The Gospel According to St. Lucasfilm: I Have a Bad Feeling About This By Rev. Rich Heinz
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H I G H E R T H I N G S __ 8
Well, the Force is
what gives a Jedi his power. It’s an energy field created by all living things. It surrounds us and penetrates us; it binds the galaxy together,” explains Obi Wan Kenobi. There it is: the moment when Gen-Xers and anyone older were first introduced to this “ancient religion.” In the real world, this is describing a false religion, with aspects of pantheism or panentheism, where “god” is (or is in) everything, seemingly sprinkled with Buddhism. The Star Wars galaxy as envisioned by George Lucas is really filled with mysticism from the Far East. But maybe there is something worth another glance. When we look at these films, we can find some unintended Gospel themes.
Sacrifice In Episode IV: A New Hope, we are given classic examples of sacrifice. Princess Leia knows how dangerous her mission is. There is a good chance she will be intercepted and die for the cause of freedom. Still, she and the rebel troops press on, in the hopes that their potential deaths would serve the greater good. When Obi Wan realizes that Luke and Leia are both on the Death Star, as well as R2D2, who has “vital information” for the Alliance, he knows what must be done. Without hesitating, he speaks
