Battlestar Galactica Bible Study Week 12

Season 3- Episode: “Crossroads Part 2”

Genesis 14:17-20

After Abram returned from defeating Kedorlaomer and the kings allied with him, the king of Sodom came out to meet him in the Valley of Shaveh (that is, the King’s Valley).

¹⁸ Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was priest of God Most High, ¹⁹ and he blessed Abram, saying,

“Blessed be Abram by God Most High,
    Creator of heaven and earth.
²⁰ And praise be to God Most High,
    who delivered your enemies into your hand.”

Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything.

Psalm 127

Unless the Lord builds the house,
    the builders labor in vain.
Unless the Lord watches over the city,
    the guards stand watch in vain.
² In vain you rise early
    and stay up late,
toiling for food to eat—
    for he grants sleep to those he loves.

³ Children are a heritage from the Lord,
    offspring a reward from him.
⁴ Like arrows in the hands of a warrior
    are children born in one’s youth.
⁵ Blessed is the man
    whose quiver is full of them.
They will not be put to shame
    when they contend with their opponents in court.

Mark 16:1-8

When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus’ body. ² Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb ³ and they asked each other, “Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?”

⁴ But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away. ⁵ As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed.

⁶ “Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. ⁷ But go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.’”

⁸ Trembling and bewildered, the women went out and fled from the tomb. They said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid.

Reflect on the Bible passages in light of the film?

What do you think of Laura’s desire to simply ‘stay in bed’?

Have you ever felt this way?

What do you think of the Psalm passage’s attitude about this?

Why do you think the episode begins by juxtaposing the various people trying to start their days?

How might we start our day if we lived as the Psalmist suggests?

How would you feel about those few who could hear the same music as you, if you and they were the only ones who could hear?

How does Abraham react to Melchizedek and why does he react this way?

What is it like when Sharon, Caprica Six and Laura both have the same vision at the same time?

What might this mean?

What are these visions doing to these people?

Reflect upon the various scenes towards the end: the Final Five Cylons realizing who they are, and Cara returning, Gaius becoming a religious leader, the continuation of the Opera House vision…in light of the women’s experience at the empty tomb.

What does Saul say of himself as the Cylons attack?

Matthew 18:21-35

 Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?”
²² Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.
²³ “Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. ²⁴ As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand bags of gold was brought to him. ²⁵ Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt.
²⁶ “At this the servant fell on his knees before him. ‘Be patient with me,’ he begged, ‘and I will pay back everything.’ ²⁷ The servant’s master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go.
²⁸ “But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred silver coins. He grabbed him and began to choke him. ‘Pay back what you owe me!’ he demanded.
²⁹ “His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay it back.’
³⁰ “But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt. ³¹ When the other servants saw what had happened, they were outraged and went and told their master everything that had happened.
³² “Then the master called the servant in. ‘You wicked servant,’ he said, ‘I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. ³³ Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?’ ³⁴ In anger his master handed him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed.
³⁵ “This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart.”

Exodus 20:16

You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.

Exodus 20:12

 “Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.

Reflect on the Bible passage in light of the film.

How does Gaius respond to the suggestion that a mistrial should be the new goal, and why does he react this way?

Reflect on the image of the unmerciful servant in light of Gaius Baltar.

What do you think of Geta’s lies about Gaius? Reflect on this in light of the commandments.

What do you think of the decision to put Lee on the stand?

How does Lee’s situation reveal a tension within the Ten Commandments?

How would we resolve this tension and others like it?

Do you think Lee should tell the truth about his father’s opinion concerning Gaius?

Is his situation reflective of the commandment not to give false witness? Why or why not?

What is Lee’s argument that Gaius deserves forgiveness? What do you think of it?

Reflect upon it in light of the Matthew passage.

Why do the people really want Gaius dead?

Reflect on this quote: “like everything human, justice is imperfect…flawed…But it is those very imperfections that 

separate us from the machines and perhaps make us worthy of survival.”

What do you think of the final decision and how it was reached?

What do you think of the final fate of the unmerciful servant?

What are the various reactions to the verdict?

What do you think of Gaius’ reaction?