Help me understand this issue? (BSG viewers only please)?

Question

I am in a vanpool which allows us to watch movies/series during our commute.

One of our members has decided that it is intolerable for him to watch Season 3 of Battlestar Galactica (the new one) because the "good guys" are polytheist and the "bad guys" are monotheistic. We tried to explain to him that it still sort of met the "logic" check because early civilizations were polytheistic, but to no avail... "The first people were monotheistic, Adam and Eve... says so in the Bible"..

It is truly hard for me to comprehend and I do not want to offend this man's faith, but I am unwilling to change my world view because of his inability to acknowledge cold, hard facts about humans....
The man is a smart, intelligent, and educated person, but this just strikes such a chord to think he takes this literally. What drives people to take a 2,000+ year old text of parables, fables, and lessons (and maybe some actual history) and apply them literally across the board?

Answer 1

Childhood indoctrination and emotional manipulation



Religion, at its core, is an emotional belief. Religion plays on human insecurities to get and keep converts. It both promises rewards after death and threatens eternal punishment for non-compliance. People in the religion are fearful of considering anything that contradicts their faith, because they see that as been dangerous to their place after their dead. This is often transposed to a sort of stubborn obstinance against looking at anything that could contradict their holy book.

Answer 2

I watch the new BSG, which I love, but I don't think one needs to watch the show to answer your question.



"What drives people to take a 2,000+ year old text of parables, fables, and lessons (and maybe some actual history) and apply them literally across the board?"



Simple answer: Indoctrination into an ideology which indirectly says having a self fulfilling view of reality is virtuous, and is something that must be respected. Personal beliefs are NOT a substitute for whats real.

Answer 3

He is right, you are wrong about the first humans being monotheistic. I would guess that the vanpool is a democracy and that majority rule dictates you get to watch the show....so no worries.

Answer 4

In real life people do not learn a lot for example their are wars and greed which go hand in hand. So what have they learnt,wanting more money or power. How old is the bible, people only see what they want to see.

Answer 5

There are literally thousands of diff things you can watch. You should probably find one that you can all be ok with watching.



As a mormon I would find it pretty offensive if I didnt watch R rated movies and everyone out voted me and didnt care to respect my value system.



LOL, you might not want to tell him the original creator was mormon and a lot of mormon principles snuck its way into the show. That might freak him out more.

Answer 6

Why should he not? Other religions do it. Including polytheism. I would respect his beliefs and leave the man alone.