Touchy Subject... Religion!

[alanhayes]

After a few days off, Alys and I have just watched episode 23 and the scenes at the end, where there is an obviously Christian gathering on the Ilea, hosted by Creasy and Bromwich. It struck us as a little odd that up to this point, the only mentions of religion had been rather jokey - the depiction of Anna Begani as a fundamentalist nutter who lacks the ability to interact with others. To me this seems rather at odds with the scene I've just watched. If there is a strong Christian contingent on the ship, why the depiction of Anna as a nutter and everyone else as (seeming) atheists/agnostics up to that point?

And why the Christian bias? With students and crew from all over the world, I'd expect to see other religions being practised (if the show has to depict religion at all, I mean).

(I say this as an unswayable atheist, I should point out right away!)

[Nathan]

I don't think there is any serious religeous activity on the Ilea as such (other than Anna). In fact they always mention the Scandanavian Fundementalists who have their own Skylab as if they were a bunch of nutters.

I think the Service of Thanksgiving we see in Episode 23 is nothing more than out of date naval regulations, and such duties are probably listed amongst the standing orders that Eliot is expected to adhere to.

[jameshellyer]

I'm only up to episode 12, but the only references to religion do consist of Anna and complaints about her! Given Mercedes comments, which showed no understanding of who the man on the cross was, I assume the intention is that people of the future have "evolved" past a need for religions...