This article was first published in The Universe
May the Force Be With You
By Dwight Longenecker
A few weeks ago we went to see the new Star
Wars movie. Once again, the Jedi knights were battling against
the evil forces of the emerging empire. I’m as keen as my nine-year-old
on Star Wars. What especially interests me is the religious
element. The Jedi knights are a cross between soldiers and monks.
They follow a mystical path that requires celibacy, obedience
and conversion of life. The religious aspect of the films has
attracted many people. Mostly as a joke, a gang of Star Wars fans
actually wrote ‘Jedi’ on their recent census forms in the space
for their religion. I’ve heard of one fan who has watched Star
Wars every Sunday for the last nine years.
It’s easy to laugh at such a shallow
form of religion, but beneath the film fanatics and spoof census
forms are two serious points. The fact that so many turn to a science
fiction movie for their faith story and a religious philosophy
shows what a famine of religion there is in our culture. The popularity
of the religious aspect in the films also shows that the Christian
churches are failing to communicate. Instead of going to the professional
religious providers, people are voting with their feet. Instead
of turning to the Church, they suck what little religion they can
from a sci-fi movie.
Of course going to a movie is
much more entertaining than going to church. But the Star Wars movies
are more than just more entertaining than church. They are also
performing certain religious functions that the church neglects.
First they communicate religion through stories. The Star Wars films
are great stories. They are like the great myths. They keep people
on the edge of their seats as a vulnerable hero battles against
the odds to overcome a terrible evil. Stories communicate religious
truth best because they show the religious truth not as an intellectual
statement, but as an exciting quest. The Bible is not a theological
textbook. It is a storybook. As Catholics we also have the stories
of all the saints who have also lived the faith, not just talked
about it. But too often we neglect the faith stories in favour
of theological statements or religious platitudes. No wonder we
turn people off if we turn the faith into a head game or empty
words.
The second thing Star Wars offers
is ‘The Force’.’The Force’ is the power of creation. It is the
guiding light within each person. The religious philosophy behind Star
Wars is derived more from Eastern religions than Christianity.
Because the force has a ‘dark side’ and a ‘good side’ it reflects
a philosophy called ‘dualism’. We might disagree with the particular
details, but Star Wars helps people remember that there is a
power behind all things. Furthermore, the characters in Star
Wars consider this power to be the most important thing in
their life. We call this power the Holy Spirit. We believe the
Holy Spirit is actually the life of God within us. Too often we
have forgotten that this powerful source is available to us day
by day. This force is supposed to be our guiding light. It is meant
to be changing us day by day into saints. It is given to help us
in the daily battle against evil. Star Wars reminds people
about ‘The Force’ while the Church has forgotten to remind us that
our Christian ‘force’ is real and that it can be transform our
lives and our world.
Star Wars also tells people
that religion really matters. Faith changes things. In Star
Wars the Jedi knights are the main heroes in the story. They
know that their faith makes a difference. They struggle to make
it work. They have teachers who help them apply the faith and learn
how to use their religion to make a difference. Our faith is powerful
too. Through the sacraments, the Scriptures and the ministry of
the Church we have the power to transform lives. We have the power
to become no less than the sons and daughters of God. We can actually
win the battle against evil. We can become saints—those radiant
beings who are so filled with ‘The Force’ that they have become
powerful beyond their wildest dreams.
The Christian faith has great potential.
But too often we have forgotten its greatest riches. Instead of
life changing stories we opt for religious clichés. Sermons become
a string of pious thoughts or intellectual statements. At a confirmation
recently, instead of inspiring the candidates with their calling
to be no less than sons and daughters of God, I listened to the
bishop say ‘we are all here to make the world a better place.’ Instead
of reminding us of our supernatural calling and the powerhouse
of the Holy Spirit, we are simply told to keep the rules. Instead
of helping us make the faith work we are expected to maintain our
religious duties and hope for the best. People want their faith
to work. They want to be challenged and enjoy their religion. Sadly,
if they church doesn’t seem to help they find their spiritual nourishment
elsewhere.
Sometimes our leadership is to blame,
but we can’t point the finger without three fingers pointing back
at ourselves. Very often good priests and bishops do their best
to remind us of our great potential, but we can’t, or won’t hear
it. Diocesan teams lay on training days and conferences, but we
can’t be bothered to attend. Publishers and writers produce excellent
resources for spiritual growth and religious knowledge, but we
would rather buy a trashy magazine. Parish leaders arrange pilgrimages,
study days and missions, but we would rather stay in with a video.
Religious houses organise retreats and schools for prayer, but
we can’t be bothered. Renewal in the church begins with renewal
in each one of our lives. Through the Holy Spirit the Force is
with you--- but you also have to be with the Force.
