On a lighter note: so Star Wars is now the biggest-opening movie of all time, and likely on its way to being the highest-grossing movie ever. When I saw the film recently, I thought I had remembered reading some connection between practical theology and Star Wars and found it this morning.
It’s in Richard Osmer’s chapter, “Practical Theology,” on page 320, in Kelly A. Kapic and Bruce L. McCormack (eds.), Mapping Modern Theology (Baker Academic, 2012). He writes: “In its attention to ‘why to,’ practical theology is like a ‘science.’ […] Research in cognitive science reveals the continuing influence throughout adulthood of cognitive models formed during the preschool years. Howard Gardner calls this the power of the ‘unschooled mind,’ the tendency to use simple ‘Star Wars’ scripts to divide the world into good guys and bad guys or to relate to authorities as all-knowing and all-powerful parental figures. Informed by this theoretical perspective, practical theologians might carry out empirical research on adults to determine the extent to which their understanding of prayer is shaped by cognitive models acquired during childhood.”
Are there other connections between Star Wars and practical theology out there?
Tom Beaudoin, Fordham University
Assistant Professor of Religion and Society – Boston University School of Theology
September 6, 2023
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