At a recent Bible study, a very important question was discussed: How do we convert aliens, and more specifically, how do we convert the Zerg to Christianity?

One possible theory is that if a Christian was able to overpower the overmind then the net result would be conversion of all Zerg to Christianity.

Feel free to add your own opinions and theories on this highly important matter. - stephen

Background: the Zerg are a hive-minded alien species (at least, I think), from Blizzard’s StarCraft.

Perhaps it would be like the caste conversions that have occasionally happened in India? Not so much an overpowering, but one conversion would mean the conversion of all. That said, I’m not sure I agree with ‘conversion’ anyway. – mattw

I don’t like the term either, but the interesting thing is the discussion at the bible study was started by the nonchristians present. - stephen

In the latter part of Orson Scott Card’s Ender series, one of Ender’s stepkids becomes a missionary to the pequeninos, an alien race, and meets some success. Although I don’t think they were very succesful with converting the formics, a hive mind race similar to the zerg, but without the genetic absorption. – Jim

Wouldn’t it be kinda christian to preach release from the domination of the overmind? – Nato

Are they enslaved (dominated) by the overmind, or are they actually a collective/hivemind? This is an important question. – mattw

Zerg I think are more enslaved, rather than a collective- If you play the game one of the human characters becomes “infected” and comes under zerg control. I think also their brood leaders have a semi independant sentience from the overmind. This is different from the Formics in the Ender universe which are portrayed as if each colony (queen + workers) is a single organism and possibly the species as whole is too… hence why they appear at least somewhat satisifed with survival of one hive queen – Jim

Actually, come to think of it, we don’t know for certain that Kerrigan was enslaved (by the overmind) - she says that with the overmind dead she’s outside of it’s control, and that if a new overmind is formed the overmind will control her again - but her later behaviour shows that without the control of the overmind she’s not too pleasant, and that it looks like the reason she wanted to overmind dead was so that she could have control over the hordes herself.

However, once apon a time, she was a nice(ish) person, and then the zerg got to her. So maybe her enslavement was biochemical (due to the infestation), rather than psionic (due to the overmind’s control, facilitated by infestation). Either way I’d say find a way to redeem her. – Nato

Heh… I’ve got more. If another race were discovered, I suspect the more conservative versions of christianity would have to undergo extensive change to accomodate aliens, because it’s inherently homo sapien centred (what can a human do to be saved?). The more heretical, social-justice types of christianity would be quite happy, because they’re not based on what humans should do to be saved, but rather on what humans should do (so, go save the africans, go save the environment). In other words, a purely pragmatic worldview wouldn’t need revision if aliens turned up. – Nato

You all have this the wrong way around. Zerg evangelism is not “how would Christianity convert the Zerg”, but rather “How would the Zerg best absorb humanity”? I’m guessing the correct answer is “with ketchup”. –angus