Faith and the Force

Summer Sunday Services

presents

“Faith and the Force –

connecting the story of God with Star Wars”

Family Services during August at BGBC, Sevenoaks

“Hardly anybody can answer the easy Bible questions on Jeopardy anymore, but almost everybody can tell you about Obi Wan Kenobi, Darth Vader, Yoda and The Force.” [1]

The Star Wars films carry “more influence among young adults than the traditional religious myths of our culture.” [2]

Both these quotes say the same thing – that for many kids ‘Star Wars’ has more of an influence on their thinking than the Bible – they simply know the stories better!

I know my own kids were desperate to go and see ‘The Force Awakens’, the latest instalment of the Star Wars saga, when it was released earlier this year.  Many of their friends went back to watch it a second or third time.

But the film’s creator, George Lukas, says, “Star Wars is not really about spaceships, it’s about people. … The special effects help to create new universe in which the story takes place and in which the characters interact.

The films are about God, and good and evil, temptation, fall and redemption – sound familiar?

So this summer at BGBC we are going to be looking at the Star Wars films and exploring the many connections and differences with the story of God, as told in the bible.

Over the 5 weeks we’re going to be asking…

  1. The Force – how is the ‘Force’ like God?
  2. Darth Vader – born Evil?
  3. Luke Skywalker – the second Adam?
  4. Anakin Skywalker – is anyone beyond God’s grace?
  5. The Rebellion – a community of resistance?

We hope you’ll be able to join us – and remember to bring your light sabre!

[1] McDowell, J.C. (2007) The Gospel according to Star Wars

[2] Ford, J. (2005) Journal of Religion and Film 4.2