The Return of the Jedi :: essays research papers

The Return of the Jedi     So far this semester, we have stu drop deadd several different sociologicaltheories of religion. These theories are built on both the cognise tarradiddle ofreligions in the world and the cultures in which they originated, as well as,appropriately enough, theoretical suggestions of how those religions, and indeedany religion at all, will survive in the future. The theory I find the most trueis Stark and Bainbridges in The Future of Religion, although I manage someelements from others, like Bergers concepts of reification and secularization.     George Lucass Star Wars trilogy, aside from being incrediblyentertaining and extremely well-made, gives us a complete portrait of a society(The Empire) and a religion (Jediism, for lack of a separate term). Although themovies are mostly devoted to the growth of the characters, throughout thetrilogy we see the society change in a drastic manner. This paper will examinethe hi story of Jediism, the current (as of the end of the last movie) status ofthe religion, and offer some suggestions as to what we can expect from Jediismin the future.          I. The Religion     To examine the future of religion as it relates to society, one mustfirst have an idea of the tenets and judgments on which the religion is based.Jediism is based solely on belief in the "force", a " worldwide energy field thatsurrounds us and permeates us". (O. Kenobi, SW) Stark and Bainbridge make thepoint that any religion based on magic or magic-like rituals is fated to die outunless the magic can work constantly and consistently. This, they argue, is whymany religions change from promising magic, which is quite verifiable (Did he,in fact, levitate?) to promising compensators, a sort of unverifiable magic. Agood example of this is the Christian Heaven. Stark and Bainbridge take it as agiven, however, that magic, or abilities that parallel magic, do not, in fact,exist. This makes an take in charge to theorize about the future of Jediism moredifficult, since the religion is based, in part, on the belief that oneness withthe "force" has the ability to confer extraordinary powers to individuals-- abelief than is vindicated numerous times throughout the series.     The internal organization of the religion is, apparently, entirelynonexistant. There is no leader, nor is there any defined structure. Much likeclassical Taoism, various masters exist, and students and supplicants must seekout a master on their own in order to learn. There is no power structure to advance in,other than the ability to eventually hone ones faith to a degree that one can