Gods in Star Wars...

DocHorror · Post by **DocHorror** » 2003-01-23 02:53pm

Is there a pantheon of Gods in SW or is the Force it?

Is their a galactic religion?

Crayz9000 · Post by **Crayz9000** » 2003-01-23 03:14pm

I'll bet that the closest to a galactic religion you'll find is the Jedi Order.

Otherwise, religions are far too localized to be widespread across the galaxy. Most are isolated to a single planet, although there are a few exceptions, like the scheme that the Hutts used to lure people to Ylesia.

Cpt_Frank · Post by **Cpt_Frank** » 2003-01-23 04:01pm

Crayz9000 wrote:I'll bet that the closest to a galactic religion you'll find is the Jedi Order.

Otherwise, religions are far too localized to be widespread across the galaxy. Most are isolated to a single planet, although there are a few exceptions, like the scheme that the Hutts used to lure people to Ylesia.

What's the standard human religion btw? a belief in the force?

johnmarkley · Post by **johnmarkley** » 2003-01-23 04:14pm

Cpt_Frank wrote:
Crayz9000 wrote:I'll bet that the closest to a galactic religion you'll find is the Jedi Order.

Otherwise, religions are far too localized to be widespread across the galaxy. Most are isolated to a single planet, although there are a few exceptions, like the scheme that the Hutts used to lure people to Ylesia.
What's the standard human religion btw? a belief in the force?

That doesn't seem likely. It's been a while since I've seen the movie, but wasn't Luke pretty ignorant of what the Force was when he first met Kenobi?

neoolong · Post by **neoolong** » 2003-01-23 04:16pm

johnmarkley wrote:
Cpt_Frank wrote:
Crayz9000 wrote:I'll bet that the closest to a galactic religion you'll find is the Jedi Order.

Otherwise, religions are far too localized to be widespread across the galaxy. Most are isolated to a single planet, although there are a few exceptions, like the scheme that the Hutts used to lure people to Ylesia.
What's the standard human religion btw? a belief in the force?
That doesn't seem likely. It's been a while since I've seen the movie, but wasn't Luke pretty ignorant of what the Force was when he first met Kenobi?

He might mean in the PT. Of course, I doubt that it is the standard religion. Since related usage and "worship" only occurs for force users, it doesn't seem to be a standard religion.

Slartibartfast · Post by **Slartibartfast** » 2003-01-23 04:25pm

It's interesting how the phrase "May the Force be with you" is so common even between simple soldiers, pilots, etc. Luke of course may be excused because he lives in a little shithole, whose only contact is with other boys who actually get to go to the Imperial Academy (or whatever).

neoolong · Post by **neoolong** » 2003-01-23 04:31pm

Slartibartfast wrote:It's interesting how the phrase "May the Force be with you" is so common even between simple soldiers, pilots, etc. Luke of course may be excused because he lives in a little shithole, whose only contact is with other boys who actually get to go to the Imperial Academy (or whatever).

Is it? The only time I remember it being used by someone other than Luke, Han, or Obi-Wan, was the old guy at the briefing in ANH.

DPDarkPrimus · Post by **DPDarkPrimus** » 2003-01-23 05:13pm

Akbar, Mon Mothma, that commander dude in ESB...

Lord Pounder · Post by **Lord Pounder** » 2003-01-23 05:37pm

Lukes wee sweetheart in Truce At Bakura had a religon that seems to be based on Extreem Karma. I can't remember the name of it.

Slartibartfast · Post by **Slartibartfast** » 2003-01-23 05:44pm

DPDarkPrimus wrote:Akbar, Mon Mothma, that commander dude in ESB...

That's right. Hey, it's not like there's a hell of a lot more characters in the OT

Anyway, it's more like superstition than established religion. And it's based on stuff that was real 30ish years ago.

Howedar · Post by **Howedar** » 2003-01-23 07:20pm

Just another form of "good luck" as far as I see it.

Master of Ossus · Post by **Master of Ossus** » 2003-01-23 07:27pm

DocHorror wrote:Is there a pantheon of Gods in SW or is the Force it?

Is their a galactic religion?

Most of the major planets and species in Star Wars have their own religion or group of religions.

Post by **Kuja** » 2003-01-23 07:42pm

Well, there is evidence of a heaven and hell concept:

Worker: "You're tauntaun'll feeze to death before the first marker!"

Han: "Then I'll see you in Hell!"

Sardaukar · Post by **Sardaukar** » 2003-01-24 10:29pm

"Hokey religions and ancient weapons are no match for a good blaster at your side."

Ender · Post by **Ender** » 2003-01-24 10:37pm

In one of the Dark Forces Graphic Novels (the second one) the Captain of the ISD prays to his gods during the battle. In the BFC books, General washisface has a religion and recites a battle prayer. The Yevetha, Vong, Hutts, Ssi-ruuk, and Trandoshans all have religions.

And the Force clearly can't be a religion, a religion requires faith, and you can't have faith in something you can observe to be true. It's knowledge if you know it.

Illuminatus Primus · Post by **Illuminatus Primus** » 2003-01-24 10:45pm

I'd say most of the galactic population appear to be atheists.

Raptor 597 · Post by **Raptor 597** » 2003-01-24 10:49pm

The hole Han thing was reviewed a few months ago. While, he he may sell doesn't mean he has too believe in it. I often say Hell Hell and and i'm an atheist.

Darth Garden Gnome · Post by **Darth Garden Gnome** » 2003-01-24 10:50pm

Illuminatus Primus wrote:I'd say most of the galactic population appear to be atheists.

The majority of the HUMAN population seem to be atheist (excluding 'Force worship'), meanwhile each alien is reduced to a one note joke with their messed up religions-ie Transoshans must go and kill people to score jaggath points for the "ScoreKeeprer" Wookies are bound by a life debt to anybody who saves their hide. Ssi-Ruuvis, Vong, and Yevetha are just xenophobics who consider any other species "infedels" or "vermin" or the like, ect.

Post by **Kuja** » 2003-01-24 10:54pm

Captain Lennox wrote:The hole Han thing was reviewed a few months ago. While, he he may sell doesn't mean he has too believe in it. I often say Hell Hell and and i'm an atheist.

I'm not saying HAN is religious, I'm just saying that there's obviously a fairly widespread concept for it to stick in the language like that.

Lord Pounder · Post by **Lord Pounder** » 2003-01-25 01:27pm

What the hell was Han meant to say then? Don't forget that Lucas was permitting a lot of ad-libbing at the time and this may have been one of them. It was a good line and fits in. Leave it be.

kojikun · Post by **kojikun** » 2003-01-25 01:33pm

the force is a scientific phenomena not a religious article of belief.

neoolong · Post by **neoolong** » 2003-01-25 02:02pm

Just remembered, Jar Jar mentions gods in reference to his life debt to Qui-Gon in TPM.

Exonerate · Post by **Exonerate** » 2003-01-25 06:00pm

neoolong wrote:Just remembered, Jar Jar mentions gods in reference to his life debt to Qui-Gon in TPM.

Yes, but Jar Jar wasn't exactly exposed to Galactic Civilization... It seems that most religions are confined to a single race or area.

neoolong · Post by **neoolong** » 2003-01-25 06:09pm

Exonerate wrote:
neoolong wrote:Just remembered, Jar Jar mentions gods in reference to his life debt to Qui-Gon in TPM.
Yes, but Jar Jar wasn't exactly exposed to Galactic Civilization... It seems that most religions are confined to a single race or area.

I know. Just thought it was worth mentioning.

Kurgan · Post by **Kurgan** » 2003-01-25 10:56pm

The way I see it, the "Force" while, it exists as a measurable concept in the scientific world has beliefs ABOUT it that are religious in nature, ie: the Jedi vs. the Sith approach to the Force.

Who is right? Perhaps the Surgeon General of the Republic says that practice of the Dark Side of the Force can be hazardous to one's health.

; )

It seems that a general distrust or superstitious aura surrounds the Force in the Empire's era of the classic trilogy. Only the Rebels, who maintain a memory of it from the Old Republic's rose-colored history seem to value it.

It could have something to do with the falling out of favor of the Jedi Order, the fact that they are all but extinct (allowing rumors to grow unchecked) and that the Dark Side is now in control. Information could be suppressed, etc.

There's no evidence (other than perhaps the EU) that Dark Side users are actively recruited from the galactic populance like the Jedi did with their Light Side initiates into the Order.

Perhaps, as others have suggested, religions are usually a planet-wide or even species specific phenomena. Though, personally, I see the "Force" as a metaphor for the spiritual world (a pan-religious viewopint, addressed as "good" and "evil" forces, rather than one specific religion).

Even among the Jedi, there seem to be divergences of opinion as to how one responds to this "Force" as well. In the EU there's more variety among Force sensitives as well, as to what constitutes the "right way" to use the powers it can grant, while others are simply afraid of it and avoid it whever possible.

Could the Force be a "God"? The trouble is, life supposedly "creates it" and "makes it grow." But then supposedly "life could not exist" without it. A "chicken" vs. "egg" problem.

Is it really an "energy field" as described by Obi-Wan? (ie: not matter, but energy) And if so, was it created with the universe? Or is this just an interpretation of something that is much more difficult to categorize?

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