Am I the only one who found the Bajorans slightly bothersome?

[Ragitsu]

Obviously, the secret vulnerability of the wormhole aliens had to remain secret (lest everyone with a bone to pick with either the good or bad incorporeal entities try their hand at wiping those idols from existence), but...it would have been interesting to see the more skeptical members of the faith break away. Imagine if a massive chunk of Bajorans became atheist/agnostic after that revelation was propagated.

They aren't omnipotent or omniscient, but does that preclude "godhood"? What is a deity or god anyway?

The further a being stands from omnipotence, omniscience and/or "mere" invulnerability, the weaker their claim to godhood. The Q have a better chance of making that particular case.

 

[evilchumlee]

That's a reasonable take also.

I think the REAL answer actually lies in between yours and my own take.

Yes in all reality, it was Sisko learning about his perception of time. The whole idea of linear time was something of a curiosity to the Prophets, but not so much in the sense that they didn't understand it... it was more that they were confused because Sisko claimed to experience linear time, and yet, there he was existing in "past" moments. THAT is what the Prophets had some issue understanding... how Sisko could somehow both experience linear time while also apparently existing in other times.

The further a being stands from omnipotence, omniscience and/or "mere" invulnerability, the weaker their claim to godhood. The Q have a better chance of making that particular case.

The thing is the Prophets, Wormhole Aliens, whatever you want to call them... never asked to be considered gods. They just exist. The Bajorans call them gods. The aliens have just generally made some occasional moves to help out Bajor mostly just for the sake of being neighbors.

In all fairness, the Q don't seem to generally claim godhood... our Q did once, but he was kind of joking and Picard called him out on it. They also just kind of exist and generally let whatever lesser beings think of them be so.

Even though alot of our "real world" god myth figures do this, I feel like the need to declare oneself a god makes me highly suspect of god status.

 

[fireproof78]

Ancient Greeks had little-g gods, like Apollo. Vastly more powerful than humans, yet not at all omniscient or omnipotent and no better at controlling their feelings than humans.

Many ancient near east cultures did, as well as the Greeks, Norse, Hindu, etc.

The thing is the Prophets, Wormhole Aliens, whatever you want to call them... never asked to be considered gods. They just exist. The Bajorans call them gods. The aliens have just generally made some occasional moves to help out Bajor mostly just for the sake of being neighbors.

The Prophets had an interesting connection to Bajor, because while they did not claim being a supreme deity, or requiring worship, but they still feel connected to Bajor, that they are "of Bajor" in a way that makes that planet more important to them that they intervene in that planets events.

 

[Ragitsu]

I knew I shouldn't have used that particular noun (I am aware that they never actively/clearly made any such declaration), but I scrambled for a better set of words at the time before ultimately settling with "claim" in lieu of a more fitting alternative. "status of supposed", perhaps?

 

[evilchumlee]

The Prophets had an interesting connection to Bajor, because while they did not claim being a supreme deity, or requiring worship, but they still feel connected to Bajor, that they are "of Bajor" in a way that makes that planet more important to them that they intervene in that planets events.

Yeah. The Prophets clearly consider Bajor to be "theirs" one way or another.

I always liked to think the Prophets are literally "of Bajor"... they're future Bajorans who have ascended into a non-corporeal form and now exist outside of normal time.

I knew I shouldn't have used that particular noun (I am aware that they never actively/clearly made any such declaration), but I scrambled for a better set of words at the time before ultimately settling with "claim" in lieu of a more fitting alternative. "status of supposed", perhaps?

Fair enough, but even then, what is the definition of "god" or "deity" that would disqualify them?

I would say alot of polytheistic gods are significantly less "powerful" than the Prophets are, but are considered to be "gods" nonetheless.

They have the power to manipulate forces beyond the wormhole via the Orbs, which have all manner of properties.