The Revenge of the Sith

The Star Wars Phenomena &

The Revenge of the Sith

By Berit Kjos,
June 2005

‘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.“[1]
Bruce Newman, “An Epic’s
Global Impact.”

“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 prefer to use shocking stories
rather than traditional textbooks to teach new values and attitudes. If you doubt
that, 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 through his amazing stories. 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,”[1],
he has altered the ways even “Christians” view God and His creation.

Yet, the main issue here is not Mr. Lucas’ personal
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”
side.

So might Lucas equate evil with Christians who
trust in God’s absolute truth and values? Maybe. Such an assumption could surely
be applied to his globalist neighbors at the

Presidio — a former
San Francisco army base converted into a globalist center for social and
spiritual transformation.[2]

Similar assumption and perceptions are now broadly discussed
and embraced by Star Wars fans around the world. A Google search for “George
Lucas” brings up over 4 million links. No wonder Christian truth and Star Wars
myths mingle together until it’s hard to tell them apart. Even Christianity
Today blends those two opposites into a tempting new twist on truth. In
a troubling interview with

Dick Staub,
it tells us that “Christianity
is the prevailing myth of Western culture and
Star Wars is a prevailing myth of
our popular culture.”[3]

But God’s Word is not a myth!
His unchanging Truth
points to actual reality — the opposite of fantasy! In fact, God warns us
that “the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but wanting
to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in
accordance to their own desires, and will turn their ears away from the
truth, and will turn aside to myths.”
[2 Timothy 4:2-4]
By minimizing the persuasive power of myth, we open our minds to subtle distortions
of truth.

To guard against both subtle and obvious suggestions, those who have watched
the Star Wars movies might ask themselves 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?

1. The beliefs behind the
Force.

In an interview with Wired titled “Life
After Darth,”
George Lucas shared his view of the Force. The interview began with a conversation
between artificial intelligence pioneer Warren S. McCulloch and Roman Kroitor,
who developed Imax. While McCulloch thought that life resembled “highly complex
machines,” Kroitor believed in something more:

“Many
people feel that in the contemplation of nature and in communication with
other living things, they become aware of some kind of force, or something,
behind this apparent mask which we see in front of us, and they call it
God.”[4]

When Wired asked if this
statement laid the foundation for “the Force,” Lucas answered that his own use
of the word Force was “an echo of that phrase….” But he didn’t take
credit for this universal concept of “God”. “Similar phrases have been used extensively
by many different people for the last 13,000 years to describe the ‘life force,'”
he explained.[4]

This “life force” fits today’s all-inclusive views of humanity, nature
and
an impersonal god. When affirmed through a success-story such as the Star Wars epic,
this mythical god becomes all the more normal and believable. And what seems true in
the world of myths, can quickly become lies in the context of the real world.
In fact, what feels good to the imagination, often becomes more real than reality
itself to our adaptable minds. Like the New Testament people described in

2 Timothy 4, today’s pleasure-seeking masses readily turn from truth to myths.

Unlike Biblical truth, those myths change from time to time and from culture
to culture. As fans around the world share new “insights” with their friends,
the story grows new twists and branches. “Christians”
tend to follow right along. Caught up in the stream of seductive speculations, many
embrace ideas that contradict Biblical Christianity on every point. And to justify
their craving for new mythical thrills, they redefine or dismiss God’s “offensive”
and unbending Word.

One of the many popular websites that describe
these myths is Wikipedia — an online, participatory encyclopedia. It identifies
the two sides of the Force and then adds a confusing explanation of some strange
midi-clorians 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.”[5]

“Midi-clorians… are microscopic life-forms
that reside within the cells of all living things and communicate with the
Force. Midi-clorians comprise collective consciousness [sounds
like

Carl Jung] and intelligence, forming
the link between everything living and the Force.”[6]

The movie itself doesn’t mention this mystical
link between body and spirit. But within the worldwide Star Wars culture, such
creative 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 television series.

As BBC tells us, “Two
Star Wars TV series will follow the latest movie in the hit film franchise.”[7]

The Naming of Jedi:
“It was natural for Star Wars fans to immediately begin inquiring
into the meaning of the name Qui-Gon Jinn, since he was the most
significant new character to be added in Episode I. The first part
was easy: qi gong (pronounced ‘chee goong’) is an Eastern art of
qi (also chi or ki) life energy manipulation. Qui-Gon is
a master of the living Force, by name as well as by reputation.

    “The second part of
his name seemed vaguely fitting, but still a puzzle. Jinn (jin,
ginn, djinn, genies) are spirits of Muslim and other middle Eastern
legend ‘capable of assuming human or animal form and exercising
supernatural influence over people,’ elemental spirits…..

     “He became Qui-Gon
Jinn, a powerful Force-adept who relied on his subconscious urges
(‘the will of the Force’) to a degree that discomfited those around
him, a quality destined to bring both great suffering and, in the
end, the salvation of the galaxy. Young Obi-Wan would learn from
him a commitment to trusting his instincts, something he
would pass on to Luke decades later (‘trust your feelings!’).
…

     “In Star Wars, there
is more ambiguity — ‘use the Force’ and ‘use your instincts’ are
synonymous, and yet one implies faith in the supernatural and one
implies faith in the self. I explain this as two different ways
to characterize the intuitive impulses that well from within us….”

[8]

2. Jedi Ghosts and life
after death

On a page dedicated to Jedi master

Obi-Wan Kenobi, the official

StarWars website explains life after
death from a mythical point of view:

     “…Vader
finally squared off against his former master. As a diversionary tactic
to help the others escape, Kenobi sacrificed himself to Vader. The Dark
Lord struck the Jedi down, and Kenobi became one with the Force.
He left behind no body, just empty robes and his own Jedi weapon….

     “At
times of great trial, Kenobi’s voice would reach out to Luke, offering
counsel. Later, the spectral form of Kenobi would appear to Luke.
The ghost-like image advised young Skywalker to venture to Dagobah,
where he could complete his training under the guidance of Yoda. Later,
Kenobi appeared to Luke and revealed the truth of his lineage.

     “Though
Kenobi felt that the dark side could only be defeated by bringing about
the deaths of Anakin and the Emperor, Luke strongly believed that his father
still had good in him. Luke set out to turn Anakin away from the dark side
and succeeded, though at a great price. Anakin suffered grievous
wounds in his final battle, and died having returned to the light.
His spectral form joined that of Kenobi and Yoda during the Rebel’s
celebration of the Empire’s defeat.”

[9]

To Star Wars fans, these ghostly
appearances add a mystical assurance of never-ending life. It sounds more
promising than the Buddhist Nirvana, which erases all hope of personal or individual existence
after death. While the Lucas version of an afterlife conflicts with the Christian hope of eternal life, it
matches the darkly occult religion,

Theosophy, with its belief in ascended masters that communicate
their wisdom to more highly evolved and spiritually-attuned human servants.

“Qui-Gon…is the
alleged key to the whole ‘Jedi Ghost’ phenomenon,” wrote a fan, “and it’s
because of him that Obi-Wan is able to come back and help young Luke in the
coming years…. Imagine if Obi-Wan never appeared to tell Luke to head to Dagobah
and seek out Yoda? … To me, explaining the whole ghost thing without Qui-Gon
actually appearing at some point won’t just be the same. I’m sure Lucas could
explain it through dialogue, but you all know that a picture is worth a thousand
words. Seeing is believing.”

[10]

3. More ties to

Eastern
religions

In Lucasfilms
popular childrens book, I Am a Jedi, Qui-Gon Jinn
(Liam Neeson) tells us in his own words, “The Jedi are a
very special group of beings. For many thousands of years, we
have worked to promote peace and justice in the universe.”[11]

The apparent inspiration behind
these noble Jedi Knights were the historical Samurai — the Japanese warriors
whose political power and public influence would rise and fall through the centuries. True or not, countless articles on the Star Wars phenomena have claimed
that connection and helped establish that perception in the public mind.
One such article,
“It’s Written in the Stars,”
tells us that
“George Lucas has mentioned on many
occasions that he has been highly influenced by the seminal Japanese director
Akira Kurosawa.” It then lists numerous similarities:

“The Jedi are an enlightened
class, meant to preserve peace, as were the samurai, in theory.”

“T

he
distinctive light sabers are little more than Japanese katana in a sci-fi
setting.”

“The highly ritualized battles
are little more than Japanese kendo.”

“Darth Vader’s helmet is based
on the samurai helmet.”

“The look of Episode I’s Darth
Maul is based heavily on ancient Japanese myths and dramas, especially drama
masks.”

“The Queen of Naboo’s ornate
costumes are highly reminiscent of Japanese kimono, while her white face
paint is “geisha wear.”

The force is little more than the martial arts concept of
chi or ki (as any

Dragon Ball Z fan
can attest to).”

[12]

The Samurai “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.”[13]
But the Samurai culture was also influenced by the 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….”[14]

To Jedi Knights, obedience
to one’s master is essential. They maintained a strict system of training and
mentoring from childhood, and the children selected for this strict training
program lived and learned within the massive Jedi Temple. That’s why the transformed Anikin — now the evil Darth Vader — could slay so many of them in a single
place.

“The
Samurai were mainly Shintoists or Confucianists, both religions with relatively
inflexible dogmas,” we are told in
the article, “The
Jedi as Ninja.“
In contrast, the “Ninja, as outcasts from mainstream society, were mainly Zen
Buddhists, so their world view was more that of being one with the universe
rather than joining their ancestors in glory.”[15]

That pervasive force (chi’
or ki) is described in I am a Jedi. The supposed author Qui-Gon
tells us that “The Force is a mysterious form of energy that connects all
living things. We Jedi learn to be sensitive thee the force. It is a
source of great strength. … A Jedi’s greatness comes from his wise mastery
of the Force.”[11]

PSYCHIC (Ch’i or Ki) Energy

Defined from an occult perspective
in the Donning International Psychic Dictionary by June
G. Bletzer, Ph.D.

“An intelligent, powerful, invisible
force capable of being controlled and directed by the human
mind; 1. Capable of being channeled out through the brain, palms,
and eyes; 2. Can be transmitted through space into other living
organisms and through matter; 3. Occurs when willed or occurs
spontaneously; 4. Invisible energy living in all organisms and
matter, connected throughout all the universes; psychic energy
is an aspect of electricity6. Controlled and employed under
certain conditions that mankind does not fully understand
tunes into the etheric world vibrational frequencies reaching
from cosmic consciousness. 9. Transmits knowledge to the
mind, and manipulates matter. 10. Frequently comes from
an intelligent, powerful energy field known as highly evolved
soul-minds in invisible bodies 12. A primordial form of
intelligence pervading the universe and affecting its course.”

Ch’i or Ki

(China & Japan) “An immutable
principle in the vital life force; Synonyms:
Tchi, Qi, Prana, Biocosmic energy, Psi (Psychic) energy….”

Psychic Consciousness

“An altered state of consciousness
as in sleep, hypnosis, meditation, and the opening of psychic
doors.”

4. Trusting the Force or
feelings, not fact or logic.

“The
Jedi as Ninja“
continues with this important point:

“Most martial arts have within
them the concept of zanshin, or acting in a pure manner without thinking.
Moving in zanshin requires long training and devotion to the art. One must
listen to the Force, rather than think about the motions for
zanshin to work. A Jedi Knight will naturally fight and move in
zanshin
when it is necessary….

“The
single most illustrative case of a ninja-like warrior in the Star Wars saga
is that of the Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn. He is fearless and inventive, and
his single-minded devotion to the Force allows him to see what must be done.
Qui-Gon Jinn is living in zanshin every day; he is listening to the
Force and acting without hesitation.”[15]

Apparently, feelings — especially bad ones,
affect a Jedi’s ability to receive and manipulate the Force. But they are also a
key source of guidance. “Search your feelings,” Palpatine told Anakin. And according
to a description posted at the official starwars.com, Qui-Gon Jinn illustrates this principle
well:

“…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.’…”[16]

This shift from objective, factual thinking
to subjective, feeling-based thinking is also essential to the
world’s quest for
global solidarity. Today’s utopian
visionaries cannot transform the world without first tearing down the old
foundations of truth, facts and logic. Sad to say, their vision is nearing
fulfillment as Biblical resistance is fast eroding. For we cannot take a stand together on God’s unchanging truths
when we surrender objective facts and logic to the realm of
social myths, subjective feelings and useful pragmatism. Yet that
paradigm shift — driven
largely by today’s entertainment,
education and “mental
health” agenda — is now transforming the way
we think in our churches as well as nations. Look again at
Christianity Today’s interview with

Dick Staub:

“Lucas’ stories may have more
in common with Hinduism than Christianity, but it’s still

True Myth, says the author of Christian
Wisdom of the Jedi Masters…. A myth is a story that confronts us with
the ‘big picture,’ something transcendent and eternal, and in so doing,
explains the worldview of a civilization.

Given that definition, Christianity
is the prevailing myth of Western culture and Star Wars is a prevailing
myth of our popular culture….”[3]

But Christians are not “given that
definition.” It’s an oxymoron! If we receive this twisted meaning and
then apply it to Biblical Christianity, we would distort God’s guidelines.

As I
wrote in “Lord
of the Rings: Truth, Myth or ‘Discovered Reality,”
myth, by standard definition, implies something other
than reality — something contrary to truth. Tolkien himself denied the
link between his myth and God’s truth. Still, that link lingers in many
contemporary minds — especially among those who love the exciting myths of
our times. Notice
the
blend of truth and deceptive suggestions in

Dick Staub‘s
next statement:

“As
I thought more about the themes of Star Wars, the connection to helping
the next generation become ‘Jedi Christians’ just started falling into place.
…

“As you mentioned, the Lucas story is more theologically attuned
with Hinduism. In Jedi mythology, the highest good is achieved by balancing
light and dark, whereas Jedi Christians believe the
highest good is achieved
when darkness is defeated. In Jedi Christian lore, the dark side is not
just the opposite of light, but is an unequal opponent of God, who, in Star
Wars terms, is the Lord over the Force.”[3]

5. Choosing truth and reality,
not myths and feelings. Our sovereign, all-wise,
all-loving Creator is nothing like the Force. The very suggestion
makes a mockery of His holiness and glory! According to Biblical definitions,
the Star Wars Force is a different god — the kind of counterfeit god
that the Bible tells us to shun. And like those pagan gods of the past, it comes
with an enticing built-in mythology. It may well have the largest group of devotees
of any pagan deity throughout history. But we can’t ignore the consequence:

“…if you by any means forget the Lord your God and follow other gods…
you shall surely perish. As the nations which the Lord destroys before you,
so you shall perish, because you would not be obedient to the voice of the
Lord your God.”
Deuteronomy 8:10-20

The “highest good” God shows us in His Word is His holiness, not the eventual
defeat of darkness (a victory which is according to His work and time, not ours). Therefore
He calls us to

separate
ourselves from all the cultural influences that would mar His holy life in His
‘born again” children. “‘Come out from among them and be separate,’ says the
Lord. ‘Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you. I will be a Father
to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters,’ says the Lord Almighty.

2 Corinthians
6:14-18

Mythical 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” along with new meanings that promote group consensus, the postmodern
person simply relieves the tension (cognitive dissonance) between old and new ways through mental and
moral compromise — a basic element of today’s “new way of thinking.”[17] [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, but 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

PSYCHIC (Ch’i or Ki) Energy

Defined from an occult perspective
in the Donning International Psychic Dictionary by June
G. Bletzer, Ph.D.

Ch’i or Ki

Psychic Consciousness

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PSYCHIC (Ch’i or Ki) Energy

Defined from an occult perspective in the Donning International Psychic Dictionary by June G. Bletzer, Ph.D.

Ch’i or Ki

Psychic Consciousness

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Defined from an occult perspective
in the Donning International Psychic Dictionary by June
G. Bletzer, Ph.D.