Arguably one of the most popular movies of all time, with three of the series making it into the top 10 highest grossing films in USA Box Office history (www.imdb.com)

A New Hope released in 1977 Revenge of the Sith released in 2005 Star Wars: Clone Wars to be released later

this year (2008). Has spawned conventions, novels, TV

programs, comic books, video games, and toys galore

Luke Skywalker Princess Leia Han Solo Obi Wan

Kenobi Yoda Darth Vader C-3PO R2-D2

Set out to re-create myths “I see Star Wars as taking all the issues that

religion represents and trying to distill them down into a more modern and easily accessible construct”

“Religion is basically a container for faith.” “I put the Force into the movie in order to try to

awaken a certain kind of spirituality in young people--more a belief in God than a belief in any particular religious system.”

“What that God is or what we know about that God, I'm not sure.”

Imitated Buddhism as his inspiration for The Force Wants people to think about the “mystery”

*http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,990820,00.html

Pulls from Judeo-Christian and Buddhist thought

Over 300 million Buddhists worldwide Pantheism – God is all and all is God (New

Age movement) Buddhism and the 4 Noble Truths

Pantheism* – God is all and all is God God is one, infinite, impersonal, the universe The universe is an illusion, a manifestation of

God Human’s true self is God (Brahman in Hinduism) Destiny is determined by karma Evil is an illusion, caused by errors of the mind Ethics are relative, transcending the illusion of

good and evil

*Unshakeable Foundations, Norman Geisler. 2001.

Buddhism and the 4 Noble Truths* Truth of Suffering (may be mental or physical) Truth of the Cause of Suffering (desire or craving

and ignorance) The Truth of the End of Suffering▪ Attainment of Nirvana; removal of desire, craving and

ignorance; a supreme happiness, achieving Enlightenment

Truth of the Path Leading to the End of Suffering▪ Living the “Middle Path”

*www.zenguide.com

Problems with pantheism No position on “good” or “evil” God is not a personal creator Lives become determined by an arbitrary “fate” Flawed interpretation of man’s true nature All over the college campus Zen Buddhist philosopher D. T. Suzuki: “Zen does

not follow the routine of reasoning and does not mind contradicting itself or being inconsistent.”*

If something is logical and illogical, then it has no meaning

And Zen Buddhists use logic to validate their assumptions!

The New Evidence That Demands a Verdict, Josh McDowell. 1999. pg. 644