Taoism, Dualism, or Christian Hope? Rey’s Baptism in The Last Jedi Guest Contributor February 22, 2018 Anglican Church of Canada, Movies, Reviews & Culture The Taoist influence in Star Wars is undeniable, but Rey’s journey and this film as a whole look a lot more like Christian baptism.
The Last Jedi and the Christian story Leander Harding January 30, 2018 Commentary, Movies Something new is appearing in the culture: a dissatisfaction with a banal materialism and a nostalgia for a story that gives hope, one that tells of a sacred tree.
On the beach with Rogue One Leander Harding February 13, 2017 Books, Movies, Reviews & Culture, The Episcopal Church Star Wars was certainly not the fullness of the Christian hope and faith, but a new light was shining in a culture that had only 11 years before celebrated the “Death of God” on the cover of Time.
Stories and counterculture: Star Wars, Vikings, and Gaiman’s Neverwhere Leander Harding February 11, 2016 Commentary These three artifacts of pop culture embody the immense yearning of the human heart for meaningful story. And they show that the Church should abandon any attempt to fit its story into the story of the dominant culture.
Star Wars, play, and story: priestly formation Jason Ingalls September 1, 2014 Commentary, The Episcopal Church There’s a distinction between playing the game and knowing the game. Being “right” about the nature of the Dark Side was important for how roleplaying worked, but it wasn’t the point of the game The point was doing the good, given the constraints of the story.