence's whereabouts, the cultists ambush them, killing several of Morgan's crewmen by slitting their throats.

• The cultists take Troy, Dalton, and Captain Morgan hostage, binding them and moving them to a wider area of the Pit where Tybalt prepares to execute them as part of a fleet-wide broadcast.

• Tybalt murders Captain Morgan in cold blood during the broadcast, shooting him through the head to demonstrate the cult's seriousness.

• Using a skyeye to broadcast throughout the fleet via TransVid and unicomm, Tybalt issues an ultimatum demanding the Quorum vote Puck in as commander within one centon, threatening to execute Ensign Dalton and Lieutenant Troy if his demands are not met.

Downfall

When Commander Athena leads a rescue force into the Pit, a fierce laser battle erupts between the Warriors and the cultists. Despite being outnumbered, the Warriors' superior training allows them to hold their own against the untrained cultists.

Troy's accusation about the cult's connection to the Cylons creates dissent among Tybalt's followers. When Tybalt kills one of his own followers for questioning him, Athena shoots him through the chest with a laser blast, killing him. The skyeye broadcasts his death throughout the fleet, and the surviving cultists quietly surrender.

References

For direct navigation sans the tabbed navigational aid above, please select one of the following article links:

• Cult of Baltar
• Cult of the Serpent