An Analysis of the Force By Anna Yellis In 1977, Star Wars was released. It became one of the most prominent movies in the twentieth century. It created the Force, and expressed a new set of ideas. While many came to believe that in Star Wars, the Force resembled God, it really did not. Many also thought that the Force was based on the twentieth century worldview, once again, it did not. Through analyzing the Force with the twentieth century and the Biblical worldview, it is clear that the Force has no resemblance to God and that its worldview is not part of the twentieth century or the Biblical worldview. Master Jedi Obi Won Kenobi first introduces the Force as he sits in his desert hut. Obi Won explains to Luke Skywalker the nature of the Force. He states, “The Force is what gives the Jedi his power. It is an energy field created by all living things. It surrounds us, penetrates us, it binds the galaxy together.” The Force was an energy field that connected all living things in the galaxy. The power of the Force could be used by individuals who were sensitive to it. The Force gives powers to those who weld it, the Jedi and the Sith. The two main practitioners of the Force's power were the Jedi Order and the Sith. Usage of the Force granted a number of convenient powers, such as the ability to sense impending attacks; to push and lift physical objects; influence the thoughts of others, known as the "Jedi mind trick;” and even see the future or maintain one's consciousness after death. Those who use the Force for evil, often turn to the dark side. Dark side users, those who gave in to anger, depression, and hatred, could summon lightning from their fingertips. Jedi taught younglings that the Force could be used for many purposes, including protection, persuasion, wisdom, the manipulation of matter and the performance of great physical feat.Though only certain individuals were Force-sensitive, the Force resided within all living things and could be extracted. Because of this, Force-sensitives could feel a "disturbance in the Force" whenever there was a great loss of life. Yoda states that death is a natural part of the universe. In other words, accept death without emotion. He adds that one should not grieve for those who have died because they became part of the Force. Jedi must not become attached to things, including people. Attachment to objects and people, leads to jealousy and the dark side of the force. In death, the Jedi are able to delay this absorption and appear as spirit guides to aid those in the physical world. This teaching is not new but a fundamental tenet of pantheistic religions.
The worldview that under girds the Force is Pantheism. Pantheism derives in meaning from the Greek word “pan” which means all, and “theism” which means God. Therefore, pantheism teaches that all is God. In other words, God is the universe, he is not separate from the universe but is contained within it. There is no divine personal being who created the universe, there is a divine essence, an impersonal force, a cosmic energy that flows throughout all things in the universe. This energy is called the “One,” “the divine,” “chi,” or “Brahma.” In Star Wars, it is called the Force.
Pantheism teaches that the material world is an illusion. Therefore, one should not get attached to earthly things for they are just an illusion and are not permanent. Pantheism teaches that one can delay their union with the divine and remain as spirit guides to aid those on the journey to enlightenment.The Force reflects one of the main tenets of the pantheistic worldview, the concept of monism, that all is in one essence. The Force is not a personal being. It is an impersonal energy that is made up of and resides in all living things. Therefore, all of life has the spark of divinity because all is essentially one unified entity. The ideology of the Force supports Pantheism.
The Existentialism ideology speaks of a world with no God or a higher being. This world view showed that man had to rely on himself instead of a higher entity. Just like Existentialism, it was the same with the Force. There was no God in the Force. The Force created life, it was the source of power that could be controlled and manipulated. It penetrated, surrounded and bound all life forms together.
Existentialism expressed that ethics and morality was the basis of man. It was man’s role to decide what was right or wrong. To use the Force wisely, for good or evil, man’s emotions was the basis of ethics and morality. Negative emotions brought in the dark side, while positive emotions controlled the other half of the Force, the light side.
The Existentialism worldview stated that death was the end, that there was no afterlife and life had no meaning. Which is fitting because, there is no God. To have a afterlife and a meaning in life, there must be a God or a higher being. The existence of the Force asserted that there was no afterlife and that the meaning of life was unreasonable or had no meaning. Similarly, the Force is different from the Holy Spirit when thoroughly analyzed.
The Force is made up of all living things in the universe while the Holy Spirit is not contained in the universe. The Holy Spirit being the third member of the Trinity is an eternal being who was involved in creating the universe out of nothing Being God, the Holy Spirit is involved in the universe but He is not contained in the universe and exists independent of living things. The Force can be mastered and manipulated by the Jedi who have mastered their art and can use it to accomplish their will. The Holy Spirit being God, cannot be manipulated by those He dwells in. Instead He guides, He teaches, and He empowers them to do the will of God the Father. Christians do not master the Holy Spirit to accomplish their will, the Holy Spirit controls them to do His will. The Force resides in all living things but the Holy Spirit dwells only in those who have trusted Christ as their Lord and Savior.
The Bible teaches that at death, that man can not be absorbed into an impersonal energy field but will retain personhood and stand before God in judgment. There is no reincarnation or second chance. The Bible states that “It is appointed for each person to die once and then comes the judgment.” For those who know Jesus will spend eternity with our Lord and fellow believers for all eternity. Those who have rejected Christ will spend eternity separated from God in Hell. The Bible presents a destiny that is just but also filled with hope for those who know Jesus. The answer presented in the force; the annihilation of one’s consciousness and absorption into a cosmic energy field, is a false one that even if it were true would provide little hope.
The Force is a energy field that is created by all things, an idea that is shared with the Pantheistic worldview. The Force’s nature is the fundamental tenet of pantheistic religions. One of the many Pantheism teachings include the view that the universe is controlled by a cosmic energy that flows from all things. Accordingly, the Force is totally different from the Existentialism ideology, a worldview that was part of the twentieth century worldview. When analyzed with the Biblical worldview, It is clear to see that the Force does not correspond with the Biblical worldview, that it strays from the belief that God is the central figure in the world.