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7.2 Theoretical Perspective on Deviance [Introduction to Sociology 2e]

15.1 The Sociological Approach to Religion [Introduction to Sociology 2e]

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In the world of Star Wars, there exists something that would parallels the existence of a religion similarly to what is seen in our world, called the Force.

•  For instance, the Force is seen as an "all-powerful force controlling everything", which many have doubts about it's existence. However, those who trust in the Force (such as Obi-Wan Kenobi, Luke, and even Darth Vader), can use the power of the force and command it, though, Obi-Wan Kenobi mentions how while the Force follows your commands, it also controls your actions.
  • This parallels Christianity and the idea of God as an almighty figure who knows everything that will happen, and yet, at the same time, one still has control over their actions (like how God gives humanity the ability to sin). This mirrors Isaiah 46:10, which says, "Only I can tell you the future before it even happens. Everything I plan will come to pass, for I do whatever I wish." God knows the future, what will happen, even though we as humans have free will, just as the Force is an all-powerful force which controls all. In Ephesians 1:11, it is mentioned how, "In him, we have obtained an inheritance, having predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will." Even though things such as sin and free thoughts exists, everything one has done is predestined by God, which also mirrors the Force. It controls your actions, yet, it can follow one's commands, for it is via the Force's will that everything works the way it works now, even if it leads to disaster or ruin. 
• Another instance is when Luke is on a mission to destroy the Death Star, and Luke is piloting the fighter ship, he hears the voice of Obi-Wan Kenobi via the force, who tells him, "Use the Force, Luke. Let go, Luke. Luke, trust me." With that, he turns off his targeting computer, as Obi-Wan Kenobi orders, and was able to successfully destroy the Death Star, and with it, Luke hears a last parting word with him, being, "Remember, the Force will be with you always."
  • This mirrors the Old Testament with the story, The Binding of Issac, in Genesis 22, which God tests Abraham, telling him to sacrifice his only son, Issac, to him, but before Abraham could do so, God tells him to not lay a hand on Issac, and that he would be granted many descendants, which were proven some time later.
    • In both writings, both Luke and Abraham hears the words of some greater power (the Force and God), which, though at that moment, their words would bring forth much doubt, by listening to them, they were gifted greatly for listening to this greater force (Luke was able to destroy the Death Star, saving the rebellion, and Abraham was promised many descendants which in that time, many people wanted)

The Force, just like religion both back then and now, was doubted by non-believers, such as one of the people in the Empire, who viewed the Force as an ancient religion, one which was a relic of the past back when the Empire was a republic. Even Han Solo doubts the existence of the Force, considering it part of the "hookey religions" and that is "all simple tricks and nonsense", however, both of them were not granted the powers of the Force, just like how those who truly believe in God will be able to bear witness to him and his miracles. 

• At some point as well, nearly all Jedi were killed off by Darth Vader, who was a Sith, mirroring like many times pass, how those with religion were persecuted for what they believe in of those of another faith.

• Overall, both points prove the show that the Force, as a religious belief, reflects Émile Durkheim's theory regarding religion, where religion "a separation between the profane (ordinary life) and the sacred (1915). A rock, for example, isn’t sacred or profane as it exists. But if someone makes it into a headstone, or another person uses it for landscaping, it takes on different meanings—one sacred, one profane" (15.1 The Sociological Approach to Religion). These same ideas are reflected in social interactionism, where they look into what certain symbols mean for a society. As for the idea of the Force and Jedi as a whole, a lightsaber is a weapon; and without it being associated with the Jedi, who are associated with the powers of the Force, it would just be any old, ancient relic of a weapon, or some random artifact that could be found in a museum.
  • It also follows the idea that even if religion declined, society would not dissolve. Both the Jedi and the Force, by that token, were once figures for the Republic, there to protect it. The Jedi were the only existence that could potentially prevent the Republic from becoming the Empire, and it was a source of stability prior to them being killed off by Darth Vader, following Durkhiem's idea that religion is a source of social stability.
• Another key aspect regarding social interactionism and religion is the ways which people express it in day-to-day life. Due to the Empire's former history back when it was a Republic, many people of the Rebellion say, "May the Force be with you", almost as a way to say good bye. It shows how important the Jedi, and as such, the Force, which the Jedi are practitioner's of, were to society, to the point where such a way of saying goodbye was engravened upon them, even when nearly all Jedi are now dead.

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Via looking at the Empire via the lens of a Functionalist, we can understand deeper into how the Empire works and functions as a whole.

• One of the main functions of the Empire is to inject fear into the masses (negative, formal sanctions towards deviance in society), in attempts to dampen the moral of the rebels, and kill off any chance of a rebellion. In the movie, this function was the main focus, as it focuses on the Death Star, a space station which can destroy whole planets.
  • This device was used once to try and threaten Princess Leia into telling where the rebellion base was, by threatening to destroy her home planet after she resisted the mind probe, before actually destroying the planet to show the power of the Empire and it's new weapon, in order to quell any thoughts of rebellion out of fear that the Empire will do the same to their planet, or any planet that supports the Rebellion.
  • It was also almost used to destroy the Rebel's base, before Luke destroys the Death Star, which if it was successful, would have not only served an example, but serves as an execution that would have got rid of the deviants in their society that would have possibly brought forth a change that would harm the status quo, bringing forth instability. As Émile Durkheim believed, "when deviance is punished, it reaffirms currently held social norms, which also contributes to society (1893). Seeing a student given detention for skipping class reminds other high schoolers that playing hooky isn’t allowed and that they, too, could get detention" (7.2 Theoretical Perspective on Deviance). 

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