The Theology of Star Wars

The final installment of the Star Wars prequel film series, entitled Revenge of the Sith, just hit the theaters last weekend, and I saw it yesterday- all 2 hours and 26 minutes of it.

The entire Star Wars series is packed full of theological metaphors- the force, the dark side, as well as the host of characters whom one could easily say parallel certain figures of faith. The Jedi masters and their paduans (or disciples), the morally conflicted Anakin Skywalker, who is seduced by the dark side to serve the evil Sith lord, who had cleverly disguised himself as a leader of the Republic; Padme, the mother figure who eloped with Anakin who would quietly give birth to the one who would restore balance to the force and bring peace to the galaxy.

Then you have the ancient order of the Jedi Knights, committed to the ways of peace and justice, but ready to give their lives for others or for the good of the force. The jedi, and members of what would become "the rebellion" movement, against the corrupt evil empire are thrust into a sort of diasporra after being betrayed by a certain leader of the senate with a dark personality.

In Episode III, Revenge of the Sith, we see the tide beginning to turn on the jedi, and momentum swinging to the dark side with all of its de-humanizing evil.

One of the most powerful scenes in the film was when Obi Wan Kenobi, the wise jedi master, and his former disciple, Anakin were engaged in a fierce lightsaber battle. All the while they are hovering over a river of lava, evoking the metaphorical imagery of Dante's Inferno.

Obi Wan and Anakin exchange blows with the lightsabers, while all the while engaging in a deep ontological argument. Obi Wan finally corners Anakin and shouts "You were the chosen one!" I will not say what happens next in case you have not seen the film yet, but it is a crucial turning point in the story, because it is one of the final steps in Anakin's slippery path down to the dark side.

One familiar with the Christian gospel narratives, cannot help but think of how Jesus was betrayed by one of his chosen disciples, then ultimately sent to die for what he believed, taught, and lived. His other disciples- even the most promising of them like Peter and John all abandoned Jesus at his crucial hour, but he still loved them and modeled the way of peace for them.

Also in the mix you have the wise, almost buddha-like figure of Yoda- the oldest and most advanced of the jedi knights. Yoda's diminuitive, frail appearance is deceiving because he is strong in the force (and pretty darn good with that light saber too!). Yoda's words are filled with existential pearls of wisdom like:

"Try not...Do or do not."

"Search your feelings...do not give in to hate and fear, for they lead to the dark side..."

"Trust the force...you do not succeed, because you do not believe..."

When I heard some of these words of wisdom I was reminded of Jesus teaching the disciples about faith- like when he walked on water and told Peter to come to him; or when he promised them the Holy Spirit, and said that they would have the power to do far more than ever imagined if they trusted the Holy Spirit to guide them.

Another favorite Star Wars moment for me is in The Empire Strikes Back, when Luke Skywalker is training with Yoda in the swampy jungles of Dagobah. After schooling young Luke in the ways of the jedi, Yoda brings him to a dark cave. He encourages Luke to venture into the cave. Yoda says to Luke "You will not need your weapon...you will only find what you bring in..." still Luke insists on bringing his lightsaber into the dark cave. Soon Luke encounters a vision of Darth Vader. Luke draws his lightsaber first and lashes out at Vader. His mask falls to the ground revealing Luke's own image behind the mask.

That scene reminded me of how we can be our own worst enemy when we allow fear and temptation to dominate our heart and mind.

The whole saga is filled with thelogical metaphors and deep characters struggling to make sense of good and evil in a conflicted and confusing universe. So even though the setting is in "a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away..." its' story speaks to the human story today through parable-like stories and rich metaphorical symbolism.

May peace (and the force) be with you always,


John