I'm not sure this really needed a new thread, but I thought, why not? I haven't started one for a while and I have something to talk about.
Reading through the review thread for "Zero Sum Game", there are several comments on the question of Kira's current status. I suppose we'll learn more very soon when "Rough Beasts of Empire" arrives, but until then we're all pondering. I haven't yet gotten my hands on "Zero Sum Game" so I'm not sure exactly what is or isn't stated, though obviously the conversation in the review thread gives me a pretty good idea how it's played. So while we're waiting for more clues...
One of the ideas that comes up frequently is that Kira might have entered the religious hierarchy. Star Trek Online of course took that path with (ahem) Kai Kira, but then the backstory for an online game with a far more generalized audience than Trek novels can get away with that. But what do we all think of the possibility that Kira might join the hierarchy of Bajor's dominant religion? As a prylar or vedek (or a ranjen, which might be more appropriate given that the title apparently denotes a monk with specific spiritual duties or a mission, while prylars are more generically spiritual advisers)? I must say, the idea of Kira becoming a religious official never quite gels for me. First, the idea of her own spiritual path taking her there - the idea of taking such a position for her own fulfillment- seems unlikely. Her faith is far too pure and internalized; having her in the robes would seem like she's wearing a costume. It would seem hollow, like she's announcing something that doesn't need to be announced. Kira doesn't need to demonstrate her religion and she isn't a vessel for it, she simply has it. In a highly personal, non-demonstrative way (not saying she doesn't actively engage in the religion's practices - of course she does - but that none of that is truly the point of this aspect of her character). Plus, I feel the whole Attainder arc took her character to a place where acknowledging her faith became fully a reaffirment of her sense of self, rather than of religion as an expression of cultural solidarity. Bajor and its practices/orders might well be important, but her faith has proven it can sustain her fine without that. After spending so long fighting for Bajor, she learned to disentangle her sense of personal spirituality from her sense of love for home. Her faith is about her, not Bajor (even if she is also part of that world). In a sense, she learned to let Bajor go without turning her back on it, a very subtle and fulfilling outcome (which also pleasingly mirrors the Cardassian characters' development, e.g. Garak. And this is DS9: Bajor and Cardassia should be reflecting on each other). Having Kira put on vedek's robes seems to undermine that development, as though she once again equates the Bajoran culture with her self-identity, rather than holding the two ideals in balance.
Secondly, the idea that she took to an official role to teach others also seems uncomfortable. I'm sure Kira could offer much wisdom on faith, but from a personal perspective not a dogmatic one. Not that I'm saying a religious official needs to be overly dogmatic, but it's also at least somewhat inescapable, even if it's only in how the student relates to or views them. Would they truly see Kira the spiritual being, or instead see the robe and the preconceived structure it signifies? For Kira to be a vedek or prylar would seem to undermine any teaching she might engage in, because she found her own path, one which in these novels even put her at odds with the religious establishment. Any teaching talent she possesses would, it seems to me, transcend that establishment - like the case with Opaka, now she's returned. Opaka's understanding of her faith has transcended the hierarchy- she's not Kai Opaka now, she's simple Opaka Sulan. If Kira were to become a spiritual teacher, I imagine she'd be more like that.
So while I could see her being a teacher or a guide for others of the faithful, she definitely doesn't work for me a vedek. Of course, I have faith the writers could make it work if they wanted, but as it stands now, the idea is a little hard for me to swallow.
So, anyone else have any thoughts on this?
Reading through the review thread for "Zero Sum Game", there are several comments on the question of Kira's current status. I suppose we'll learn more very soon when "Rough Beasts of Empire" arrives, but until then we're all pondering. I haven't yet gotten my hands on "Zero Sum Game" so I'm not sure exactly what is or isn't stated, though obviously the conversation in the review thread gives me a pretty good idea how it's played. So while we're waiting for more clues...
One of the ideas that comes up frequently is that Kira might have entered the religious hierarchy. Star Trek Online of course took that path with (ahem) Kai Kira, but then the backstory for an online game with a far more generalized audience than Trek novels can get away with that. But what do we all think of the possibility that Kira might join the hierarchy of Bajor's dominant religion? As a prylar or vedek (or a ranjen, which might be more appropriate given that the title apparently denotes a monk with specific spiritual duties or a mission, while prylars are more generically spiritual advisers)? I must say, the idea of Kira becoming a religious official never quite gels for me. First, the idea of her own spiritual path taking her there - the idea of taking such a position for her own fulfillment- seems unlikely. Her faith is far too pure and internalized; having her in the robes would seem like she's wearing a costume. It would seem hollow, like she's announcing something that doesn't need to be announced. Kira doesn't need to demonstrate her religion and she isn't a vessel for it, she simply has it. In a highly personal, non-demonstrative way (not saying she doesn't actively engage in the religion's practices - of course she does - but that none of that is truly the point of this aspect of her character). Plus, I feel the whole Attainder arc took her character to a place where acknowledging her faith became fully a reaffirment of her sense of self, rather than of religion as an expression of cultural solidarity. Bajor and its practices/orders might well be important, but her faith has proven it can sustain her fine without that. After spending so long fighting for Bajor, she learned to disentangle her sense of personal spirituality from her sense of love for home. Her faith is about her, not Bajor (even if she is also part of that world). In a sense, she learned to let Bajor go without turning her back on it, a very subtle and fulfilling outcome (which also pleasingly mirrors the Cardassian characters' development, e.g. Garak. And this is DS9: Bajor and Cardassia should be reflecting on each other). Having Kira put on vedek's robes seems to undermine that development, as though she once again equates the Bajoran culture with her self-identity, rather than holding the two ideals in balance.
Secondly, the idea that she took to an official role to teach others also seems uncomfortable. I'm sure Kira could offer much wisdom on faith, but from a personal perspective not a dogmatic one. Not that I'm saying a religious official needs to be overly dogmatic, but it's also at least somewhat inescapable, even if it's only in how the student relates to or views them. Would they truly see Kira the spiritual being, or instead see the robe and the preconceived structure it signifies? For Kira to be a vedek or prylar would seem to undermine any teaching she might engage in, because she found her own path, one which in these novels even put her at odds with the religious establishment. Any teaching talent she possesses would, it seems to me, transcend that establishment - like the case with Opaka, now she's returned. Opaka's understanding of her faith has transcended the hierarchy- she's not Kai Opaka now, she's simple Opaka Sulan. If Kira were to become a spiritual teacher, I imagine she'd be more like that.
So while I could see her being a teacher or a guide for others of the faithful, she definitely doesn't work for me a vedek. Of course, I have faith the writers could make it work if they wanted, but as it stands now, the idea is a little hard for me to swallow.
So, anyone else have any thoughts on this?
