Sisko, the Emissary of the Prophets – Interview with Theologian Jeffrey S. Lamp

 

Dr. Jeffrey S. Lamp is a Senior Professor of New Testament at the College of Theology at Oral Roberts University (ORU) in Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA. Born in South Dakota but living in Tulsa since the age of ten, Lamp has been a Trekker since he first encountered the original series in the 1970s. In 2010, he published an important study on the parallels and contrasts between the messianisms of Benjamin Sisko and Jesus Christ. In this interview, graciously given by Professor Lamp, he shares a bit more about his reflections on the topic.

Can you talk about your academic background and how you came to research Star Trek?

My undergraduate studies were in mathematics at the University of Oklahoma, upon graduation from which (1983) I worked as an engineer for a few years. In 1985 I undertook a Master of Divinity program at Oral Roberts University, graduating in 1990. In 1991 I began my PhD studies in New Testament Studies at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, graduating in 1995. At that point I was appointed as a pastor in the United Methodist Church, in which I served until 2000. In 1997 I began teaching as an adjunct instructor at Oral Roberts University. In 2000 I became a full-time faculty member, where I have taught since.

As with many who hold PhD degrees, sometimes there is a period where a break is needed from “serious” topics. I have been a fan of Star Trek since the original series when I watched it in syndicated reruns beginning in the early 1970s. I welcomed STNG when it appeared, followed by all of the series through Enterprise. I must say, I haven’t watched Discovery or Picard because I do not subscribe to streaming services. While I was serving as a pastor and adjunct instructor, I learned of a project discussing Star Trek and religion, and contributed an essay to that book (“Biblical Interpretation in the Star Trek Universe: Going Where Some Have Gone Before.” In Star Trek and Sacred Ground: Explorations of Star Trek, Religion, and American Culture, edited by Jennifer Porter and Darcee McLaren (Albany: SUNY Press, 1999): 193-214). Some time after that essay, I was invited to contribute a piece to a volume on the series DS9 (“The Sisko, The Christ: A Comparison of Messiah Figures in the Star Trek Universe and the New Testament.” In Star Trek as Myth: Essays on Symbol and Archetype at the Final Frontier, edited by Matthew Wilhelm Kapell (Jefferson, NC: McFarland Press, 2010), 112-28). Once I began my theological studies, I became interested in the intersection between popular culture and theology. Star Trek was my first movement into this field as an academic. I have since written on other aspects of popular culture.

You describe Sisko's gradual development of messianic consciousness throughout the series. How do you interpret Sisko's initial resistance to the role of the Emissary and his eventual acceptance?

I see Sisko as a figure who represents the worldview of the UFP, which is a secular culture whose epistemology is grounded in science and technology, much like society in the late twentieth century. His appointment to the space station created a conflict with the Bajoran culture, which is steeped in the religion of the planet. Initially, it seems Sisko simply sees the religion of the Prophets as something he must deal with in fulfilling his mandate to run the station. He often exhibits irritation with local attributions of his role as Emissary. He has a job to do as a representative of the UFP, and that provides the context in which he performs his duties, the religion of the Prophets being simply a reality he deals with.

You mention that Sisko demonstrates "selective cooperation" with the Prophets throughout the series. How does this dynamic between obedience and resistance to divine will shape Sisko's journey as the Emissary?

I read a book as a college student called Illusions: The Adventures of a Reluctant Messiah by Richard Bach. This title seems to characterize Sisko’s journey into accepting his role as Emissary. Sisko does not want to be the foretold messiah, but in order to fulfill his Federation mandate, he comes to see the religion of the Prophets as an occasional fortuity in helping him fulfill his mandate. So his journey begins by seeing his role as Emissary as first being something to which he need not invest any real significance and evolving to an opportunity to gain greater effectiveness in achieving his mandate. Eventually, he comes to a realization that he is indeed the Emissary, and he seems to accept this mantle willingly by series’ end.

What role do Sisko's visions play in his acceptance as the Emissary? How do these visions affect his self-perception and his relationship with the Prophets?

These visions are clearly a turning point. Though they can be pinpointed to a holodeck console malfunction, they do give Sisko some extraordinary powers. While this may be written off, from the Federation’s worldview, as the result of neurological damage, from the Bajoran perspective they are gifts from the Prophets. Following this experience, he seems to embrace more enthusiastically his role as Emissary. While I do not think this completely alters his understanding of his Federation mandate, it does affect how he conducts this role. It is no longer merely a political expedient for him to navigate his task. I think it clarifies how he will conduct his work in such a way that he can accept his role as Emissary in a way that achieves Federation objectives.

Can you elaborate on the tension between Sisko's role as a Starfleet officer and his position as the Emissary? How does he balance these two aspects of his life?

I think the core of this question is addressed in previous questions. But I think the key here is that the tension plays out in his growing acceptance of the title of Emissary. And of course, this must take into account the two major crises of the series: the war with the Cardassians and the war against the Dominion. For Sisko, this isn’t merely a matter of self-understanding achieved through contemplation. The journey plays itself out in terms of the exigences of those conflicts. If the initial goal of Sisko’s appointment is to find a way to gain Bajor’s admission to the Federation, then these conflicts must be resolved in the Federation’s favor. And to do this, Sisko must find a way to conduct his work such that he maintains favor among the Bajorans. While at first this may just be a matter of acceptance of the Bajoran way of life, he does use his designation as Emissary to accomplish his goals, finally seeing that being the Emissary is not ultimately an impediment to achieving Federation goals, but is actually part of who he is.

To what extent do Sisko's actions as the Emissary align with Bajoran prophecies? Does he ultimately fulfill the redemption role assigned to him?

The issue of prophecy and its fulfillment is a major question in scholarly biblical studies. One key of both biblical and Bajoran prophecy is that they are conveyed in oracles that are highly poetic and metaphorical. Thus they are open to several views as to how that prophecy should work itself out. Sisko can interpret such fulfillments as simply the ordinary result of the many events that led to the result, while the Bajorans can see them as fulfillment of their prophecies. By the end of the series he can be said to have served his redemptive role by delivering Bajor from the military conflicts in which the planet was involved.

What are the most striking similarities between Sisko's messianic journey and that of Jesus Christ? And the most significant differences?

I think the primary motivation for my study was simply the depiction of Sisko’s role as something that can be classified as a messiah figure. Messiah figures have a long history in literature and film. Any role that involves rescue may be termed messianic in a generic sense. I have no doubt that Sisko’s character arc was informed at some level by the biblical depiction of Jesus. But the biblical depiction of Jesus’ messianic role is a source of dispute among biblical scholars. Was he aware of his messianic status from the beginning? Did he never claim such a role for himself? Did he just develop an evolving sense that he was Israel’s messiah? Historic Christianity would affirm he was always aware of his role, it having been determined before the creation of the world by God’s foreknowledge, and him having entered the world via a virgin and confirming his status through many signs, the most significant of which would be his resurrection from the dead. He carried out his ministry with the consciousness that he was the prophesied messiah. This is then the biggest contrast in the depictions. Jesus was always conscious of his messianic role; Sisko experienced a very gradual awareness of his role, having rejected it at first. In this respect, I would say that the only real similarity between the two is their literary identification as someone who falls into the category of a messiah figure, however that is defined in the context in which the drama plays out.

Which themes in Star Trek deserve attention from researchers?

To be honest, I have not kept up with much of the scholarship on Star Trek since my essay was published. I suspect it is extensive, as your own work testifies. And as long as there are new entries in the Star Trek franchise, there will always be scholarship devoted to the worlds created in the new stories. But my own prejudices would say that the last word has not been spoken in the ways religion is presented in the Star Trek universe(s). What I think DS9 did was to show that religion seems to be a preoccupation with human(oid) creatures, and that it can maintain its own credibility even in a social context that is otherwise largely secular. In this respect, I would say that studies in the sociology of religion that delve into Star Trek presentation of religion are always needed.