Christian Themes in “The Rise of Skywalker”

Through three trilogies, numerous television spinoffs, and even a Disney theme park, it is estimated that the Star Wars franchise has grossed an astounding $65 billion since 1977. While the Star Wars universe has appealed to so many over the past four decades for both its unique aesthetic and alien sci-fi universe, what has really captivated fans since the beginning is the spiritual motivation, or “force,” which underlies the motivations and special abilities of the main characters.  

The force, which many commentators have noted to be similar to Manichaean dualism, consists of a good spiritual energy and a bad spiritual energy, constantly in struggle with the “good” (for lack of a better word) of the universe existing in a balance between the two. When the most recent Star Wars film, The Rise of Skywalker, came out, I expected a new version closely modeling the tried and true path. I was surprised, however, to find that the movie, despite paying lip service to its inherited dualism, was distinctively and uniquely Christian.

            As is typical for the franchise, the dark side, which seeks sheer power, manifests itself in a tyrannical order responsible for numerous atrocities. The light side, which is leading a rebellion against the dark side’s “Final Order,” is led by Rey, who takes up Luke Skywalker’s mission.  From this setting comes a litany of Christian themes, the preferential treatment of the light side over the dark side, the spiritual practices of the force, and the use of the dark side’s power against itself.

Christian themes are first evident in the contrast of these dark and light sides. In a universe in which the concept of balance supersedes both the light and the dark side, neither actions can be construed as intrinsically wrong, but only wrong in context. In other words, no actions are wrong carte blanche, but only insofar as they cause an imbalance. In The Rise of Skywalker, however, such a conclusion is not only ignored, but the light side of the force and the rebellion are the protagonists because they are seeking to stop the evil Final Order. It is even said “good people from throughout the galaxy will come if they know there is hope”

Secondly, the spiritual practices of the force, sewn throughout the movie, are allegorical to Christian spirituality and the life of prayer. For instance, Rey seeks out a period of intense spiritual training involving a secluded island on a planet, concentration on the force, and a denial of one’s immediate motivations and anger; Rey even levitates while she is in meditation with the force. This is a close analogy to the ascetic life of Christians who frequently go alone into the desert, praying and fasting, and Christian spiritual masters have frequently been documented levitating.

Additionally, there is the significant importance of lineage whereby the descendants of great Jedi or Sith often become masters of the force themselves. This phenomenon is visible in the movie, Ben Solo is the son of Leia Skywalker, and Rey Palpatine is the daughter of the Sith Emperor Palpatine. In Christianity, Adam’s original sin extends to all mankind, just as God’s promise extends to Abraham and his descendants, and God promises and follows through in raising Jesus out of the line of David.

The Star Wars Universe also includes examples of name changes that correspond to one’s force allegiance.  Ben Solo, for instance, changes his name to Kylo Ren when he turns to the dark side and back just before his death. Rey similarly changes her last name to Skywalker once she has overcome her temptation to join the dark side. This, of course, mirrors the changing of Abram’s name to Abraham and Sarai’s to Sarah, as well as the apostles Peter and Paul.

Kylo Ren is frequently depicted touching and speaking to the old burnt mask of Darth Vader, a powerful Sith Lord, asking for guidance. This directly mirrors the Catholic practice of venerating the relics of great men and women declared saints by the Church, even touching them and asking them for their intercession.

Rey’s treatment of Kylo and Emperor Palpatine is evocative of Christian charity. The entire time, the two leaders seek to manipulate her and even kill her and yet her response is one of love and resistance. She clearly vocalizes this position, saying, “All you want me to do is hate you, but I won’t.” This uniquely Christian theme is that of loving and praying for one’s enemies.

In the film’s conclusion, Emperor Palpatine is revealed as the dark master who is pulling the strings behind the scenes. As he says, “I have been every voice you have ever heard before.” The blatant allegory to Christianity is that Emperor Palpatine is the devil tempting man spiritually. As St. Paul says, “We wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against powers and principalities” (Eph 6:12). This allegory reaches its pinnacle when Palpatine and Rey meet near the end of the movie and Emperor Palpatine offers Rey the whole galaxy saying, “I can give you everything, a new empire. You will rule all of the galaxy as the new emperor.” This calls to mind the devil’s temptation of Jesus saying, “I will give you authority over all the kingdoms [of the earth] and all their glory” (Luk. 4:6).

The film’s final allegory rests in the downfall of the Jedi as the means by which they are saved.  This bears a direct connection to Christianity, wherein our death is the very means by which God saves us in the Passion, death, and resurrection of the Lord. It can be seen in the Final Order cannons which would have destroyed any Jedi planet, being the means by which their fleet is destroyed by the Resistance.  But it can especially be seen towards the end of the movie where Rey successfully saves the world by killing Palpatine and Kylo Ren (the person who is supposed to kill Rey) as the very person who ends up saving her, even resurrecting her. This is the Christian story in a nutshell. It is a direct analogy to Christ’s saving death and resurrection.