The Force Is With...Everyone

Continued from page 1

I think Star Wars has a lot of ideas from Christian mysticism. In the final episode, Luke is dressed in what basically looks like a priest's uniform (notched collar and all). And during the final battle, the Emperor constantly exults whenever Luke is moved to anger and self-righteousness ("Good! Your hate has made you powerful!" and so on).

Plus, there is the part in "The Empire Strikes Back" when Luke is meditating and able to see the future. He sees his friends in pain but Yoda advises him against rushing to their aid: "If you go now, help them you could, but then you would destroy all for which they have fought and suffered." The notion that suffering can result in ultimate good in definitely Christian.
--kaveh500

Is the force (Star Wars) a good symbol of the Spirit of God (the Holy Spirit)?
--ChristIsGod

You ask: "Is the force (Star Wars) a good symbol of the Spirit of God (the Holy Spirit)?"

A few things about this comparison. First, the Force is not personified at all. It is an energy which moves throughout the universe. It can also be twisted and used for evil (the Dark Side). It can use the hate and rage to consume the person generating the negativity. Are you willing to say there is a dark side to the Holy Spirit?
--kwinters

I see it from an Orthodox point of view. Ever since the first one (back in '76) I have equated the Master/Padawan dynamic with that of the starets/novice dynamic of Orthodox Christianity. Also, the "otherworldliness" of the Jedi has struck me as particularly Orthodox, not to mention the beards and flowing robes.
--Iskanderbey

I think that Star Wars is very good interpretation of the past and future of Christian religion. "Anakin Skywalker" was found as a boy without a father. His mother told Qui-Gon Jinn that she gave birth, but "no father". So young Anakin was taken by Jedi to fulfill ancient prophecies. Young Anakin == Jesus from Nazareth.
--shavirin

My question is not whether Star Wars was influenced by Christianity. My question is whether Christianity is being influenced by Star Wars.
--paul_h

When they go to see "Star Wars" and Luke Skywalker says "May The Force Be With You", the Lutherans in the audience stand and say "And Also With You!" --
--SqnLdr

Since when do Jedi have to be celibate? First we get this medichlorian nonsense, then suddenly we are supposed to "balance" the Force rather than adhere to the Light side and shun the Dark side, then there's the stupid Immaculate Conception of Anakin, and now Jedi have to celibate!
--sonofthunder

I think the force would better be compared to the Christ consciousness of the mind science cults. the force was not centered in one figure or being but was in all things and could only be felt and harnessed through training.
--todd6970

In the prequel, Anakin is sort of a weird quasi-Jesus. Also, later he sort of symbolizes the prodigal son.
--desi-sky

No, we don't believe in the "Force", to use a Star Wars analogy. God made all things is NOT to be confused with God is in all things.
--deacon777

I see NO difference between Christ Consciousness and Jedi Consciousness. The metaphor is the metaphor. The Tao is All.
--CougarRunning

Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

The Star Wars trilogy was undoubtedly inspired by a hidden and true back story, probably about a Mormon kid. Notice the similarity between Yoda and the Mormon prophet Spencer W. Kimball. You can bet that the newer trilogy is based on another Mormon kid, probably a religious Je(hu)di who fell for an older woman of a higher social status and then "turned evil."
--Uziyahu

In the Missionary Training Center, we used to compare characters of Star Wars to the prophets (Abinadi and Obi-Wan, for instance) in the Bible and Book of Mormon, and the gifts of the Spirit with the "Force."
--Androcles

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