I also wanted to weigh in on Baltar’s “theology of perfection.” You are all quite right, according to classical Christian theology – the conviction that God accepts and loves one as one is is not to be taken as license to continue sinning or to regard oneself as infallible. I think the “official” heresy of which Baltar would be guilty, in classical Christian terms, is antinomianism – i.e., because one is in direct communication with and is justified with God, one is free from human law or morals. Anne Hutchinson is a famous example of a person in American history who (rightly or wrongly) was accused of antinomianism.
Classical doctrine does, in some traditions, speak of the possibility or goal of “perfection” – Wesleyan theology (Methodism) for example – but not in the “You are perfect no matter what” sense that Baltar’s got going. There is often talk of ongoing sanctification, or even Martin Luther’s proclamation that Christians are “simultaneously justified and sinners.”
Still, Baltar’s speech is not far from how the Christian doctrine of grace gets (mis)represented inside and outside of the church. So I found that scene particularly compeling because, as you point out, lots of televangelist types manipulate and fleece lots of people by preaching the same pablum.
