In the Hands of the Prophets story
Friction escalates when Vedek Winn arrives on Deep Space Nine and discovers schoolteacher Keiko O'Brien is teaching about aliens in the Bajoran wormhole. Directed by: David Livingston. Story by: Robert Hewitt Wolfe.
14 total · 3 choice · 6 major · 5 minor
| Theme | Level | Motivation |
|---|---|---|
| faith vs. science | choice | Keiko advancing a rational explanation for the wormhole which the Bajoran religious leaders thought blasphemous was a central conflict in the story. |
| religion in public education | choice | The orthodox Bajorans insisting that the wormhole was inhabited by their gods was a thinly veiled reference to the American creationism in the schools debate. |
| religious fundamentalism | choice | orthodox Bajorans objected to teaching scientific facts about the wormhole in the space station school |
| alternate points of view | major | Benjamin made a big fuss about how one can see things from different perspectives, claiming wormhole aliens were legitimately prophets to the Bajorans |
| conflict of cultural norms | major | Conflict arose between the secular Federation and Bajoran religious fundamentalists over things like education in schools. |
| multicultural community | major | The secular Federation struggled to live intermingled with Bajoran religious fundamentalists. |
| sacrifice for one's beliefs | major | Neela expected to be caught for assassinating religious leader but ready/ordered to sacrifice herself |
| terrorism | major | Religious fundamentalists bombed the space station school and made an assassination attempt on a religious leader. |
| the lust for power | major | Winn Adami used school issue as a way to expand her power |
| disillusionment | minor | Kira after realizing her religious leader stooped to orchestrated assassination plot against her rival |