The Children of the Son were an analog to Earth's first- through third-century Christians who often lived in hiding from the Roman government. On their own planet, the Children were spreading the faith in Jesus Christ, but were persecuted by the Roman authorities for refusing to worship the state gods. Upon learning of the Children, the crew of the USS Enterprise initially confused the name for "Children of the Sun", and believed them to be a cult of sun worshippers. (TOS: "Bread and Circuses")