Barnabas File

(Minor spoilers here.) The Mandalorian is the first live-action Star Wars story created for a series format and is a great success for the Disney streaming service.  Borrowing from the Western and Samurai genres, creator Jon Favreau ( Iron Man films) sets the series five years after the fall of the Empire (Episode six-- Return of the Jedi) and prior to the emergence of the First Order (Episode seven-- The Force Awakens ). As I have noted in previous blogs, creator George Lucas intended the Star Wars universe to provide a mythology for our times. The themes he embedded in his films were primal ideas--the hero’s journey, for example.  In like manner, many observers have identified various theological concepts in these movies as well. Such ideas emerge in this new series as well. The title character (Pedro Pascal) is a loner, a bounty hunter with a heart. The breakout character, however, is the Child.  A member of the same species as Jedi Knig...

On a recent Sunday, I had the opportunity to lead a presentation for adults and youth on “The Spiritual Dimensions of Star Wars.”     Much of the content has been published here in blog format. After the session, one of the adults texted me with this comment: “I always enjoy any chance to tie pop culture to Christian faith and beliefs, and I know it helps me find new ways to witness in conversations not directly faith-related.”   This was a great insight.  Those of us who call ourselves “moderate Baptists” often struggle with the term “evangelism,” but my friend had discovered one of the most effective ways we can engage with the culture in order to communicate our faith. There are three levels to the Star Wars films or what we now call the Skywalker Saga. First, there is  the  Commercial/Entertainment/Pop Culture level.  The studios continue to make these movies because they make money, but George Lucas made the first fil...

Qui-Gon Jinn checks Anakin's blood for midi-chlorians The Star Wars films gave us a new pop-culture phrase: “May the Force be with you.”  Christians should not jump to the conclusion that this greeting is equivalent to, “God with you.”  This is one place that that Star Ways mythology and Christian theology do not intersect. In A New Hope (Episode four) viewers of the Skywalker Saga are introduced to the Force.  In the original trilogy, the Force is a spiritual, almost magical, power that the Jedi use to control objects and manipulate minds.  Although others may experience the Force in some ways, Jedi are called to become masters of the Force and use it for benevolent purposes. When the prequel series was developed, creator George Lucas felt it necessary to provide a physical and biological explanation for the Force.  Jedi Master  Qui-Gon Jinn explains to young Anakin Skywalker: " Without the midi-chlorians, life co...

Add caption (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...

(Spoilers for The Rise of Skywalker are included.) A friend once said, “In science fiction, no one is ever really dead.”  Through various plot twists and unique manipulation of natural laws, writers always find ways for deceased characters to return.  The Christian faith affirms that we are physical beings with an eternal spirit.  Christians affirm that those who have gone on before us not only live in our memories, but they are eternal beings who abide now with God. Even though George Lucas was not attempting to reflect Christian belief in his original Star Wars trilogy, in several instances those who have passed are still present and manifest themselves to the living when necessary.  The first to show himself was Obi-Wan Kenobi in A New Hope , but in subsequent films Yoda and Anakin Skywalker appear to our protagonists. These are called “force spirits” or “force ghosts.” In Star Wars, force spirits are individuals who gained imm...

(Some spoilers for Star Wars:     The Rise of Skywalker here.) When he designed the original Star Wars trilogy, George Lucas included a number of themes that speak to the basic concerns of humanity.  Although set “a long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away,” the protagonists are human beings dealing with universal human concerns.  One of these is family. In a similar way, the Bible tells the story of family--a biological family as well as the family of God.  Starting out with Abram and Sarai, we learn the stories of a very dysfunctional family.  They have problems with procreation, brother fights against brother, brothers sell a brother into slavery, and brother redeems and forgives.  The book of Genesis might well be titled “Observations of a Dysfunctional Family.”  The contention of sibling against sibling as well as rebellion against the Heavenly Father fills the rest of the Hebrew Bible. The Star W...

The latest entry in the Star Wars canon is an entertaining visual treat.  Although it basically follows the structure of The Empire Strikes Back , it gives us as fans a solid second act in this new trilogy.  In this blog, however, I don’t intend to provide a review, but reflections on a couple of main themes in this episode. In the interplay of old and new characters, several key ideas emerge or are clarified.  (I will try to provide as few spoilers as possible.) First, after viewing The Last Jedi , we discover that the Force seems to be more egalitarian than we were previously led to believe.  In The Last Jedi , Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) provides a much more engaging and informative explanation of the Force than Qui-Gon Jinn (Liam Neeson) did in The Phantom Menace .  He explained it as something in the blood that provided the potential to manipulate the Force.  In some fan literature, the statement is made that you can tell if someon...

Have you ever sat down with an old friend who you have not seen in years and immediately reconnected?   That describes my experience with Star Wars:   The Force Awakens.    I had three expectations going in: Someone will die. Given the involvement of J. J. Abrams, there will be strong female characters. A lot of things will blow up All  expectations were fulfilled. First, someone significant dies.   If you look back over all of the Star Wars films, both the first trilogy (episodes four, five, and six) and the prequels (episodes one, two and three), a significant character (not necessarily a major character) dies in each for dramatic effect.    I saw the movie with three of my grandchildren.   Before we went into the movie, both my sixteen year old grandson (who has seen all of the movies) and I guessed who it would be.   We were right.   And it was very dramatic and the treacherous act will be a major factor ...