INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE

EXTENDED ESSAY

Session: May 2023

Subject: English
Category: 3
Personal Code: kdg038

The Tao of Star Wars: Exploring George Lucas’s critique of

Western religions.

RQ: To what extent does George Lucas criticize major Western religions
(Christianity and Islam) through the incorporation of Taoist beliefs in
Star Wars?

Word Count: 3946.

 Table of Contents

I. Introduction 2

II. Christianity: The Force & Parallel between Anakin and Christ 4

III. Islam: Master Yoda, Planets & Muslim Names 7

IV. Taoism: Coexistence of Good & Evil 10

V. Conclusion 12

VI. Works Cited 15

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Introduction

Star Wars director and screenwriter George Lucas discloses in an interview with Bill

Moyers that the multimedia franchise is an "anti-authoritarian, very '60s ‘against the man’"

fiction narrative. Even the editing of the original trilogy itself was liberal, due to the shocking

advancements in visual effects used. The inclusion of flying automobiles, spaceships, and

so-called hyperspace jumps adds to the series’ anti-conservatism. The criticism towards the

conservative ideology is noted by both Brode and Chris Taylor, with the latest arguing that Lucas

is “a very, very liberal Northern Californian.” He negatively evaluates authoritarianism through

“progressive parables” celebrating cultural diversity while showcasing “the constant struggle

against prejudice in everyday life.” This anti-authoritarian mindset is demonstrated when

evaluating major Western religions in the intergalactic saga.

Since the release of the first film, “Star Wars: A New Hope,” in 1977, the incorporation

of Princess Leia, a self-sufficient, fearless leader paved the way for anti-conventionalist

messages which sought to empower minorities, such as women, at a period when major religious

organizations were hostile to the feminist movement. This is also evidenced by the diversity of

ethnicities represented in the films, all of which coexist and aid one another, with the exception

of the imperial white supremacists who wreak havoc throughout the galaxy. By doing so, he

challenged the pre-existing principles instilled by governmental and religious institutions and

adopted a unique, original narrative style.

Nonetheless, his movies include many Christian and Islamic references, juxtaposing his

disdain for orthodoxy with his methodist church upbringing. The illustration of Anakin as the

socially accepted image of Jesus Christ, his mysterious ‘virgin birth,’ or the matronymic

“Skywalker,” which can refer to heaven, contributes to the majority of the Western audience’s

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perception of the presence of Christian liturgy in the franchise. Similarly, the series contains

several Islamic connections as a result of the introduction of self-control concepts and the

creation of a green Jedi Master named Yoda (Hellyer).

A theme that runs throughout the prequels and the original trilogy is Anakin's desire to

become someone significant, aid the people, and discover his true identity. Nevertheless, he lived

his whole life as a slave, which meant his single dread had come true. He eluded his old slave

master, Watto, by winning a pod race. After his master, Qui Gon-Jinn, died, he became Kenobi's

pupil and dearest friend, whom he had to address as 'Master.' Finally, when he turned to the evil

side of the Force, his failure against Kenobi rendered him impotent against Emperor Palpatine,

sentencing him to countless years of slavery. Anakin’s demise and forced servitude is yet another

accusation directed against authoritarian governments that enslaved native peoples in the

Americas and Africa to convey religious values and teach the indigenous.

Although the franchise is described as a straightforward, intergalactic duel between good

and evil, it criticizes conservative governments and religions, especially the latter aspect since it

impedes the development of new values and beliefs. The inclusion of several theologies acts as a

bridge between new generations and spirituality. As Pollock points out, the Star Wars message

“is religious: God’s not dead; he is there if you want him to be.” Lucas seeks to arouse feelings

of faith and optimism, believing in them although there is no proof to back it up.

However, the author’s biases have also been transferred through the screen, as the

application of important Taoist beliefs outnumbers the movies' conceivable Christian and Islamic

ties. The author transmits his message by creating an epic about the demise of authoritarian

religions and regimes as a result of ignorance, greed, and blind faith in an antiquated code. Thus,

Lucas conveys his criticisms of the two main Western doctrines by including Taoism in Star

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Wars, exemplified by the duality between good and evil and the exclusive, narrow perspective

occidental divinities offer.

Christianity: The Force & Parallel between Anakin and Christ

George Lucas's background as a Protestant significantly impacted Star Wars, particularly

the inclusion of Christianity in the Force. Even though the “energy field created by all living

things” (A New Hope, 32:08) follows Taoist principles, it gives way to many Christian

teachings. To start with, the phrase “May the Force be with you” is a straight translation of the

old Catholic proverb “May the Lord be with you.” This connects the Force to the occidental faith

and provides a connection with the Lord since both provide a cloak of protection in their

respective theologies. These mysterious abilities, which only specific individuals have access to,

generate a sense of exclusivity, which differs from other faiths in that it prevents most

individuals from becoming involved. At the same time, it resembles the marked power structures

inside both Islamic and Christian faiths due to the difficulties of becoming a preacher and the

authority of the highest positions, with Master Yoda being similar to the pope. Both of them can

launch or halt wars and influence politics within countries (planets in the case of the small, green

creature). Although there are many dissimilarities between the Jedi Master, the Supreme Pontiff,

and Imam, one might claim that the Jedi Council was structured uniformly to Islamic and

Christian religions.

Another way George Lucas includes occidental ideologies is through the main character,

Anakin Skywalker. The Jedi male born in Tatooine, who has a special connection to the Force, is

physically and spiritually similar to Jesus Christ. His recognition as the ‘Chosen One’ throughout

the prequels and his long brown hair in “Revenge of the Sith” are strong evidence of the author's

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objectives. Additionally, his midi-chlorian count is among the highest ever recorded, further

reinforcing his affinity to master the all-mighty ‘Force.’ Unsurprisingly, Anakin’s redemption in

the latest movie of the original trilogy is structured similarly to the one in Galatians (2:20): “I

have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.” Darth Vader was

crucified and trapped in his robotic body, suffering physically from the anguish of wearing the

armor and mentally from recognizing he was still Emperor Palpatine's 'slave.' However, his true

self, Anakin Skywalker, was always there and ended up coming out to redeem himself with the

guidance of his son.

One of the methods the director uses to implicitly reiterate his message is the distinct

planets depicted across the galaxy. In fact, the events that occur on some of these planets relate to

specific instances in the Bible. Mustafar, where Anakin and Kenobi fought at the end of

“Episode III,” is a primary example. It is a planet surrounded by lava and darkness, which

generates a sense of impurity. This atmosphere closely resembles the Bible's depiction of Hell, as

described by Jesus (Matthew 25:41), when comparing it to an unquenchable, eternal fire.

Matthew portrays hell as a realm where both spirit and body could be destroyed (Matthew

10:28). It is said that “if that evil slave says in his heart, ‘My master is not coming for a long

time,’ and begins to beat his fellow slaves the master of that slave will [...] cut him in pieces and

assign him a place with the hypocrites” (Matthew 24:48). This accurately portrays Anakin's

actions: he revolted against his master and the Jedi Order, joined the dark side and slaughtered

most of the padawans when his Jedi Master was not in Coruscant, and headed to Mustafar to

eliminate the Separatist commanders. He was hounded by his former master, who confronted

him and chopped his legs. He lost his remaining arm due to a severe burn. He lost his body, soul,

and Padme Amidala, the love of his life. Through these losses, he changed from being one of the

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most powerful Jedi to a reckless Sith lord who cared nothing for anybody. He was spared by his

new master, Emperor Palpatine, to become the metallic, half-robot Darth Vader. Many

individuals believe that Anakin Skywalker is not Darth Vader since their bodies and personalities

are so different. His experience in Mustafar, Hell, molded him into such a distinct character that

he was no longer recognized to be the same person. Because he had already become Lord Vader

when he murdered Mace Windu, he did not become a Sith in Mustafar, but rather ‘resurrected.’

Thus, Anakin and Jesus Christ resemble each other physically and in terms of their experiences

of suffering, excruciating anguish, and revival. However, it is crucial to highlight that the Sith

Lord was resurrected to wreak havoc and make the rest suffer, whereas Jesus' aimed to restore

peace and harmony within the community. As a result, Lucas sought to 'balance' the measure of

good and evil by juxtaposing the resurgence of a virtuous figure and the revival of a psychopath.

A radically different understanding of Anakin Skywalker's symbology can be extracted

from his demise. Several hypotheses regarding Anakin Skywalker being the 'anti-Christ' have

been discussed in Star Wars forums, suggesting that his fall and reign of terror as Darth Vader is

quite similar to Beelzebub's. He was recognized as the dark (Darth) prince because he never

managed to rise and occupy the throne to become the emperor (king). Therefore, he is considered

to be the prince of darkness, which turns out to be Satan's appellation.

I believe Lucas may have chosen a mix of both hypotheses. Anakin Skywalker depicts

Jesus as a pure man who constantly fought to defend others and serve the community.

Nonetheless, the antiquated Jedi codes and the council’s ignorance frustrated Anakin because of

the number of unnecessary deaths suffered. This misery, along with his ambition, led to his

demise on Mustafar, giving rise to a new character: Darth Vader. He symbolizes the other face of

the same coin, darkness, the ‘anti-Christ’. As the Taoist and Buddhist beliefs illustrate through

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the Yin Yang, there is no good without evil. In other words, one can be either of those, shaped by

their experiences and teachings. Anakin realized the irony behind the Jedi codes, how their own

fear of being afraid and emotional resulted in the whole galaxy being subjected to countless

years of turmoil, horror, and devastation.

Anakin Skywalker resembles Samson in that both of their redemptions result from faith

in God (Force), and they acknowledge their faults. Delilah manipulated the Israelite warrior and

discovered the source of Samson's strength. After cutting his hair, Samson lost his enormous

power and was enslaved by the Philistines. He prayed to God, regained his abilities, and used

them to destroy the Philistine temple, killing himself "and everyone else in the temple"

(Fairchild). Anakin, who was already Darth Vader, has a similar redemption in that he redeems

himself by 'killing' Emperor Palpatine and fulfilling the prophecy, restoring balance to the Force.

Both of their downfalls emanate from their own pride, with Samson succumbing to Delilah's

temptation and Anakin getting offended because he is allowed in the council but is not awarded

the rank of master, which he deems insulting because "it has never been done in the history of the

Jedi" (Revenge of the Sith, 38:26).

Islam: Master Yoda, Planets & Muslim Names

Hellyer and Wetmore draw several parallels between Star Wars and Islam. The first

argues that the initial two trilogies are “at least as Islamic as the radical extremist group [ISIS], if

not more so” by examining the Jedis' latent Koranic ideals and the application of Islamic

artifacts. According to Hellyer, Master Yoda is inspired by Al-Khidr, the one who guided

Prophet Moses. This is due to the fact that both share the same storyline: they are introduced as

masters with chaotic tendencies who end up unveiling themselves and teaching Luke Skywalker

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and Prophet Moses respectively, the ways of the Force or Islam. Another similarity is that

‘Khidr’ means green, thus, indicating that not even the color scheme used in the movies is

random, but every single aspect has some underlying meaning behind it. In the saga, Master

Yoda, a green tridactyl who uses a green lightsaber, is the incarnation of the viridescent color;

thus, it is most likely that Lucas was influenced by Al-Khdir when designing the powerful Jedi

Master illustrated across the six initial films.

Jedi knights are spiritual fighters, a concept that might have been influenced by a variety

of religions, although their core beliefs are comparable to those of the Sufi Orders. These

peaceful organizations encourage the use of one's emotions when interacting with Allah. This is

precisely what Jedis do; despite their reluctance to express emotion, they must trust their

instincts and feelings to connect with the Force and harness its power correctly. Another

similarity between both religions is their shared principles. The Sufi adept, as Hellyer mentions,

is based on conquering one’s ego “so that it may be in service only to the One.” This refers to the

preacher’s emotional control, which they must employ to serve the whole organization and their

faith. In “Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith”, Yoda contemplates the consequences of acting by

one’s feelings: “Rejoice for those around you who transform into the Force. Mourn them do not.

Miss them do not. Attachment leads to jealousy. The shadow of greed that is. [...] Train yourself

to let go of everything you fear to lose.” This portrays both the toxicity of certain Jedi values,

since it impedes users from loving or caring, and the rigorous norms dedicated to an individual’s

self-control. The major distinction between the Jedi and the Sith is the control over one’s

emotions to avoid the temptation of endless greed and power.

On the other hand, Wetmore looks at the presence of Islamic-themed landscapes and

characters. Tatooine, the most visited planet in the three entire trilogies, was filmed in Tunisia, a

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primarily Muslim country. Even though the planet is sparsely inhabited, it is replete with murder,

corruption, and enslavement. According to Michalak and Brode, this is similar to how the

Middle East is portrayed in Western films. Even the Jedis fear the planet, as seen by their

attempts in Episode I to find other means to replenish their spacecraft fuel tank, Kenobi's

depiction of Mos Eisley in Episode IV, and the last series The Mandalorian, who is always lured

back to the region and always encounters trouble. Wetmore also notes that Watto and numerous

other Tatooine residents, such as Tusken Raiders, are “echoes of Hollywood stereotypes of

Middle Easterners,” linking every aspect of their life to Islamic beliefs, such as the parallel

drawn between Banthas and camels.

Nonetheless, the main Islamic references can be found in the names of both people and

places within the cinematic universe. General Ackbar (“Great”), Queen Jamilla (“Beautiful”),

and Jabba (“al-mighty”) are some of the many references to the Muslim religion. Another

example is Alderaan, the brightest star in the Taurus constellation which means “follower” in

Arabic. Tatooine was modeled after the Tunisian city of Tataouine, whereas Mustafar, the site of

Darth Vader's defeat, was named after the Arabic term ‘Mustafa,’ which means ‘chosen one.’

Qui-Gon Jinn, named after the Arabic word ‘Jinn’ which is “a spirit [...] unseen by humans,

capable of assuming various forms and exercising extraordinary powers” (Britannica), ends up

being the first Jedi to learn how to communicate with the ones alive when being dead,

performing the opposite of necromancy (Episode III, 2:10:08). Finally, the term Jedi arises from

the Arabic 'al-jeddi' that stands for master of the mystic-warrior method. Overall, the Islam

mysticism depicted in the films represents Lucas' core aim, which is to reawaken people's

spirituality. As Hellyer reflects, “Star Wars might not be a story based in a galaxy so far away …

certainly far closer to Islam, if only in spirit, than ISIS’s myth of a state ”.

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Taoism: Coexistence between Good & Evil

The final religion to be addressed in the Star Wars universe is Taoism, and how its

introduction ends up denouncing the previous faiths. One of the most important features of the

eastern religion is the coexistence of right and wrong, good and evil, and light and dark. On the

opening page of Laozi's Tao Te Ching, he asserts that only “when people see things as good, evil

is created.” This concept depicts the thin line between two sides of the same coin, which is

further developed by the Yin Yang, and plays a fundamental role in Taoist mythology. Lucas

manages to include this idea through the protagonist, Anakin Skywalker, who ends up becoming

Darth Vader after he realizes that the dark side will allow him to both protect his family and aid

people in the same way he did. He was seduced by Chancellor Palpatine, who frequently

advocates against Jedi ethics and decisions. On several occasions, he meets with Anakin and

discusses his importance within the Jedi council, inciting him to seek recognition as a Master. He

believes that one should not limit himself but rather follow his impulses. Palpatine not only

reignited the religious conflict (Jedi against Sith), but he also became Supreme Chancellor right

under the Jedi's noses, seizing complete control of the democracy and its military and supporting

Palpatine’s argument that the Jedi are blinded by their unspoken sense of superiority and

arrogance (Revenge of the Sith, 1:48:46). Ultimately, it is apparent that Lucas demonstrated the

effect that the Jedi's focused, limited frame of view had. Because of their incapacity to express

themselves or even advance owing to ancient codes, they were shaped into an authoritarian

religion, which guaranteed their doom.

Palpatine's perspective on life is completely antithetical to that of Master Yoda, as seen

by his lectures on the Force. He encourages Darth Vader to search his feelings (Revenge of the

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Sith, 44:33) by saying that while fear is a destructive emotion, it is natural to be concerned about

losing what one has. Palpatine may also symbolize the majority of individuals who oppose the

established faiths and do as they wish. Despite the fact that the general public favors the Jedi's

democracy over the Sith's dictatorship, Lucas raises various issues that arise from both. This

brings us to Laozi’s school of thought, where the known, 'Yang,' must meet the unknown, 'Yin,'

for the universe to be at peace. In other words, the 'Yang' which represents good, order, and

conservative ideas, must be balanced by the 'Yin' which is evil, chaos, and, progressive and

unknown ideals. Although one might directly assign the value of the ‘Yang’ to the Jedi, leaving

the Sith with the remaining half, both have characteristics that correlate to both the known and

unknown sides. While the Sith have progressive ideas in terms of freedom to follow their

instincts and express their emotions, their government is authoritarian, whereas the Jedi are

conservative in their values and repress their emotions but are progressive in the sense that they

build a democracy to give the people a voice.

The major Western faiths' restricted points of view are also strongly criticized. Despite

their many similarities, Islam and Christianity both prefer to focus on their own theology,

dismissing other viewpoints as wrong and erroneous. Through Emperor Palpatine, George Lucas

argues against the restricted perspectives of major religions, explaining that in order to grasp the

Force, "one must study all its aspects, not just the dogmatic, narrow view of the Jedi" (Revenge

of the Sith, 1:03:32). The biggest illustration of the producer's criticism, though, is the range of

ideologies used to build the Force, which exposes both the contrasts and commonalities most of

them share.

In Revenge of the Sith, Palpatine mentions that “good is a point of view,” indicating that

“the Sith and the Jedi are similar in almost every way” (Revenge of the Sith, 45:33), restating the

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fine line between both. This is demonstrated in the films through Count Dooku's conflict with the

Jedi Order and the Sith. He chose to join Emperor Palpatine and the Trade Federation. Although

all Siths have yellow eyes, which represent their wrath, Dooku never had them. This suggests

that he left the Jedi because they were unable to prevent the corruption in the Republic Senate

from happening and not because of his emotions. He is known by the audience as a gray Jedi, as

he does not identify with either organization and bases his actions solely on his principles. These

users are said to be the in-betweeners, those who walk the fine line between Jedi and Sith. The

overall purpose of including Taoism might as well be to portray the benefits of following this

idea. Dooku is the combination of both the ‘Yin’ and the ‘Yang’ because he uses the teachings in

both theologies, channels its powers, and follows his beliefs rather than antiquated codes. Qu

cites Luke's final struggle with his father, in which he “uses — but, crucially, does not give in to

— his anger in his fight with Darth Vader,” as an example. He adds that the light side is as

defective as Palpatine’s greedy approach and that by harnessing the power of emotion while

controlling it with discipline, one will achieve far greater strength.

Conclusion

The Taoist concept of balance is the foundation for the whole narrative, yet it is

represented through Western concepts of good and evil dichotomy (Brode). The integration of

Christian and Islamic ideals cannot be ignored. Still, the demise of the Jedi highlights the

enormous issues that arise from the way two opposing sides are perceived in the occidental

faiths. As previously indicated, Lucas' balances the resurrection of Jesus with the rebirth of a

psychopath while also leveling the justifications for portraying Anakin as Christ or its inverse.

Throughout the investigation, one can infer that regardless of the number of references to the two

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major religions in the world, every instance of these movies features Eastern values. In fact,

Wetmore supports this idea by using Mosny’s quote: “Star Wars is simply a vehicle to bring these

Eastern beliefs to Western people.” Despite Lucas' efforts to create a united, impartial faith that

includes many real-world religions, his opinions, and ideas are transmitted through the screen

due to the important role of Eastern values in the Force. This might be due to his religious beliefs

as an outspoken Buddhist Methodist and the urge to express what he lacks in both Christianity

and Islam.

Because the preponderance of the audience has been taught fundamental Christian or

Islamic beliefs, their understanding of the many faiths covered differs. As a result, western

culture has extracted more underlying Christian and Islamic connotations than Taoist references.

Nonetheless, the inclusion of Taoism as one of the Force's primary components is remarkable.

From Kenobi's 1977 explanation of the concept, which was extremely close to Laozi's definition

of the Tao, to the last episode of the original trilogy, when Darth Vader redeems himself and

balances the Force.

Star Wars is not only a war between good and evil but a war of religion where Western

doctrines are exposed to criticism by both the producer and the audience. It is evident that Lucas

attacks both Christianism and Islam through the adoption of Taoist teachings, especially given

their involvement in Star Wars' military conflict. Throughout the films, Lucas' fundamental

purpose is to demonstrate that good and evil are not as distinct and opposed as Western faiths

suggest. Heaven is not literally on top (sky), and hell is not in the underworld, but both reside

together, side by side, because they are not that unlike in the end.

Nevertheless, I believe that George Lucas does not aggressively denounce Western faiths

but rather exposes flaws in both Islamic and Christian schools of thinking. This is due to Lucas'

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usage of many western references, ultimately serving the primary goal of bringing individuals

closer to spirituality. Rather than frightening the audience away from these faiths, Lucas intends

to demonstrate his disagreement with some of their principles, which appear to be their

dogmatic, entrenched and closed point of view, as well as their belief that wrong or faulty should

be eradicated.

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 Works Cited

Brode, Douglas, and Leah Deyneka. Sex, Politics, and Religion in Star Wars an Anthology.
Scarecrow Press, 2012. :

Fairchild, Mary. “Samson and Delilah Teach Us It's Never Too Late to Turn to God.” Learn
Religions, Learn Religions, 17 Jan. 2019.

Hellyer, H A. “'Star Wars' or ISIS: Which Is More Islamic?” CNN, 12 May 2015.

Moyers, Bill. “The Mythology of Star Wars with George Lucas” Billmoyers.com.

New American Standard Bible. A.J. Holman Co., 1973.

Qu, H. (2019, December 18). Star wars: The force and Taoism. Film School Rejects. Retrieved
September 1, 2022.

Taylor, Chris. “Star Wars Is Political, and It Always Has Been.” Mashable, Mashable, 29 Oct.
2021.

Tzu, Lao. Tao Te Ching. Translated by J.H. McDonald, University of Nevada-Lincoln, 1996.

Parker, Dylan. “'Star Wars' Had a Hidden Message That Most Fans Missed.” TheThings, James
Cameron, 27 May 2021.

Wetmore, Kevin J. The Empire Triumphant: Race, Religion, and Rebellion in the Star Wars
Films. McFarland, 2005.

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