Babylon 5 was a 5 year science fiction drama in the mid 1990s. The series, mainly written by one man (abbreviated on the internet to JMS), had recurring themes of order vs. chaos, war vs. piece, religion, morality, crime and punishment, addition, and the difference one person can make to the world. Although the series creator is an aethist, it would be hard to tell from watching the show. He stated:

“To totally ignore that part of the human equation would be as false and wrong-headed as ignoring the fact that people get mad, or passionate, or strive for better lives.” JMS

Contrast this to Star Trek, where the creator, Gene Roddenberry, was anti-religious and many of the story lines (from the original series) had alien religions as allegories of real religions. None(?) of the crew are religious in the original series? Someone care to enlighten me?

For most people, religion is nothing more than a substitute for a malfunctioning brain. Gene Roddenberry

I wanted to outline the major religions and belief systems (some are fictional) of the Babylon 5 (B5) story. I should mention when I refer to dates in the future (but also in the past tense) I am talking about the fictional Babylon 5 timeline. For past dates i.e. 2007 and previous, I am talking about real* history. (* Don’t even think the phrase “language games“!!! lol)

Overview of Religious Beliefs

Major characters:
Stephen Franklin – Foundationist (fictional/pantheonist)
Susan Ivanova – Jewish (non practicing)
Michael Garibaldi – agnostic (raised Catholic)
Londo Mollari – atheist (but often shown as a Centari religion follower and note the tragic villain is of the same belief as JMS!)
G’Kar – follower of the fictional prophet G’Quan (spritual/seeking enlightenment) (G’Kar eventually surpases G’Quan, in popularity anyway)
Kosh – unknown but involves “the Vorlon and Shadow Questions” discussed later
Vir Cotto and his race – Centari religion (fictional/polytheistic/”rather Bacchanallian”)
Delenn – senior leader in the religious cast of Minbari (Pantheonist/believer in prophets/reincarnation/ritualistic)
Lennier and his race (Minbari) – Minbari (Pantheonist/believer in prophets/reincarnation/ritualistic)
Update Feb 2008 Elizabeth Lochley – Christian, occasional church goer.

Major highest ranking humans – these are special cases since their views could change the whole nature of the TV show:
John Sheridan – believes in “a little of everything”/”cast adrift without compass on an ocean of ecclesiastical possibilities”. He previously had a brief obsession with the Dali Lama.
Jeffrey Sinclair – unconfirmed (raised by Jesuit Monks) (note: watch War Without End Part 2 for a twist) Quote: “We find meaning where we can.”

Minor characters:
Brother Theo – Catholic monk
Cartagia – believes he will become a god
Catherine Sakai – buddhist
Mr Morden – unknown but involves “the Vorlon and Shadow Questions” discussed later
Ta’lon – self described as “not very spiritual”

Depiction of Human Religion in B5

*spoilers*

Early in series 1, Earth central puts on a week of cultural religious activities to show case tolerance on B5. Each alien race hosts a ceremony from their “dominant belief system”. We see two ceremonies on screen with no hint in that episode that the aliens have had disagreement on which belief is their dominant belief.

‘And Sinclair [as the human commander of B5] is put in the difficult position of being asked to show what Earth’s dominant belief system is. The solution to which is, I think, kinda cool.’ JMS

He simply leads the ambassadors to a line of human religious representatives and greets each in turn. The camera pulls back to show 40+ priests, monks and preachers waiting in line.

‘that it’s a way of saying, “Our dominant belief is that ALL beliefs are respected.”‘ JMS

JMS’s attitude is perhaps an echo of Spinoza.

I have laboured carefully, not to mock, lament, or execrate human actions, but to understand them. Spinoza

I interpreted this situation by alien species internal religious conflict is low at that time (compared to humans) but I found JMS partly contracted this view and things are not “black and white”.

“Actually, many of the alien races do *not* have monolithic religious beliefs. it’s mentioned that there are many different bliefs among Narns, G’Quon and G’Lan being the two larger systems.” JMS

I have more to post on Christianity in B5, so until next time,

Anti Citizen One