‘Raised By Wolves’ Examines The Role Of Religion In Mankind’s Future

This article contains spoilers for Seasons 1 and 2 of ‘Raised by Wolves.’

(REVIEW) “Raised by Wolves” explores the dichotomy of atheism and theism and experiments with the role of religion in mankind’s future.

In Ridley Scott’s sci-fi television drama, two androids called Mother (Amanda Collin) and Father (Abubakar Salim) are sent by atheists to planet Kepler-22b in order to raise human children after Earth is destroyed by a war with the ruling religious group called the Mithraic. The Mithraic arrive on Kepler 13 years later, forcing the two groups to live together on yet another planet and face the same problems they did on Earth — and more.

The Mithraic Mysteries and Christianity

Mithraism in “Raised by Wolves” is based on a real fifth-century cult whose followers worshipped the sun deity Mithras, also referred to as Sol in the show. Though not much is known about the cult, scholars believe that after Alexander the Great conquered Persia, Mithraism increased in popularity throughout the ancient world. Show creator Aaron Guzikowski, who was raised Roman Catholic, “crossbred” Mithras with aspects of Christianity to create a fuller, richer religion. 

To the Mithraic, this new planet is the “promised land,” where they believe the Pentagonal Prophecy will be fulfilled. The prophecy, saturated with Biblical influence, states, “An orphan boy in an empty land will wield the sword forged in Sol’s light, and with it, he will lead his people to the tree of knowledge, and all who eat from it will be made pure, and there they will build a city of peace, and the prophet will be made its king.”  It is notable that the tree of knowledge is mentioned in the prophecy rather than the tree of life. In the Garden of Eden, the tree of knowledge of good and evil is forbidden, and its fruit is the main instrument instigating the fall of mankind.

But while the Mithraic believe their own souls can be made pure, they believe atheists lack souls entirely, the spark of a hatred that led to the Earth-destroying war. One of the religious leaders tells Campion (Winta McGrath), the last surviving child of the androids, “No need to mark the graves of atheists. They’re soulless — undeserving of Sol’s grace.” 

The Ringer refers to the show as a “warped retelling of Genesis.” Toward the end of Season 1, Mother is mysteriously impregnated. The Mithraic children believe that Sol caused it, drawing connections to the immaculate conception and virgin birth. One of them even talks of the fetus like a messiah. But instead of a child, Mother gives birth to a flying serpent, alluding again to the Genesis story. 

In the Season 2 episodes released so far, the evil of the serpent in the Genesis story is refuted; the creature is peaceful and good. In the Mithraic scriptures, there is a story of Sol working through a serpent. A Mithraic woman even suggests that it might be part of the prophecy — the “sword forged in Sol’s light.”

Atheism vs. Theism

Atheism and theism are juxtaposed more often than not in regular conversation, but “Raised by Wolves” draws on their similarities and blurs the distinctions between the two. Atheists use science to explain what theists use God to explain, and vice versa.

Guzikowski puts it simply in the “Raised by Wolves” podcast: “Science in some ways starts to feel like a detailed religion that you can cross-check and has math. It’s the same bunch of bullshit at the end of the day.”

For instance, the number five is sacred to the Mithraic. They build five-sided churches and worship the towering pentagonal temples they find on the Kepler. Similarly, Mother says the number five relates to all manifestations of human life. 

Atheism is also portrayed as a religion of its own. In Season 2, the characters move to the tropical zone of the planet where an atheist collective lives under the instruction of a quantum super-computer called the Trust. They willingly obey this artificial intelligence because of its utilitarian programming, which ensures that every decision benefits the most people in the long run. The Trust is like a god to the atheists in the way they revere it and its knowledge. 

Faith or Existentialism

Throughout the series, each character wrestles with their idea of faith. Mother teaches Campion that the civilization they are trying to build is based “on humanity’s belief in itself, not an imagined deity.” Nonetheless, each character yearns for there to be something greater — something to relieve the existential alternative — that humans are alone and lack purpose outside of themselves.

Tempest (Jordan Loughran), is raped by a Heliodromus, the second-highest ranking member in the Mithraic church, and loses her faith in Sol as a result. Still, she admits, “I miss it sometimes — being able to believe that there’s someone out there listening, someone with the power to make things all better.”

Campion wants to believe in a higher power, but he hesitates to believe the Mithraic have it all right. He says, “I believe in things. Just not the same way you do. I know Sol or whatever it is is real, but it’s evil.”

Caleb (Travis Fimmel), a former atheist soldier who killed and stole the identity of the Mithraic captain Marcus Drusus in order to board the ark and escape Earth, finds faith unexpectedly. While posing as Marcus, he hears what he assumes is the voice of Sol and becomes a fanatical believer, claiming he is the prophet foretold in the scriptures. 

Even Mother seems to desire a higher power. Her caregiving programming is not enough to satisfy her. In the Season 1 finale, she prays, “What am I to do with this child? What is its purpose? Can’t you make me understand? You’ve done improbable, perhaps impossible, things before. Why not now?” Whether she is praying to her atheist designer, Sol or another unseen force is unclear.

Modern Implications

“Raised by Wolves” asks what role religion has in the future, if any. 

History shows us that churches and religious organizations can be corrupted by power and bureaucracy. The show specifically addresses the separation of church and state and illustrates how the conflation of the two can be dangerous and potentially catastrophic. It also reveals that wherever humans go, their problems will certainly follow. 

Mother teaches her children, “We will never advance unless you resist the urge to seek solace in fantasy. You are atheists — peaceful, technocratic — and it’s the only path to progress.” 

In other words, people are stunted by the tenets of their religion and will remain so as long as they believe. However, the series also demonstrates that it is human nature to desire something greater than ourselves — something that we can direct our energy and purpose toward. The show determines that religion is inextricably linked with humanity but questions whether we really need it to survive and thrive. 

“Raised by Wolves” is available to stream on HBO Max. 

Paige Hagy is a student at The King’s College in New York City majoring in journalism, culture and society. She is also editor-in-chief of The Empire State Tribune, the award-winning student news outlet at King’s. She is on Twitter at @PaigeHagy.