Is Star Wars evil?

Hello friends,

I don't have time to stick around and argue a lot about this (call me a coward, if you like), but here's my point anyway:

It is almost impossible to watch a film (let alone enjoy it) without imagining that what is happening on the screen is real. I've watched the first four Star Wars films (but now believe them to be wrong), and I know I wouldn't have enjoyed them if I'd have gone through the whole things saying to myself, "Han Solo doesn't exist - he's just Harrison Ford; that Deathstar is a plastic model; Jar Jar Binks is a computer simulation;" etc. Whilst watching these films, you must pretend these things are true. The problem is that there are aspects to the films, most importantly "the Force", that various anti-Christian religious groups believe are real! Starwars brings these ideas to the general public, and makes them more likely to accept such ideas, sicne they've had exposure to them (and accepted them as truth whilst watching the films) before.

OK - you'll reply with some silly hypothetical example to try and disprove me - would talking walruses be bad? No - but then there is no cult going around seriously claiming that Christianity is wrong, and that God really is a talking walrus! However, there ARE people, especially in the New Age movement, who are seriously suggesting that God is really a monistic, impersonal "force", that pervades the universe, which is equally good and bad; that people must be specailly trained and initiated to use this "force"; that such training is the ideal for us; that through such training one can become "at one" with the "force" (particularly at death - c.f. the death of Obi-Wan Kanobi in episode IV); etc. Other dangerous teachings include the idea that truth is relative, and that man can communicate with the dead (both seen strikingly in the dialogue between Luke Skywalker and a DEAD Obi-Wan Kanobi about Luke's father); that extra-terrestrial life exists; that fear is wrong; etc. These are not isolated ideas, but pervade the films.

All in all, it is dangerous for such ideas to be promoted and exposed to so many people, when they form the linch-pins of so much of the very dangerous and growing New-Age belief system. I know many of you will try to ridicule me for saying this, and try to justify watching these films by WORLDLY standards, but I'd challenge you to provide Biblical reasons for allowing us to watch them. I suggest we err on the side of godliness. Ps 101:3

Your friend and brother,

Bartholomew

 

Which is more biblically inappropriate? Star Wars, or Who Wants to Marry a Millionaire?

 

What?? Star Wars isn't real, historical, factual events? Where did you get that idea?

It's a long time ago in a galaxy far away, but that doesn't make it a lie. I suppose next you all will be telling me that Star Trek isn't real either??

 

but I'd challenge you to provide Biblical reasons for allowing us to watch them.

Hey, I'm still working on finding a biblical reason to eat my asparagus like my mom told me to. There's nothing in the Bible that says I should blow dry my hair, polish my shoes, use chap stick, or solve the timeless boxer/brief issue. These things are all worldly, so we shouldn't do them, I assume. But let's stick to the media. Jeopardy, Bugs Bunny, This Old House, and Whose Line Is It Anyway are all worldly and have no spiritually redeeming value. I really get tired of the scifi genre getting a bad rap by bible thumpers. I can't stand the Home Shopping Channels, but don't tell people it's worldly and unbiblical, although compared to scifi, well, maybe I won't go there...

There are times we should use Spiritual discernment and guidance, and this is one of them.

Johnv
What do you mean, Star Trek isn't real?

 

And let all the people say Amen!

Amen!

And let all the people say Amen!

Amen!

Brother Adam

 

I'm feeling "devilish" tonite - What about D&D?

MU HA HA HA HA HA *in an evil manner*

Sorry Im tired, I had to at least pretend to laugh evilly

 

Well D&D can lead to other things, more "evil" things. Such as a game i use to play called "Vampire" its very similar to D&D but its much more graphic in nature (specially the Medevil version). You wouldnt think that just pretending these things could be harmfull but they are because you are welcomeing very unpure and sometimes evil thoughts into your head.

[ June 20, 2002, 12:29 AM: Message edited by: SorryDude ]

 

We took our kids to see "Attack of the Clones", and we all enjoyed it. Will probably get the video. (For that matter, we now have the Harry Potter video. )
However, I think that, contrary to what a lot of comments on this thread seem to state, the nature of any fiction is that it does have a world view, and it does draw you into some degree into that world. If it didn't, it would be too boring and pointless to bother with.

We did talk to our kids about different messages we saw in "Clones". For example, Anakim displays far more lust than love for his bride. She comforts him for having killed innocent people and never tells him he was wrong.
Of course, we have always carefully explained the difference between God's Reality and the "Force".
Even if it is "just" fiction to you, it is not to George Lucas. And it does affect the views of a LOT of non-Christians out there. I have met some of them.

And I am sure that there is SOME point that you would not watch a given movie, even if it is just fiction. Or participate in D&D: Sularis made a great point.

Discernment IS always needed, even if two Christians may choose differently.

Karen

 

Maybe a better question is Hollywood purposely putting out movies to drag down society or is it " simply entertainment no more no less"?

 

Hollywood does not purposely bring down society, what would be the gain for them? All they do is put out things that will make them money, thats all that most of them care about. Why do you think George Lucus is putting out Episode 1,2 and 3, its so he can make more money.

 

One thing is for certain. Star Wars is vain, empty, worthless entertainment. Now, is vainity something that Christians should spend their time and money on?

 

Somewhere in scripture is says that "to the pure, all things are pure".

No thing is evil, there are no evil "things". What is evil is being pulled away from God, forgetting our first, true love. (Check out Jesus's comments to the seven churches in Revelations.)

'Evil' is self-serving. Yes, being entertained is sometimes 'evil' by that definition, unless you are re-charging yourself for your ministry. (That's why it has been called re-creation, in that your energy for tasks in this life is being re-created!)

If you do not have a ministry, you may be living for yourself and you may have have an 'evil' tendency.

All of us are imperfect and flawed. None of us are righteous. Let's not attack Hollywood when most of us "Christians" don't even put God #1 in our lives.

Andrey
www.achievebalance.com

 

Hi JohnV,

That just proves my point exactly. If anyone hasn't read my post on page 2, please do (if you want to know why I believe Star Wars is wrong). I challenged there someone to show me a BIBLICAL reason why we should condone something which promotes the New-Age god which so many people are worshipping now. If Bugs Bunny promotes Islam, stop watching it. If Asparagus soup encourages people to pray to the Devil, stop eating it. If doing the timeless boxer (must be American I guess, since I've never heard of it) helps attempted communication with the dead, steer clear of it. And if Star Wars promotes NewAge-ism, then don't go reccommending it. OK - maybe those other TV programmes may be wrong. But if that is so, then stop watching them! Personally, I'm fed up of Bible-believers justifying something just because they do other things that are wrong. Please read Psalm 101:3.

Your friend and brother,

Bartholomew

 

Amen!

 

I have never been caught in any "trap" left by a film, but because others have does this mean i should never watch a film again?

 

The only evil thing about Star Wars is people actually have to pay to see it.