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Star Wars Themes: Fall and Redemption


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(Many spoilers here.)

Perhaps the theme in the Skywalker Saga that finds the most resonance with the Christian faith is the theme of fall and redemption.  The Book of Genesis recounts the fall of humankind in the Garden of Eden and the destruction of the world due to humanity’s rebellion as well as the first steps toward redemption through the call of Abram to be the father of a great nation. Of course, this process of redemption only comes to fruition in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Like most humans, key characters in the Skywalker Saga are flawed people who fail and seek redemption. Anakin Skywalker is “the chosen one” who is meant to bring balance the Force.  In Attack of Clones (Episode two), Anakin has become a prideful, petulant teen-ager who thinks he knows everything.  According to Christian writer C. S. Lewis, pride was the original sin of humanity, thinking that the creature could attain equal status with the Creator.  Anakin discovers that he is not all powerful when he loses his mother in Revenge of the Sith (Episode three) and fears for the life of his wife, Padme.  In his desire to be in control, he goes over to the Dark Side as Darth Vader.  This is his fall.  The original trilogy (episodes four, five, and six) is the story of his redemption. 

The final trilogy (episodes seven, eight, and nine) is the story of redemption both for his son Luke and his grandson, Ben Solo (Kylo Ren).  Through flashbacks, the testimony of Kylo, and reluctant disclosure on Luke’s part, we learn that Luke feared that he was losing Ben to the Dark Side and momentarily contemplated killing him.  This pushed Ben to the Dark Side completely and prompted him to destroy Luke's new Jedi Order. In The Last Jedi and The Rise of Skywalker, we finally see Luke’s redemption through the giving up of his physical life and his investment in the training of Rey.

Kyle Ren (Ben Solo), now part of the Dark Side, rebels against his parents (Leia and Han Solo), joins the First Order (an effort to dominate the galaxy) as an apprentice of Snoke, 
kills his father, and eventually becomes the leader of the First Order.  Only in the final scenes of The Rise of Skywalker does he repent and enable Ren to defeat Emperor Palpatine.

Romans 3:23 explains, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”  Despite all their power and abilities, charismatic leaders like Anakin, Luke, Ben, and Rey are always fighting the Dark Side.  In The Empire Strikes Back, Luke encounters his Dark Side doppelganger.  The same happens to Rey in The Rise of Skywalker. All of us have to make the choice for good or evil.  The good news is that if we fail, redemption and new life is possible.  The bad news is that this may require the sacrifice of one’s own life.  

In the Star Wars universe, this invariably requires the sacrifice of one’s physical life.  Obi-Wan, Luke, and Ben give up their physical lives for redemption and to save others.  This is very much in keeping with what George Lucas learned from his study of Joseph Campbell.  The hero, sometimes with the help of divine forces, brings about his own redemption but often at great sacrifice.

This is different from the Christian concept of redemption where Christ has given up his own physical life in order that others might be redeemed.  Matthew 20:28 says, “Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (NIV) What Jesus does ask his followers to do is to give up their present orientation to one of faith in him in order to receive redemption and forgiveness of sins.  One gives up his or her present life orientation and embraces a Christ-centered orientation.  As we do this, Jesus promises,  “Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.” (Matthew 10:39, NIV) We don’t give up our lives physically, but we adopt a new orientation of faith in one who has given up his life for us.

Even with the help of the Force, redemption in the Skywalker Saga is an act of individual achievement.  The Christian faith teaches us that our redemption is an act of personal choice, but it is only made possible by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.






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