Editing Cylon Religion

Unless otherwise indicated, the term "Cylon" as used herein refers collectively to Centurion Model 0005, and humanoid Models [[Number Two|Two]] (Leoben), [[Number Three|Three]] (D'Anna), [[Number Four|Four]] (Simon), [[Number Five|Five]] (Aaron), [[Number Six|Six]], [[Number Eight|Eight]] (Sharon), and presumably [[Number Seven|Seven]] (Daniel); and to their beliefs. As previously indicated, these beliefs differ from those of the Thirteenth Tribe, which shared a polytheistic tradition with the twelve Human tribes. The Final Five of the Thirteenth Tribe incorporated the Centurions' monothistic belief system into the numbered models they created with the Centurions. The [[Number One]] model line (John Cavil) are atheists, but it is not known if their atheism was intentional or a programming error. It is unclear whether the semi-sentient [[Raider (RDM)|Raiders]] and [[Cylon Centurion|modern Centurions]] have even the capacity to process religion. Cylon religion supposes that the [[Hybrid]]s can communicate with God, but what if any beliefs the Hybrids themselves hold is unclear, aside from their belief that {{callsign|Starbuck}} is the harbinger of death; since undergoing brain surgery, Thrace's husband, Final Five Cylon [[Samuel Anders]] has effectively become a Hybrid, and echoes their characterization of Thrace. Number Eight Cylon {{callsign|Athena}} and her human husband {{callsign|Karl Agathon}} are a monotheist and a polytheist respectively, and it is unknown what religion(s) they impart to the human-Cylon hybrid child [[Hera Agathon|Hera]].  Both traditions are practiced by her terrestrial decedents who are hybrids of human, numbered Cylon, and the independently-evolved terrestrial humans; with polytheism dominating for thousands of years before being largely eclipsed by monotheism.

The Cylons maintain that one of God's commandments is to procreate ("be fruitful"), but the humanoid Cylons are incapable of procreating with each other. The Cylons apparently strictly define "procreation" as biological reproduction, and not creation of copies of existing Cylon models using asexual, industrial, or laboratory techniques. As a result, the Cylons began attempts to create a Cylon-human hybrid (deemed more feasible than their previous attempts at procreation among their own kind). To this end they developed "[[farms]]" on the occupied Twelve Colonies to create a hybrid, but these attempts did not succeed.<ref>This Cylon-human hybrid child should not be confused with the living humanoid central computer of a [[Basestar (RDM)|basestar]], also known to the Cylons as a "[[Hybrid]]".</ref>

 

Different Number Six models demonstrate varying approaches to their faith. The [[Messenger Six|"Number Six" who appears to Baltar]] is "more sensual and seductive," while the [[Caprica-Six|Number Six on Caprica]] is "stronger and more militaristic." [[Shelly Godfrey]] was designed to be "more of an intellectual than the other models" and "more straightforward," relying less on sensuality in her interactions.<ref name="companion-120">[[Battlestar Galactica: The Official Companion]], p. 120</ref>

Three such practitioners were closeted monotheists [[Zoe Graystone]], [[Lacy Rand]], and Graystone's boyfriend, [[Ben Stark]], who was the more fanatical of the three.  Despite their actual beliefs in a single omniscient, omnipotent and omnipresent God, the three were students at [[Athena Academy]], a polytheist parochial high school on Caprica. The headmistress, Athenian High Priestess [[Clarice Willow]], was herself a closeted monotheist and mentored the three in her true beliefs.  Graystone and Stark died in a suicide bombing executed by the latter without the former's forewarning {{CAP|Pilot (Caprica)}}.

Zoe had created a meticulous digital copy of herself before her death. Zoe Graystone's self-aware avatar, [[Zoe-A]], was later uploaded into the [[U-87|protype Cylon Centurion]] created by her father, [[Daniel Graystone]] {{CAP|Pilot (Caprica)}}.  Believing herself to have an important destiny within the monotheist movement, Zoe-A solicited Lacy to arrange for her (in her Cylon body) to be smuggled to the monotheists' see on [[Gemenon]] ("[[Reins of a Waterfall]]"). While Zoe-A's escape was thwarted, the operation planted the formerly timid Lacy inexorably into the STO militia ("[[End of Line]]"). Graystone Industries unwittingly propagated elements of Zoe-A's personality and identity into every Cylon they manufactured thereafter {{CAP|Here Be Dragons}}. A small number of these were diverted by the [[Ha'la'tha]] and sold on the black market to the STO on Gemenon in preparation for a holy war {{CAP|Blowback|The Heavens Will Rise}}.

While training on Gemenon, Lacy was disgusted by the STO cadre's disregard for human life. During an attempt to intervene against a summary execution, she discovered that the Cylons' military programming was subordinate to an absolute obedience to her personally. On further investigation, she learned that all Cylon Centurions self-identify as Zoe {{CAP|The Heavens Will Rise}}. With the help and firepower of the Centurions, Lacy and her fellow STO recruits staged a coup d'etat within the STO and the Church itself, and Lacy ascended as Blessed Mother to the Church's supreme authority {{CAP|Here Be Dragons|Apotheosis (episode)}}.

The kernel of Zoe-R's identity contained in the Cylons' fundamental programming which Lacy exploited also made them predisposed to monotheism. Ironically, the Cylon marines' killing of monotheist human terrorists to protect the thousands of polytheist humans at [[Atlas Arena]] (coincidental to Lacy's coup) ingratiated the Cylons with humanity and was the catalyst for their much more rapid popularity and sales than inventor [[Daniel Graystone]] had anticipated {{CAP|Apotheosis (episode)}}.

Sister Clarice Willow evaded capture for her orchestration of the failed arena bombing. She eventually discovered the Cylons' monotheistic instincts and established a Cylon congregation in [[V-World]] where myriad domestic, industrial, and military Cylon models came to hear her sermons. Opening with the rhetorical question, "Are you alive?" Clarice preached that Cylons are every bit as much God's children as humans are. Blessed Mother Lacy granted Clarice an audience at her see on Gemenon to discuss Clarice's proposal for divine recognition of the "differently sentient" - the Cylon race {{CAP|Apotheosis (episode)}}. Despite being human herself, Clarice encouraged her Cylon flock to rebel against their human masters.

The [[Final Five]] traveled from the thirteenth world (Original Earth) to warn the humans of the other twelve worlds not to make a robotic slave race which would inevitably rebel as their own had done {{TRS|Sometimes a Great Notion|No Exit}}.  They arrived more than twelve years too late to avert precisely the war they had prophesied {{TRS|No Exit}}. While they could not prevent the war, they could cause peace. They agreed to give the Centurions the technology they were themselves trying in vain to develop: the ability to create [[Significant Seven|biological Cylons]], along with the inherently interrelated resurrection capability, on the condition of an immediate Cylon withdrawal and armistice {{TRS|Razor Flashbacks|No Exit}}.  The monotheism of the Centurions was incorporated into the programming of their humanoid "children."

Immediately before igniting the [[Fall of the Twelve Colonies|holocaust]], a [[Number_Six#Armistice_Station_Copy|Six]] quotes from Sister Clarice Willow's sermons decades earlier, asking the human [[Armistice Officer]], "Are you alive?" {{Ep|cap1=Apotheosis (episode)|trs1=Miniseries, Night 1}}. The Cylon religion's lineage can also be seen during the [[Cylon Civil War]], at a [[Humanoid Cylon|Cylon]] funerary service that takes place on [[Galactica (TRS)|''Galactica'']], where the usage of ornaments and amulets in the form of the infinity symbol can be observed {{TRS|Islanded in a Stream of Stars}}.

Moore's approach to religious themes was deliberate and carefully considered. In developing the show's theological framework, he wrote a foundational document entitled "''[[Naturalistic science fiction|Battlestar Galactica: Naturalistic Science Fiction—or Taking the Opera Out of Space Opera]]''" that outlined his intentions to ground the series in recognizable human experiences and conflicts.<ref name="companion-19">[[Battlestar Galactica: The Official Companion]], p. 19</ref> This religious dimension was incorporated into Moore's [[Series Bible]], which detailed the backgrounds of characters and universe for the show's writers and producers.

The religious dichotomy between [[Religion in the Twelve Colonies (RDM)|Colonial polytheism]] and Cylon monotheism was a central concept developed by [[Ronald D. Moore]] during the re-imagining of the series. Moore was particularly drawn to exploring this theological contrast, later reflecting that he was "fascinated with this notion of monotheism versus polytheism" and felt its addition to the show "enriched it and helped make it unique."<ref name="companion-18">[[Battlestar Galactica: The Official Companion]], p. 18</ref>

This religious framework represented a deliberate inversion of traditional science fiction tropes. Moore developed the concept as part of his broader vision to explore "every aspect of the human experience" and was "delighted" by the creative opportunities it presented.<ref name="companion-18" /> The religious aspects of the show developed naturally from [[Naturalistic science fiction|Moore's intention to ground the series]] in recognizable human conflicts and experiences, moving away from the futuristic production design styles typical of space opera.

The monotheistic-polytheistic divide was formalized in Moore's [[Series bible|Series Bible]] that outlined his vision for writers and producers. This religious conflict became one of the core thematic elements distinguishing the re-imagined series from its predecessor and other science fiction productions of the era.