Star Trek: 11 Huge Comparisons Between Deep Space 9 And Babylon 5
3. Let Us Pray
Although Deep Space Nine's humans reflected Roddenberry's humanism, the writers fleshed out the show's aliens with religious beliefs.
Religion unified the Bajorans during the Cardassian occupation. It also caused friction, with Winn Adami's objection to Bajoran children learning the secular name for the Prophets or Sisko being their Emissary.
In the Cards and Treachery, Faith, and the Great River depicted the Ferengi pursuit of profit as an act of faith in the great material continuum.
The Sword of Kahless, Soldiers of the Empire, and You Are Cordially Invited explored Klingon beliefs through stories about greed, loyalty, and marriage.
Although an atheist, Straczynski believed omitting human religions would be unrealistic. Human characters followed Catholicism, Judaism, and a new religion, Foundationism.
Alien religions on the show ranged from the pantheistic views of the Minbari and the Narns to the Bacchanalian beliefs of the Centauri.
Humans and aliens related through religion. In Grail, Delenn and her aid, Lennier, welcomed a grail hunter as a "true seeker". In Convictions, an order of monks settled on the station to study alien religions and names for "god".
Religion caused both interpersonal and inner conflict. In Believers, Dr. Franklin's disregard for alien beliefs had tragic results. In By Any Means Necessary, G'Kar and Londo feuded over a sacred plant. Both G'Kar and Dr. Franklin confronted their past through spiritual experiences.