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Saga Biblical References in Star Wars?

Discussion in 'Star Wars Saga In-Depth' started by Brutus77, Jan 12, 2015.

  1. Ananta Chetan

    Ananta Chetan Force Ghost star 5

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    Aug 11, 2013
    It's also interesting how GL weaved the theme of religious/ spiritual intolerance into ANH with how the officers aboard Vader's ship responded to him by sneering and almost mocking his reference to the Force. All the more ironic to have it depicted in such a way in a sci-fi movie to a largely secular and scientifically conditioned audience. Brilliant.
     
  2. MOC Vober Dand

    MOC Vober Dand Manager Emeritus star 5 VIP - Former Mod/RSA

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    Jan 6, 2004
    I'm sure if Joseph Campbell was responding to this thread he'd say that what we're identifying are universal archetypes which appear in all religious and secular traditions to some extent.
     
  3. mes520

    mes520 Jedi Master star 4

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    Nov 3, 2012
    I don't think these have been said, if they have sorry.

    The first battle of the Clone Wars takes place on Geonosis. Genesis, which is similarly spelled, is the first book of the Bible.

    Anakin, Luke, and the Force represent the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

    While Anakin Skywalker is a often called a Christ figure he also has some similarities to Satan, once known as the angel, Lucifer. I believe he was said to be one of God's most beautiful angels. Lucifer rebelled against God and fell from heaven. Similar to Anakin, he was beautiful and talented, but he rebelled against the Jedi and the Force and fell to the Dark Side.

    In the book of Job, Job is a good person who revered God and turned away from evil after Satan tempted him. This sounds like Sidious and Luke in ROTJ.
     
  4. DANNASUK

    DANNASUK Force Ghost star 7

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    Nov 1, 2012
    The relationship between Anakin and Luke is very much embedded in Shakespeare.
     
  5. HevyDevy

    HevyDevy Chosen One star 5

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    Apr 13, 2011
    Cool thread. My parents are christian, but I'm kinda agnostic (Im still open minded). I don't doubt there are likely many links to christianity in SW, as well as other religion and myth. Something interesting that has been hinted at here; if you watch TPM as a standalone movie it isn't a stretch to think of Anakin as a Jesus-like figure, however with ROTS alone he appears to have more in common with a fallen-angel such as Satan.
     
  6. JEDI-RISING

    JEDI-RISING Chosen One star 6

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    Apr 15, 2005
    i don't know. i'm christian and i've read the Bible all the way through, but most of the stuff in Star Wars is fairly generic. I was actually worried when Anakin's virgin birth was done in TPM that Christian's would balk at it. Fortunately not.
    i can see what's being said about Lucifer, although in Anakin's case he was redeemed , and in some ways was duped into turning. But the spiritual side is why i have a connection to Star Wars. some would just like the swashbuckling stuff, but i like the other side to it.
     
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  7. hairymuggle

    hairymuggle Jedi Knight star 2

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    Apr 28, 2014
    Let's not forget Obi Wan being exiled to the desert for a long time as penance (depending on how you look at it). Though I think the Jedi are largely influenced by Eastern religion and cultures.
     
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  8. Ananta Chetan

    Ananta Chetan Force Ghost star 5

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    Aug 11, 2013
    Ewan McGregor will portray Christ in an upcoming movie. Click here ;).
     
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  9. MOC Vober Dand

    MOC Vober Dand Manager Emeritus star 5 VIP - Former Mod/RSA

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    Jan 6, 2004
    The Celtic Christ. Outstanding!
     
  10. Han Burgundy

    Han Burgundy Jedi Master star 3

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    Jan 28, 2013


    This video, though many of us have probably seen it before, is definitely worth posting in this thread. The universalist view George Lucas presents in this video might be a bit simplistic and reductive for many, but it nevertheless hits the mythological core of what the saga is. George Lucas is the Homer of the Information Age.
     
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  11. JEDI-RISING

    JEDI-RISING Chosen One star 6

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    Apr 15, 2005
    a few months after Revenge of the Sith came out Chris Matthews had Billy Graham on his show. He asked him if it bothered him that so many young people got religion out of movies like Star Wars. I don't remember the exact answer but it was basically No, whatever way people came to it he thought was good.
     
  12. I Are The Internets

    I Are The Internets Shelf of Shame Host star 9 VIP - Game Host

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    Nov 20, 2012
    If Joseph Campbell were alive today he would be clawing at his coffin lid screaming for help.
     
  13. Crystalia

    Crystalia Jedi Grand Master star 4

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    Feb 24, 2013
    I've often thought the force seems similar to the Holy Spirit too.
    --------------


    you see I never have done, The Holy Spirit can NOT be used on your whim, nor does it have a dark side
     
  14. Cushing's Admirer

    Cushing's Admirer Chosen One star 7

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    Jun 8, 2006
    I can see the association but I agree with my mate. As it's presented in Star Wars it can't be analogous to the Holy Spirit because it doesn't obey us nor is it corruptible. At best its a very poor facsimile.
     
  15. enigmaticjedi

    enigmaticjedi Jedi Knight star 3

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    Nov 2, 2011
    Yeah, I never thought the force was completely similar to the Holy Spirit. I only thought that it was partially similar in that it's always there to guide you if you need it
     
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  16. DANNASUK

    DANNASUK Force Ghost star 7

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    Nov 1, 2012
    The Force is significantly influenced by Brahman. As someone once said, the Jedi might as well have been Hindus. For those interested, there are plenty of material on Star Wars being influenced by the ancient esoteric and occult practices of antiquity.
     
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  17. Ananta Chetan

    Ananta Chetan Force Ghost star 5

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    Aug 11, 2013
    Palpatine when speaking of Plageius noted that it was ironic that he could save others, but not himself.

    Very similar to the sentiment voiced by some of those observing Christ as he was being crucified.
     
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  18. Drun Pulsar

    Drun Pulsar Jedi Youngling star 1

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    Feb 9, 2015
    Where is that from? I'm curious.

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  19. Sarge

    Sarge 7x Wacky Wednesday winner star 10 VIP - Game Winner

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    Are you asking about Journal of the Whills 3:127? Those numbers don't really match anything in the Bible. I believe that Psalm 119 is the only chapter with over 127 verses; Psalm 119:127 says "Therefore I love thy commandments above gold; yea, above fine gold." If you turn the numbers around you can go to Psalm 127:3, "Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord: and the fruit of the womb is his reward." Hmm, children and heritage, there's a good SW theme (but not until after Ep IV).
     
  20. Drun Pulsar

    Drun Pulsar Jedi Youngling star 1

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    Feb 9, 2015
    O I just meant the article you got that from.

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  21. Darth_Nub

    Darth_Nub Manager Emeritus star 5 VIP - Former Mod/RSA

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    Apr 26, 2009

    It wasn't from an article, it's included in the prologue to the novelisation of Star Wars published in December 1976 ('written' by George Lucas, ghostwritten by Alan Dean Foster), and appears at the beginning of the second and third drafts of the screenplay of 'The Star Wars'.

    It was replaced in the fourth draft and the fourth revised draft (the shooting script) with "A long, long time ago in a galaxy far, far away an incredible adventure took place…", and then in the finished film by:

    [​IMG]

    Which, one could say, is a move away from such a Biblical-style intro towards one which more closely resembles, "Once upon a time..."
     
  22. Drun Pulsar

    Drun Pulsar Jedi Youngling star 1

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    Feb 9, 2015
    Very interesting. Would be neat if we saw that somewhere else, though.

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