Books: September 2007 Archives
McDowell, John C. The Gospel According to Star Wars. Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 2007
I just finished reading Dr John C McDowell's The Gospel According to Star Wars: Faith, Hope, and the Force. It claims to be the first comprehensive theological reading of both Star Wars trilogies, and I think it does so very well.
The reason I picked up this book was because of its Christian perspective. Much of the philosophy in Star Wars would appear to be, at first take, derived mainly from Eastern and eclectic philosophies, for example Buddhism, Daoism, and Gnosticism. Reading a Christian author deal with and resolve many of these "incompatabilities", as some authors have seen them. "The Force is too Eastern, they complain, and cannot therefore teach Christians anything theologically." (p16) As well as explaining why Christians ignoring non-Christian philosophies are making a mistake, McDowell also shows that "[t]he Force is in fact far more Western than many realize, and even [more (sic)] importantly parallels some theological matters that Christians would do well to think harder about." (p17)
The main thrust of McDowell's argument is that Lucas did not intend Star Wars simply to be a piece of money-making entertainment - but rather that he viewed it as an vehicle for moral education. His first chapter looks at Star Wars from a thematic and literary perspective, asking if Star Wars could be considered popular (contemporary) mythology. Chapter 2 examines the Force, and on its identification with the Christian God. The next chapter explores the evil that is present in the Star Wars universe, and deals with issues such as dualism and original sin. How this evil leads to the downfall of Anakin Skywalker, particularly as a tragic hero, is the subject of chapter 4, and chapter 5 deals with how this evils surfaces in Republican and Imperial politics. Chapter 6 explores salvation in Star Wars: the parallels between Anakin and Luke (especially as redeeming figures); self-discovery (enlightenment); and the films' use and justification of violence. The next chapter is subtitled "The Ethics of the Good Life", and deals with the values that Lucas puts forward, such as selfless and harmonious living, and the dangers of the dark side. The seventh and final chapter is subtitled "Redemption in Star Wars" and also touches on eschatology and destiny.
This is all done with varying degrees of success. As well as providing a detailed theology of Star Wars, he discusses in-depth what this means for Christians and how this can help them relate to their faith. Throughout the book he displays a thorough mastery of both the source material and of the issues and literature surrounding it. The book is both well-researched and well-referenced.
With the good comes the bad, and as ever I have my criticisms. I must admit to being a little bored in the middle of the book, around chapters 4 and 5. Perhaps I was expecting something else, but getting bogged down in literary theory, Jungian archetypes, and anthropocentric politics isn't my idea of theological analysis. (On the other hand, I found chapter 6 positively fascinating, especially the analogy he draws between Anakin and Luke on the one hand and Adam and Christ on the other.) Often McDowell spends more time explaining a particular concept or theory than actually relating these theories to Star Wars itself. Then there's the question of the appropriateness of applying these theories to what is, as McDowell freely acknowledges, a "popcorn movie" (p108).
On the whole, however, I found it an enjoyable and stimulating read. Many elements of the theology McDowell promoted I found immensely refreshing in the face of a contemporary stagnation of Christian ideals. It has also inspired me to consider what parallels exist between the philosophies of Star Wars and those of my own belief, the Baha'i Faith.
