SF Debris's real thoughts, "Covenant," Dukat, complex questions, Prophets?

[Artabax]

Cardassi =Nazis, Bajor = Jews, Prophets = Jehovah. Jehovah didn't save Jews during Holocaust. Many Jews continue to worship.

[Dargaron]

I have to wonder if the Prophets might be more like the Changelings than they'd like to be, (SfDebris comparison at the end of Sacrifice of Angels notwithstanding).

Hear me out: the primary motivations for the Changelings is a sense of absolute superiority over solids, mixed with a strong paranoia/self-preservation complex. In effect, the Link only values the lives of Changelings, and non-Changelings are only a concern inasmuch as they are a threat.

Now, (unless I'm forgetting something) the Prophets generally only intervene in situations where they themselves or The Sisko are threatened. Since The Sisko became a Prophet (or a "Prophet-lite"), and the PRophets exist outside of time, that would mean that he's always been one of them (from their perspective), so protecting The Sisko would fall under the category of self-defence, from the perspective of the Prophets.

The primary difference would be that (since the Prophets are protected by the wormhole and their existence outside the physical universe), they don't need to have a large, totalitarian Space!Empire to protect them, while the Changelings (who are physical and very much mortal) do require such an empire in order to secure themselves.

[Yukaphile]

@CharlesPhipps I'd argue the occupation led to the Dominion War, because if the Federation was there, they'd have never found the wormhole.

Difference between Jehovah and the Prophets is you can prove the Prophets exist.

[Deledrius]

Difference between Jehovah and the Prophets is you can prove the Prophets exist.

That was a really interesting and crucial aspect that I feel didn't get enough examination. In the Hands of the Prophets was really the only time that comes to mind in which it was directly relevant, and even then it was the B plot that led into the A plot.

[Yukaphile]

You know, Daragon's musing that the Prophets might be like the Changelings is fascinating, now I think of it. Sort of mirrors and contrasts the two and make their destruction of the Dominion fleet more substantial. "Hey, we may be xenophobic, manipulative tyrants, but at least we're honest gods, not false idols!"

[CharlesPhipps]

Generally, though, I think the Prophets are better gods than the ones in the TNG episode where the beautiful blonde people lived on their idyllic paradise underneath a robot ruler. Star Trek generally takes the idea that superior technology (be it Q or the Federation) and superior power beings shouldn't interfere unless its absolutely necessary for survival.

Dragon Age's Solas said one thing he liked about the Maker was that, even though he didn't believe in him, was that he felt more divine because a god shouldn't have to prove his divinity or require the subservience of mortals at all times (like the Founders).

@CharlesPhipps I'd argue the occupation led to the Dominion War, because if the Federation was there, they'd have never found the wormhole.

I'd argue that it was a matter of time.

Difference between Jehovah and the Prophets is you can prove the Prophets exist.

The Prophets being demonstratably real does nothing to encourage the Federation to treat them with any religious reverence, mind you, and that causes problems.