Synopses & Reviews
Spiritual Themes in Star Wars That Reflect the "One True Myth"Christianity
"Dick Staub's tour through the spirituality of Star Wars is inspiring and fun. Anyone like me, who grew up lionizing Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia, should read this book. It will both carry you back to your childhood and support your spirit as you make your way through adulthood."
Lauren Winner, author, Girl Meets God and Real Sex: The Naked Truth About Chastity
"For years Dick Staub has been digging into popular culture to expose the threads of spiritual gold that run through it. Star Wars is his mother lode, and with eloquence he echoes Master Yoda announcing to young seekers, 'Already know you that which you need.'"
Jeffrey Overstreet, film columnist/critic, Christianity Today and Paste Magazine
"Dick Staub is a Christian warrior sage who unashamedly trains and equips the present generation for this one true mythic battle."
Marty O'Donnell, audio director, Bungie Studios; winner, Rolling Stone Magazine's 2003 "Best Game Soundtrack" of the Year (for HALO)
"Star Wars seems to have stolen our message, wrapped it in science fiction, and changed entertainment. Dick Staub challenges us to take it back, wrap it around our everyday reality, and change people's lives."
Rand Miller, CEO, Cyan Worlds; cocreator, Myst, Riven, URU
"Like a Jedi master, Dick Staub delivers sharp, counterintuitive insights that the next generation seeks. Prepare to discover a force far greater than any you've ever imagined."
Craig Detweiler, author, A Matrix of Meanings: Finding God in Pop Culture
"Few public figures have as much experience brokering the conversation between media culture and Christianity as Dick Staub. Both pop culture artists and inquisitive Christians know that his reputation rests on his ability to speak to both audiences, to keep it real."
Tom Beaudoin, author, Virtual Faith: The Irreverent Spiritual Quest of Generation X and Consuming Faith
Review
Biblically literate Star Wars fans have long recognized similarities between Jedi teachings and biblical wisdom. Staub, a broadcaster and director of the Center for Faith and Culture in Seattle, artfully lays out many similarities for Christians who want to claim Jedi wisdom as their own. After seeing a Star Wars prequel, Staub realized that a young man he was mentoring wanted "to be a 'Jedi Christian,' " but Staub's generation had not produced a Yoda. To correct that, Staub takes on the role of a modern-day Yoda (the wise sage) by speaking directly to readers as aspiring Jedi Christians and doling out his understanding of Christian theology. Thankfully, Staub resists the urge to fit all-things-Jedi into a Christian framework, but instead picks and chooses from Jedi (as well as Buddhist, Jewish, Taoist and mystical) teachings, comparing what he finds with biblical wisdom. Because the book is so biblically oriented, it seems to be reaching out to young evangelical Christians, asking them to consider a more progressive tradition of Christian faith—one that embraces liberal Christian philosophers, theologians and mystics, and social and environmental activism. Using Jedi culture as a draw, Staub builds a number of bridges with this book that will keep coffeehouse theological discussions going at least as long as Star Wars films are popular.
(Apr.) (
Publishers Weekly, February 28, 2005)
“…details spiritual themes in Star Wars that echo Christian theological truths.” (Publishers Weekly, February 14, 2005)
Synopsis
Speaking to a young man in a Seattle coffee shop, Dick Staub said ruefully, “ Your generation wants to be Jedi Christians, but mine failed to produce a Yoda.” And the light bulb clicked on. It’ s spiritual formation, Star Wars style. Award-winning radio personality Dick Staub interprets Christian faith through the language and lens of Star Wars mythology. Staub’ s narrator is a Jedi Christian who has disappeared from the scene just as Yoda did in Star Wars. H hears that the younger generation is eager to go deeper in the ancient beliefs and practices, so he returns to pass on to the next generation the truth they need to succeed in their quest. He records the essential knowledge and skills in a book of lost sayings that he entrusts to young women and men aspiring for robust growth in their spiritual journey.
Staub employs anecdotes from the classic Star Wars films to illustrate spiritual truths from Christian theology, and augments those truths with quotes from revered “ Jedi Christians” like Thomas Merton, Teresa of Avila, the apostle Paul, and G.K. Chesterton, as well as holy scripture and quotes from theologians, mystics, writers, and philosophers. Shedding new light on the struggles and challenges of living faithfully in postmodern life, Faith of the Jedi: Lost Wisdom of the Ancient Masters is a reintroduction to what C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien called the “ one true myth, ” Christianity.
Synopsis
Identifies the spiritual themes in Star Wars that echo Christian theological truths.
Synopsis
Star Wars, one of the most enduring pop cultural phenomena of our day, is a spiritual mythology built around a universal energy called "the Force" and a Jedi's ability to use it. The overt spiritual themes in the Star Wars films convey remarkable theological truths to a younger generation that is dissatisfied with religion but hungry for a spiritual quest. They want to be "Jedi Christians" and are looking for Yoda! Christian Wisdom of the Jedi Masters opens the door to a fresh exploration of spiritual truth in Christianity by viewing it through the lens of the Jedi Masters.
Written by award-winning radio personality Dick Staub, this compelling book is filled with anecdotes from the Star Wars films that serve as a launching pad into rediscovering authentic Christianity. Christian Wisdom of the Jedi Masters also contains quotes from revered "Jedi Christians" such as Thomas Merton, Teresa of Avila, the Apostle Paul, G. K. Chesterton, and other theologians, mystics, writers, and philosophers. The author sheds new light on the struggles and challenges of living faithfully in postmodern life and offers a reintroduction to what C. S. Lewis and J. R. R. Tolkien called the "one true myth," Christianity.
Synopsis
Written by award-winning radio personality Dick Staub, this compelling book is filled with anecdotes from the Star Wars films that serve as a launching pad into rediscovering authentic Christianity. Christian Wisdom of the Jedi Masters also contains quotes from revered “Jedi Christians” such as Thomas Merton, Teresa of Avila, the Apostle Paul, G. K. Chesterton, and other theologians, mystics, writers, and philosophers. The author sheds new light on the struggles and challenges of living faithfully in postmodern life and offers a reintroduction to what C. S. Lewis and J. R. R. Tolkien called the “one true myth,” Christianity.
About the Author
Dick Staub is an award-winning broadcaster, writer, and speaker whose work focuses on interpreting faith and culture. The director of the Center for Faith and Culture and adjunct professor at Seattle Pacific University, he is also the radio personality behind the Dick Staub Show, an award-winning, nationally syndicated daily broadcast he hosted for fifteen years. Dick's interviews are a popular feature on Christianity Today 's website, and his daily blog (www.dickstaub.com) draws thousands of visitors each month. He serves on the board of Image: A Journal of Religion & the Arts and plays a strategic role in the C.S. Lewis Foundation.
Table of Contents
Acknowledgments.
Introduction.
PART ONE: THE LORD OF THE FORCE.
Chapter 1: Lord of the Force.
Chapter 2: The Lost Sayings.
PART TWO: SEEKING.
Chapter 3: Believe.
Chapter 4: "Do. Or Do Not. There Is No Try."
Chapter 5: Wake Up. Be Healed. Be Saved.
Chapter 6: Seek First.
Chapter 7: Will One Thing.
Chapter 8: The Seeker Is Sought.
PART THREE: KNOWING.
Chapter 9: Enter the Cloud of Unknowing.
Chapter 10: Don’t Miss the Big Reveal.
Chapter 11: Meditate.
Chapter 12: Go Deep in a Shallow Age.
Chapter 13: Aim High and Let Grace Fill the Gap.
Chapter 14: Trust the Lord of the Force.
Chapter 15: Know and Love the Word.
Chapter 16: Obey the Word.
Chapter 17: Believe to See.
Chapter 18: The Lord of the Force You Are Not.
PART FOUR: FIGHTING.
Chapter 19: Changed.
Chapter 20: "Always Two There Are, a Master and an Apprentice".
Chapter 21: Renounce the Dark Side.
Chapter 22: Prepare for War, Live for Peace.
Chapter 23: These Weapons Are Your Life.
Chapter 24: Use All Your Weapons.
Chapter 25: Be Strong! The Battle Is the Lord's!
Chapter 26: Receive the Power.
Chapter 27: Power in the Blood.
Chapter 28: Flee the Dark Path.
Chapter 29: Love Your Father.
PART FIVE: SERVING.
Chapter 30: Make Your Masterpiece by Living It.
Chapter 31: Loving, Transforming Presence.
Chapter 32: Counter Culture Like an Alien.
Chapter 33: Better World, Better Way.
Chapter 34: Preserve, Repair, and Make Beautiful.
Chapter 35: Live Simply, Pack Light, Hold Loose.
Chapter 36: The Least of These.
Chapter 37: Pursue God in the Company of Friends.
Chapter 38: Forgive, Forgive, and Again Forgive.
Chapter 39: In Age Is Opportunity.
Chapter 40: Another Chance.
Chapter 41: Touch the Sky.
Notes.
The Author.