Star Wars
Symposium marks 130th anniversary of Swami Vivekananda’s arrival in the United States
By Murali Balaji — April 25, 2023
(RNS) — Swami Vivekananda’s tour of the United States would mark what would become the first exposure most non-Hindus in the West had with Hinduism.
‘Dune’ novels draw on Islamic motifs and have in turn inspired Muslim artists
By Joseph Hammond — October 18, 2021
(RNS) — The original series of 'Dune' novels is heavily influenced by ecology and sociology — as well as imagery from the Islamic world and the Middle East.
‘The Mandalorian’ is an indictment of holy wars, and a celebration of pluralism
By Jack Jenkins — December 4, 2020
(RNS) — Religion is a constant in the galaxy far, far away....
How we all became Jedis
By Tara Isabella Burton — December 20, 2019
(RNS) — After nearly 40 years, the Star Wars saga is almost complete, and the decades-long journey of the Jedi is ending. But the spiritual legacy of the Jedi is sure to last much longer.
Keeping the mystic, messianic faith of Star Wars’ Skywalkers
By Bob Smietana — December 13, 2019
(RNS) — It’s time once more to tell the old familiar story, set on the outskirts of an ancient and powerful empire, of a child born of a virgin and destined to save the world.
How the ‘Harry Potter’ books are replacing the Bible as millennials’ foundational text
By Tara Isabella Burton — April 25, 2019
(RNS) — Engagement with the Potter texts online brought millions to the World Wide Web, which in turn has indelibly shaped our approach to self and belief.
What the Star Wars franchise can learn from the Roman Catholic Church
By Charles C. Camosy — September 22, 2017
(RNS) — With the number of expanded-universe texts multiplying, and even contradicting each other, the Star Wars franchise could learn a lesson or two about authority and canon rule-making.
Was Princess Leia Jewish?
By Jeffrey Salkin — December 27, 2016
(RNS) Carrie Fisher "invented" herself as a Jew. She had a claim on that identity all along, and as an adult, exercised that claim.
Star Wars’ Jedi rejected as religious group in UK
By Emily McFarlan Miller — December 20, 2016
(RNS) Han Solo may have referred to Jediism as a 'hokey religion,' but the Charity Commission for England and Wales has ruled it is not actually a religion.
Why the new ‘Star Wars’ movie could use some moral clarity
By Charles C. Camosy — December 16, 2016
(RNS) Some actions require the very simple judgments of “light side = good” and “dark side = bad” of George Lucas’ original trilogy.
The ‘Church of Star Wars’ — at least for one Sunday in a German congregation
By Reuters — December 20, 2015
BERLIN (Reuters) "The more we talked about it, the more parallels we discovered between Christian traditions and the Star Wars movies," said Ulrike Garve. "We wanted to make churchgoers aware of these analogies."
‘Star Wars’: The return of the transcendent (COMMENTARY)
By Charles C. Camosy — December 18, 2015
(RNS) "The Force Awakens" gives us hope for the possibility of redemption and conversion.
Lego says its Jabba the Hutt set isn’t anti-Muslim
By Caleb K. Bell — April 2, 2013
(RNS) Lego is defending its Star Wars-based Jabba the Hutt toy set after recently being accused of racism by a Turkish cultural group.
MondayâÂ?Â?s Religion Roundup: Embryo skirmishes, birth control battles, Star Wars theology
By David Gibson — January 30, 2012
Newt Gingrich wants a ban on embryonic stem cell research, Romney doesn't. Santorum's daughter makes "miraculous" recovery, he looks for political miracle in Florida. Obama, birth control, and the Catholic vote. Andrew Sullivan's fan in the Vatican. And more...
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