PROPHEZINE NEWS BYTES© Wednesday, May 25, 2005
Berit Kjos’ latest article on the newest Star Wars release.
"The Revenge of the Sith"
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"'Twenty eight years is an enormous period of time for one work to play such a big role in culture and society,' said Robert Solar, author of Movie-Made America. The series, which thus far has earned a staggering 4.3 billion, changed forever the ways movies are made and marketed." Bruce Newman, "An Epic's Global Impact.""Yoda, Obi-Wan and Anakin knew how to appear as Jedi ghosts.... Qui-Gon will appear in Revenge of the Sith to Yoda as a Jedi ghost. Qui-Gon will teach Yoda the secrets of retaining your identity after passing on." George Lucas
"Banshee... from sith 'fairy.' Specifically, one who calls to the spirits of the dead." Online Etymology Dictionary
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------"Lighten up!" people tell us. "Don't take everything so seriously! After all, it's just entertainment! We know the difference between good and evil."
This argument may sound reasonable, but it's based on feelings and fantasy, not on facts and reality. Studies have shown that today's popular entertainment -- what some call edu-tainment -- is more effective than textbooks in changing a person's beliefs and values. That's why change agents in schools and organizations often choose shocking stories rather than traditional textbooks to teach values and attitudes. If you doubt that claim, please read A New Way of Thinking and Toying with Death.
For more than three decades, George Lucas has been re-shaping the world's view of reality. Few individuals have done more to fuel the postmodern shift from what UN leader, Brock Chisholm called "poisonous certainties" to spiritual speculations that twist all of God's promises. Not only did Lucas turn "movies into... a global commodity," he has altered the ways even "Christians" view God and His creation.
In a series of interviews, George Lucas tells us about his beliefs and intentions. His own words are more revealing than any summary we might write. Yet, the main issue is not Mr. Lucas' beliefs. Far more important are the "take-home" images and suggestions that shape the thoughts of his fans. One such suggestion came from the mouth of Obi-Wan, one of the most honorable Jedis. "Only a Sith deals in absolutes," he told Anakin.
The apparent implication? Since absolutes belong on the evil side, those who deal in absolutes must be enemies of the "good." Might Lucas equate evil with Christians who trust in God's absolutes? Maybe. That certainly would be an assumption among his globalist neighbors at the Presidio in San Francisco. But one thing is certain: such beliefs are broadly discussed and embraced by Star Wars fans around the world. A Google search for "George Lucas" brings up almost 5 million links. No wonder Christian truth and Star Wars myths mingle together until it's hard to tell them apart. As Christianity Today tells us in a troubling interview with Dick Staub, "Christianity is the prevailing myth of Western culture and Star Wars is a prevailing myth of our popular culture."
When reading the following quotes, ask yourself these questions: What kind of mythical universe do the movies (and games) promote? What occult notions and suggestions fill the viewer's imagination? How do the Star Wars themes and values clash with Biblical beliefs and values? And most important, what kind of "God" does he plant in receptive hearts?
Be alert to the clever blend of general knowledge and radical suggestions. "When creating a mythological world," said Mr. Lucas, "you want to be both original and familiar. You want to come up with new ideas... but at the same time you want to root this world in reality so that people can understand it." Familiar realities make unfamiliar notions more palatable.
1. The religion behind the Force.
"Lucas: The Force is sort of my way to describe the tectonic battle between God and the devil. God is the light side while the devil is the dark side. It's simply good versus evil in the Star Wars galaxy."
A fan asks: "Do you believe the Force is real?" George Lucas: I believe that with very advanced technology that one day we will be able to tap into the power of God. This will be similar to the Force."
"Lucas: The light side is essentially our equivalent of God.... Just as God is omnipotent, the light side is indestructible."[8]
"Lucas: ...the midi-chlorians are what connect a person to the Force. The more midi-chlorians you have in your blood stream the greater connection you can make to the Force."
None of these statements is true in the real world, but that doesn't matter to those who love this mythical world. If it feels good, people will believe it -- and they will share their "insights" with their friends. Caught up in the stream of seductive speculations, those who enter these dialogues from a Christian perspective may soon find themselves embracing contrary ideas. Those who have learned to crave mystical counterfeits will soon adapt or dismiss God's unbending Word.
One of the many popular websites that define these myths is Wikipedia -- an online encyclopedia. It describes the two sides of the Force and then offers a confusing explanation for those strange midi-chlorians that defy all logic:
"The Jedi and others refer to two sides of the Force, a dark side and a light side. This echoes the concept of Yin-Yang in Eastern philosophy ... the dark and light sides of the Force exist inside of the life form which uses it, made from their emotions."
"Midi-chlorians... are microscopic life-forms that reside within the cells of all living things and communicate with the Force. Midi-chlorians comprise collective consciousness [sounds like Carl Jung] and intelligence, forming the link between everything living and the Force."
The movie itself doesn't mention this mystical link between body and spirit. But within the worldwide Star Wars culture, such details help shape a new religion that's well fitted for the twenty-first century. This "collective consciousness" and all the other pieces of the grand puzzle will surely be fleshed out in upcoming role-playing games and the probable television series.7]
2. The Dark Side
"Lucas: The dark side is stronger, but it leads to self destruction. The light side ultimately triumphs because of the unseen weaknesses of the dark side." [See "The Nature and Tactics of Satan"]
"Lucas: Darth Sidious has cast a dark-side power that clouds the entire light side of the Force. All the Jedi are made weak. They can't see the future using the Force. [See "Divination or fortune-telling"] Their Force powers are much weaker."
"Lucas: Once you join the dark side your light side image is frozen in place and does not age."
"Lucas: ...by the end of the movie Anakin is being controlled by the dark side. ... He's become evil."
"Lucas: As for Sith-colored eyes, this happens because the dark side ravages the body of the evil Force user."
"Lucas: The kyber crystal... is the secret to Sidious' amazing powers." "...the source of Sidious' seemingly unlimited power comes from the crystal."
"Lucas: The dark side has a central location in the galaxy which is what allows the Jedi to finally destroy it."
3. Jedi Ghosts:
"Lucas: ...there is life after death in the Star Wars galaxy. The fact that you see Jedi ghosts at the end of Return of the Jedi proves that some kind of life exists beyond the grave."
"Lucas: Qui-Gon makes an appearance in Revenge of the Sith to tell Yoda how to keep your identity after death and return as a spirit. This is one of the most important aspects of Revenge of the Sith. It's something the fans wanted very much so I decided to do it."
"Lucas: ...Mace [Windu] dies before Qui-Gon Jinn is able to tell Mace how to keep your identity after death. For this reason, Mace will never be appearing as a Jedi spirit."
"Lucas: Obi-Wan decides it is best to enter the spiritual realm so that Obi-Wan can guide Luke more effectively. Revenge of the Sith will explain how Obi-Wan was able to return as a spirit after death."
"Lucas: I would like to think that Padme and Anakin are reunited in the afterlife. It's something we all want to believe in."
4. Lucas' sources of inspiration
"Lucas: The main thrust behind Star Wars was to create a mythology for children. ... Mythological stories play a large role in the success of societies throughout the millenniums. I'm just doing my part to make the world a better place."
"Lucas: Essentially the Jedi [Knights] are a combination of these three. The Jedi protect the people similar to what marshals did in the Wild West.... The Jedi also have the chivalry and bravery of the Knights of the Round Table. Also the Jedi are dedicated and training constantly like the Samurai."
The western world may have romanticized the Samurai --the Japanese warrior class whose political power and public influence would rise and fall through the centuries. These military guardians "were supposed to lead their lives according to the ethic code of bushido ('the way of the warrior'). Strongly Confucian in nature, the Bushido stressed concepts such as loyalty to one's master, self discipline and respectful, ethical behavior."
This Samurai culture had embraced some key characteristics of Shinto religion:
"While Shinto is not defined by a vast array of doctrinal ideas, a fundamental goal or aim of Shinto is the attainment of magokoro, or 'true heart,' 'sincerity.' When one has 'true heart,' he/she is open to the subtle movements and presence of the spiritual forces known as kami....
"Shinto's reverence for nature is expressed through the acknowledgement and worship of a wide array of kamis. A kami, while loosely referred to as a kind of nature god or spirit, is more accurately understood as a force or energy that is experienced within a particular aspect of nature...."
The Jedi Knights have a similar code. Obedience to one's master is essential. They maintained a strict system of training and mentoring from childhood, and the chosen children lived and learned within the massive Jedi Temple. That's why the transformed Anikin -- now Darth Vader -- could slay so many of them in a single place.
Apparently, feelings -- especially bad ones, affect a Jedi's ability to receive and manipulate the Force. They are also a key source of guidance. "Search your feelings," Palpatine told Anakin. And according to a description posted at starwars.com, Qui-Gon Jinn illustrates this principle well:
"A venerable, if maverick, Jedi Master, Qui-Gon Jinn is a student of the living Force. Unlike other Jedi Masters, who often lose themselves in the meditation of the unifying Force, Qui-Gon Jinn lived for the moment, espousing a philosophy of 'feel, don't think -- use your instincts.'..."
This shift from objective and factual thinking to subjective, feeling-based thinking is also essential to the fulfillment of today's vision of global solidarity. Without a factual and logical basis for thinking, it becomes impossible to maintain a solid foundation for beliefs and values. We cannot take a stand together on God's unchanging truths when we surrender facts to the realm of feelings.
As I wrote in "Movie Magic and Unconscious Learning," stories that evoke strong feelings distract fans from true realities and bombard them with contrary suggestions that appeal to emotions rather than minds. Trained by today's dialectic (consensus) process to seek "common ground" and new meanings that promote group consensus, the postmodern person simply relieves the tension between old and new ways through mental and moral compromise -- a basic element of today's "new way of thinking." [See "Reinventing the World"]
In spite of man's unceasing quest for feel-good revelations and mind-blowing thrills, there's only one source of absolute truth: the Bible. That may sound narrow, divisive and offensive to some of you. Others will lose friends for accepting that truth, for they know that oneness with Jesus is well worth the cost. As He told us long ago, "If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet , because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you." John 15:18-19
To Him who created all things, the dim lights of today's mythical fantasies are mere illusions within a vast spiritual darkness that clouds this fallen earth. Therefore God warns us:
"Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not be partakers with them. For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light, finding out what is acceptable to the Lord. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret. ... See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil." Ephesians 5:6-16
"For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. But you be watchful in all things..." 2 Timothy 4:2-5