Do people who prefer SW over ST ...

[Kev'i Haric]

I definately agree w/ you Ves.

 

If you look at my original reply, I said they aren't a religion in the "I'm a Jedi and attend Jedi Church" sense of the word.

 

But one could refer to anything held in reverence as a religion. IE: Star Wars to us is a religion.

 

I guess for the lack of a better term (fraternal order isn't very catchy), religion is applicable.

 

I just think there's got to be a better way to explain it...

[Vestril]

I agree, there is a lot of negative connotation that comes with the word, and a lot of assumptions as well. Unfortunately I don't know a better word either...

[thrEEpaGe]

Originally posted by Tenchu

I happen to enjoy both. As to the religious aspect of Star Wars, that went out the window with Episode 1 when Lucas decided the Force was some sort of parasite that had the effect of enhancing the senses; sort of like a cootie you can catch and not a religious belief.

 

midichlorians were organisms that were symbiotic with creatures, and those who were force prominent or sensitive had increased levels of these relative to those non force power people

 

however, i the force is definitely not a religious belief, although with symbolism you could liken it to almost any religion in the world.

[Jedi_Monk]

Vestril, I'd say #4 deffinately applies to the Jedi:

4. A set of beliefs, values, and practices based on the teachings of a spiritual leader.

Let's say the Force is their spiritual leader--they follow its Will. "Finding him was the will of the Force..." "...listen closely and they will tell you the will of the Force..." so whether they know it beforehand or not, they do what the Force wanted them to do. The Force reenforces their beliefs by rewarding those who practice the "beliefs and values" with eternal life. So the Jedi fit all definitions for a religion.

[Kurgan]

It depends. See some people watch the Wizard of Oz and they say "Ah ha! It's a political movie about populism!"

 

Other people watch it and say "I knew it! It's a propaganda film for theosophy!"

 

Others say "Wow! This is what happens when we legalize drugs!"

 

Etc.

 

I have read reviews where people condemned Star Wars as satanic inspired, occult brainwashing none-sense.

 

Others say it confirms their Christian/Wiccan faith.

 

Others just see it as fantasy with no "message" that is worth their time.

 

The point is, that most "developed" art forms are multivalent, including literature, music, painting, movies, etc.

 

Some things to consider:

 

Gene Roddenbarry was an atheist. Or at least what you'd call an "agnostic secular humanist." He didn't believe in a personal god through a revealed religion. I don't think he was a deist either. Some of this can be seen in Star Trek (generally divine beings are seen as petty or incomplete next to morally enlightened humans). Now he's dead, and he doesn't run the show anymore, so you get some more less negative views of religion in Trek now (though I see it mostly as the "individualist" sense.. that is, there's no institutions or leadership, everybody just believes whatever they want and it's a private thing).

 

George Lucas claims to be religious. He belives in God and the triumph of good over evil, and this comes out in Star Wars. That doesn't mean that his movies advertise any particular religion. People see the influences and nods to many religions in the films and he says that is his intention (for example Tao, Christianity/Judaism, Buddhism, Hinduism, Paganism, Pantheism, etc)

 

Some sci/fi fantasy is deliberate allegory that's a bit more specific. For example The Chronicles of Narnia is largerly a Christian allegory, but you don't have to interpret it that way. Some fundamentalist Christians condem it as paganism/occultism.

 

JRR Tolkien claimed his Lord of the Rings and middle earth books were not a direct allegory of anything in particular, but people are always finding parallels with his stuff and the bible or the history of the past century, etc.

 

Or how about Dune? I haven't read the books (just saw the first movie.. I know, I'm not a true fan!). I've heard it interpreted as an allegory of the rise of Islam.

 

So I guess it all depends on what you bring to the table. It's not just what the author thinks about it.

 

As to your idea that SW Fans = religious and Trek fans = atheist is probably not all that accurate. I like both. The guy who runs Stardestroyer.net is an atheist and he likes SW a lot better than Trek (though he admits he likes the original series a lot).