| |
STAUBTHOUGHTS:
Some Star Wars Quotes
May 16th, 2002
With the release today of Star Wars II: Attack of the Clones, here are some interesting quotes to help you ponder the spiritual, religious significance of the Star Wars phenomena.
In a fascinating interview with Bill Moyers (Time 4/26/99)”, George Lucas talked about his own view of religion and shaping influences on his life.
Moyers concluded that the Bible is no longer central to today’s youth:
- The Bible no longer occupies the central place in our culture. Young people in particular are turning to movies for their inspiration, not to organized religion.
Bill Moyers in Lucas interview
Lucas views this demise as a bad thing!:
- I hope that doesn't end up being the course the whole thing takes, because I think there's definitely a place for organized religion. I would hate to find ourselves in a completely secular world where entertainment was passing for some kind of religious experience.
Lucas to Moyers
But Luca’s has ended up with an all paths to God view of religion:
- I remember when I was ten years old, I asked my mother, ‘if there's only one God, why are there so many religions?’ I've been wondering that ever since, and the conclusion I've reached is that all religions are true.
Lucas to Moyers
When asked if all religions are equally good Lucas said:
- I would say so.” … I think there is a God. No question. What that God is or what we know about that God, I’m not sure. The one thing I know about life and about the human race is that we’ve always tried to construct some kind of context for the unknown. Even the cavemen thought they had it figured out. I would say that cavemen understood on a scale of about 1. Now we’ve made it up to 5. The only thing most people don’t realize is the scale goes to 1 million.
Lucas to Moyers
Lucas does admit to intentionallu inserting religious themes in Star Wars:
- I put the Force into the movie (Star Wars) in order to try to awaken a certain kind of spirituality in young people, more a belief in God than a belief in any particular religious system.
Lucas to Moyers
Other observers clearly see Star Wars as Religious:
- Lucas has taken all the religions, put them in a blender and hit the button.
Alex Wainer, Chicago Sun Times, 1999
- Make no mistake, this is a religion, with Lucas as God, the multiplex as church and rabid fans as fevered acolytes who can both ‘witness’ the ‘truth’ and later show their good faith by bringing their custom to outlying stores, their essential parish.
Alexander Theroux summarizes the Star Wars phenomena in a 1999 Wall Street Journal editorial
One would need to be blind to not hear religious themes in the entire series. For example in Star Wars: Episode I—The Phantom Menace we learn that Darth Vader (Anakin) was born of a virgin, not of a Father, but of the midi-chlorians, the link between every living thing and the Force. The priestly Jedi are aware of an ancient prophecy that a “chosen one would appear and would alter the force forever, bringing balance between darkness and light.
Enjoy the new episode already described by one reviewer as beautiful bit boring and keep your eyes open for the continuing theology of Star Wars and George Lucas!
© 2001 -
2010 Dick Staub, CRS Communications.
|
