Cult of Baltar

The shrine in the cultists' commune.

The Cult of Baltar are a 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, white-toned, well-proportioned young women, with a smattering of male supporters, also white-toned and athletic. Members of this cult use an abandoned dry stowage compartment 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.

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 than being stuck in the commune, which he likens to a "looney 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 (He That Believeth In Me).

Baltar's salvation and indoctrination

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 (Crossroads, Part I).

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

Jeanne and two other women attend the trial as spectators (Crossroads, Part I). These women earn a stare from Laura Roslin during Lee 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 (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 (He That Believeth In Me).

Religious beliefs and practices

Baltar tells that his followers that there is something in the universe that loves him, 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" (Escape Velocity).

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 12. On Galactica, Marines prevent Baltar's followers from gathering in their rooms, causing a tense confrontation. However, some Quorum delegates, such as Lee Adama and Reza Chronides are willing to tolerate the cult, as long as they stay peaceful. They open the issue to a full vote and the Quorum eventually decides to rescind Roslin's order (Escape Velocity).