Zephyros
(I have to admit I don't subscribe to the prequels, so don't talk to me about midichlorians!!)
Well, it had to come up sometime, and I thought I would get the ball rolling on what people think, spiritually, of The Force, as seen in Star Wars. I have to admit I am a fanboy, and much of my spiritual thinking does indeed come from the Force .
Taken further, I see parallels between it and forms of Buddhism, the Abrahamic religions (albeit even less anthropomorphized), and especially (although this may be because of a certain bias) Thelema. On the one hand, it could be seen as a movie idea that was dumbed down and diluted, especially since it is a religion with benefits. No waiting for the Messiah, you see the proof of your convictions (at least in a galaxy far, far away) immediately, by levitating the remote to the couch. On the other hand, I must say that the idea of a single unifying force is not new, but I do think Star Wars did present that idea in a new way.
It is interesting that, at least in popular culture, it is The Force that has become the de facto fictional religion to go to, although there have been others. Dune was very religious (or perhaps "spiritual" is the right word), as was LOTR and other fictional works. The Force, though, does give you something the Valar and the Orange Catholic Bible do not (apart from theme music); both a void one can fill with your own thoughts on how to attain "the Force" and also a connection to a greater form of existence, even if you don't work on it ("luminous beings are we, not this crude matter"), i.e., you are a part of something greater whether you are spiritual or not. It is only adepts who learn to "use" the force. In a way, lifting an X-wing with the Force is nothing, since you're not really lifting it, it's all swimming in a sea of Force anyway, as are you ("size matters not!").
Looking at the two polarities of the Force (Dark and Light sides) we can assume several things, while looking at them from completely different angles. Firstly, that there are no two sides, it is all the Force, it all unifies in the end (Kabbalistically, Chochma and Binah merging to become the potentialities of Keter). Secondly, it is doubtful how it actually works. We are used to New Age gurus telling us that peace and harmony are the way to enlightenment, but the Force can also be manifested by aggression and any strong feeling. That is, I admit, a question I have no answer to, how can two opposing sects come from and return to the same source, but in a radically different ways.
On the other hand, one might look at the sides in light of Zoroastrianism. Zoroaster stated that there were two "first causes) in the world; the wise mother and father and creator Ahura Mazda and the evil usurper, Angra Maynyu (sp?), a dragon who's sole purpose is to upend Ahura Mazda's creation. Like Christianity, Zoroastrianism holds that evil is not merely the absence of good, but a force in it's own name. I guess the Dark Side's closest counterpart, for me, could be the massive spider Ungoliant from the Silmarillion, who eats light, belches out darkness and requires constant feeding. She takes, but does not give back. In this way, the Dark Side is one who takes only for themselves, holding a massive amount of power and potential but it stifles since it stays in one place (the Sith think inward, only of themselves and attainment of greater power) and needs to flow in order to nourish and be nourished (think swamp water in a desert). A Jedi, on the other hand, directs the Force outward, toward others, thus "giving" them his Force (in a way).
Well, I'm beginning to get lost here, I'll add points later if I think of any. What do you think of The Force?
Well, it had to come up sometime, and I thought I would get the ball rolling on what people think, spiritually, of The Force, as seen in Star Wars. I have to admit I am a fanboy, and much of my spiritual thinking does indeed come from the Force .
Taken further, I see parallels between it and forms of Buddhism, the Abrahamic religions (albeit even less anthropomorphized), and especially (although this may be because of a certain bias) Thelema. On the one hand, it could be seen as a movie idea that was dumbed down and diluted, especially since it is a religion with benefits. No waiting for the Messiah, you see the proof of your convictions (at least in a galaxy far, far away) immediately, by levitating the remote to the couch. On the other hand, I must say that the idea of a single unifying force is not new, but I do think Star Wars did present that idea in a new way. It is interesting that, at least in popular culture, it is The Force that has become the de facto fictional religion to go to, although there have been others. Dune was very religious (or perhaps "spiritual" is the right word), as was LOTR and other fictional works. The Force, though, does give you something the Valar and the Orange Catholic Bible do not (apart from theme music); both a void one can fill with your own thoughts on how to attain "the Force" and also a connection to a greater form of existence, even if you don't work on it ("luminous beings are we, not this crude matter"), i.e., you are a part of something greater whether you are spiritual or not. It is only adepts who learn to "use" the force. In a way, lifting an X-wing with the Force is nothing, since you're not really lifting it, it's all swimming in a sea of Force anyway, as are you ("size matters not!").
Looking at the two polarities of the Force (Dark and Light sides) we can assume several things, while looking at them from completely different angles. Firstly, that there are no two sides, it is all the Force, it all unifies in the end (Kabbalistically, Chochma and Binah merging to become the potentialities of Keter). Secondly, it is doubtful how it actually works. We are used to New Age gurus telling us that peace and harmony are the way to enlightenment, but the Force can also be manifested by aggression and any strong feeling. That is, I admit, a question I have no answer to, how can two opposing sects come from and return to the same source, but in a radically different ways.
On the other hand, one might look at the sides in light of Zoroastrianism. Zoroaster stated that there were two "first causes) in the world; the wise mother and father and creator Ahura Mazda and the evil usurper, Angra Maynyu (sp?), a dragon who's sole purpose is to upend Ahura Mazda's creation. Like Christianity, Zoroastrianism holds that evil is not merely the absence of good, but a force in it's own name. I guess the Dark Side's closest counterpart, for me, could be the massive spider Ungoliant from the Silmarillion, who eats light, belches out darkness and requires constant feeding. She takes, but does not give back. In this way, the Dark Side is one who takes only for themselves, holding a massive amount of power and potential but it stifles since it stays in one place (the Sith think inward, only of themselves and attainment of greater power) and needs to flow in order to nourish and be nourished (think swamp water in a desert). A Jedi, on the other hand, directs the Force outward, toward others, thus "giving" them his Force (in a way).
Well, I'm beginning to get lost here, I'll add points later if I think of any. What do you think of The Force?