doi: 10.17605/OSF.IO/NJQHS

Emile Durkheim’s Elementary Forms of Religious Life as Seen through

Jacob Hardy, Texas A & M University

Introduction insight. This paper shall endeavor to explore the Star Wars universe and the incredible When Emile Durkheim set out to begin amount of examples found within it. We his study of the most elementary forms of hope to make accessible, through the religious life, as the title of his book medium of fandom, many of Durkheim’s suggests, he did so with a specific purpose original points about religion, introducing in in mind. With regards to the text and a new way these fascinating principles of sociology he writes, “It does not seek to sociology. Whether it is the dichotomy of become acquainted with bygone forms of the and the , their relation to the civilization for the sole purpose of being Force, or simply how the galaxy itself is acquainted with and reconstructing them… creatively filled with life and stories, Star its purpose above all is to explain a present Wars is a fascinating tapestry of ideas reality that is near to us and thus capable of wherein much of the concepts that affecting our ideas and actions. That reality Durkheim observed and came to understand is man.”1 This approach also will be our in the Elementary Forms of Religious Life goal in connecting the elementary principles come to life in a variety of new and exciting of religious life to examples found in that ways. Throughout this paper, a variety of fantastic Galaxy Far, Far Away, in Star examples will be used to discuss how Wars. A titan of science fiction and fantasy Durkheim’s study of religion in humanity storytelling, Star Wars has stood the test of can be tied to Star Wars. Ranging from time and enthralled millions of people over topics such as churinga and totem, all the the past three decades, and it continues to be way to the nature of the soul, and much in a huge hit across the world. We would argue between, Star Wars is a fascinating that much of this popularity is not due to wellspring of incredible connections. special effects or production value, but on Star Wars’ ability to aid in explaining and understanding the present reality of man, much as Durkheim attempted to do in his own work. In this way, Star Wars stands at an intersection of fandom and sociocultural

1 Durkheim and Fields, The Elementary Forms of Religious Life. Emile Durkheim ; Translated and with an Introduction by Karen E. Fields, 1.

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Religious Objects – Churinga & Totem2 During their training as younglings, young Jedi take part in a sacred ritual known One of the first connections we would as The Gathering. It is during this time that like to make between Durkheim and Star the younglings are allowed to visit the Wars is tied to Durkheim’s concept of the restricted Jedi temple on the planet Ilum, churinga. Durkheim describes the churinga and during their time there, they are allowed by saying: to step into the hallowed walls of the Crystal Cave. Within this cave the naturally In themselves, the churingas are occurring, and incredibly unique, kyber merely objects of wood and stone crystals are found. These crystal formations like so many others; they are are virtually colorless until they come into distinguished from profane things of contact with a youngling whose presence in the same kind by only one resonates with the crystal’s own particularity: The totemic mark is link to the Force, and they become attuned drawn or engraved upon them. That to one another. During this time, the kyber mark, and only that mark, confers crystal begins to take on a unique hue as it sacredness on them.3 attunes itself to its new owner, it is from this process that the color of the is It is this concept of churinga that we believe born. Having found their sacred crystal and is strongly reflected in one of the most bonded with it in the intimate way that only iconic objects in all of Star Wars, the a connection to the Force would allow, the lightsaber. To begin with though, some Jedi youngling is now ready to begin the explanation of what a churinga is exactly assembly of their lightsaber, and they should be obtained. Durkheim describes proceed to do so in a meditative state, them as objects that, while made of ordinary channeling the Force as they constructed materials, are imbued with a power and awe their sacred weapon and tool. that comes from their association and It should be noted that the shell of the inscription with the sacred totem of the tribe. lightsaber so to speak, that is, its frame, is Within Star Wars, the lightsaber acts not entirely ordinary just as Durkheim makes only as the weapon of the Jedi Knight, but it mention of in the quote above. It is a simple also acts as an identifying badge of their emitter, power cell, and switch contained membership in the order, and one that is within a metal frame. It is not the materials both unique and sacred to them and as such, that make up the lightsaber that set it apart acts as their churinga. as sacred; it is the crystal within that marks it as sacred. For, without it, the signature colored blade would not be able to function,

2 Star Wars material in this section sourced from: and the Jedi would not be able to use it to so “Lightsaber,”; “Kyber Crystal”; “The Gathering”; great an effect. It is their attunement to the “The Force”; “Category:Force-Based Organizations”; kyber crystal that allows the Jedi to use the “Rakata”; “Massassi,” all in Wookieepedia. 3 Durkheim and Fields, 121. lightsaber with such skill, and why all other

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wielders who attempt to use one feel as if it sacred crystals, they created their own is a clumsy tool in their hands. artificial type, and, as opposed to them Throughout the Star Wars universe, the naturally holding Force energy, they force it mere sight of a lightsaber was often enough upon the mock crystal through the power of to put an end to a brewing conflict, as the the Dark Side. Every Sith presented in the power it contained as a churinga of the Jedi major films has wielded a red bladed Order was incredible. If a lightsaber was lightsaber, and it further emphasizes the displayed, it was done to indicate to all nature of these objects as churingas in the around that the individual carrying it was a Star Wars universe. member of the Jedi Order, demonstrating There are numerous other examples both their sacred nature, and quite literal throughout the Star Wars universe that control of the Force. In Episode I, Anakin further tie the lightsaber to the Jedi, but the glimpsed Qui-Gon’s lightsaber under his key connection to Durkheim is that the robe, and later asked him if he was a Jedi. nature of the lightsaber, and in particular the Qui-Gon responds by asking why he would lightsaber of the Jedi, as a churinga stems even ask such a question (attempting to keep from the Force. It is the sacred crystal a low profile) to which Anakin replied that contained within, bonded with its wielder, he saw his lightsaber, and that only Jedi that enables the Jedi to use their lightsaber carried that weapon.4 Moving forward to with such power, skill, and precision. While Episode IV, Obi-Wan tells Luke something members of the galaxy at large might have similar as he presents to him his father’s been largely ignorant of the appearance of a lightsaber. He tells Luke that it is his Jedi, once a lightsaber was revealed they father’s, that it is called a lightsaber, and that knew that they belonged to the Jedi Order. It it is an elegant weapon from a more was this impression that allowed the Jedi to civilized age, the weapon of a Jedi Knight.5 act as peacekeepers and guardians of the It should also be noted that the Sith, Republic for over a thousand generations. It ancient enemies of the Jedi who wielded the was also this malformed relationship Dark Side of The Force, did not utilize these between Force wielder and crystal which natural kyber crystals. Instead, they would made the Sith’s crimson blade such a synthetically create their own, and forcibly powerful identifier into their nature. imbue them with the Dark Side energy. It Another example of Durkheim’s was this process which gave the Sith’s connection of concept in Star Wars is how their crimson hue, which acted to Durkheim presents the idea of a totemic set them apart from the Jedi. This largely force in religion, and how remarkably stemmed from the Sith’s inability to enter similar that force is to the Force found in the Crystal Cave, or even land on the planet Star Wars. Durkheim describes totemism of Ilum. Since they could not obtain the true and the totemic force by saying:

In other words, totemism is not the 4 Lucas, Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace. 5 Lucas, Star Wars. Episode IV: A New Hope. religion of certain animals, certain

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men, or certain images; it is the organizations might sound like nonsense to religion of a kind of anonymous and all but the most dedicated of Star Wars fans, impersonal force that is identifiable they embody the point that Durkheim in each of these beings but identical makes. The Force in the Star Wars galaxy to none of them. None possesses it does not belong to a certain individual, entirely, and all participate in it… object, or animal. Nor is it the sole object of Taking the word “god” in a very a single Force based organization. For the broad sense, one could say that it is Jedi, it is the kyber crystal and the sacred the god that each totemic cult spire within the Temple that are their holy worships. But it is an impersonal objects and places. The original Sith had the god, without name, without history, planet of Korriban which they revered as the immanent in the world, diffused in a birth place of the Massassi, the place where numberless multitude of things.6 they first became Force sensitive. The Rakata had the first infinity gate, an object Using the quote above, it can be seen that that first awoke their latent Force potential. throughout the Star Wars films and its All of these groups and more have their own Expanded Universe legends that Durkheim’s sacred totems and symbols, but they do not, description of this powerful totemic force is as Durkheim said, make it solely about a nearly identically reflected in the world of certain place or image. All of their sacred Star Wars in what is known there as simply sites and temples arise because they are an the Force. object or nexus of the Force. It is through To begin with, as Durkheim describes, these sacred objects and places that they all totemism is not a religion of a certain animal came to touch and interact with the Force of or object. It is anonymous and identifiable the Star Wars galaxy. While they might have within things, but is identical to none of their own traditions, just as the different them. This is much like the Force in Star religions and tribes of our own world do, Wars. In the Star Wars galaxy, the force is they all stem from the Cosmic Force. never solely imbued in one being, it is never The other key point that Durkheim the tool of one sole Jedi or Sith, it is a makes in the above quote is that the “god” is universal force throughout the galaxy. In impersonal and diffused in a numberless addition to this, the Force is not just a tool of multitude of things. This basic principle, in these two well-known Force based strikingly similar words, is how organizations within Star Wars. The explains to Luke the nature of the Force. He Expanded Universe of Star Wars is home to describes it as being all around them, many Force based organizations among surrounding and binding them. Not only whom are the Aing-Tii, the Baran Do, the binding them to each other, but to ties that Matauki, Rakata, the mystics of Voss, and extend between them, the trees around them, many others. While the names of these and the rocks. The Force was found within all of these objects. The impersonal god

6 Durkheim and Fields, 191. diffused in a numberless multitude of things

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as Durkheim described were similarly stated… Even the peoples most connected to the Living Force for Yoda. It enamored of free thinking tend to was this knowledge of the Living Force that place on principle above discussion Yoda told Luke was what made him so and regard it as untouchable, in other powerful. Yoda in and of himself was quite words, sacred.8 simply just a 900-year-old hermit at that time, but, as he told Luke, he had a powerful In the reading of this passage from ally in the Force. Much as people of our Durkheim’s Elementary Forms, it is striking world draw strength, belonging, and purpose how incredibly similar to the Star Wars from their sacred objects, so too is this universe it can be seen to be. Durkheim in principle dramatically put forth in the Star the quote above discusses how the belief Wars galaxy. While the galaxy of Star Wars that something is sacred can be tied to might at first blush appear fantastical, we something more than just a physical object, believe that it has uncanny way of taking it can be attached to even an idea. In the Star these principles discovered by Durkheim Wars galaxy this is found within the concept and making them understandable in an of the Jedi Code. The Jedi Code states: incredibly exciting way. Emotion, yet peace. Religious Differentiation- Consecration & Ignorance, yet knowledge. Tattooing 7 Passion, yet serenity. Chaos, yet harmony. Continuing in our study of the Star Wars Death, yet the Force. galaxy as we endeavor to explain the reality of man, our discussion now turns to the The Jedi Code originated with the concept of a code or creed and its ties to the founding of what would come to be known Durkheimian conception of the Sacred and as the Jedi Order on the planet of Tython. It Profane. was on Tython that one of the oldest Durkheim describes the consecration of collection of force sensitive cultures arose. ideas by saying: This culture, originally known as Je’daii, lived and worked on Tython, relatively Just as society consecrates men, so it unknown to the rest of the galaxy, also consecrates things, including meditating on and studying the Force as they ideas. When a belief is shared understood it. The Je’daii perceived in the unanimously by a people, to touch Force two aspects which they called Ashla it—that is, to deny or question it—is (the light side of the Force) and Bogan (the forbidden, for the reasons already dark side of the force.) The Je’daii saw these aspects of the Force as existing in balance 7 Star Wars material in this section sourced from: with one another, neither one dominating or “Sith Tattoo”; “Force Wars”; “Je’daii Order”; “The Force”; “Sith Order”; “Jedi Code,” all from Wookieepedia. 8 Durkheim and Fields, 215.

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overtaking the other. All of this changed themselves in times of great hardship. It was though when an event known as the Force this idea that Yoda passed on to Luke during Wars occurred. The Force Wars was an his own training, albeit in a simpler form invasion of the planet Tython by the only since Luke had had no contact with the other advanced race at the time, the Rakata. Order. Luke asked Yoda how he would The Rakata were a race that had steeped know the Light from the Dark to which themselves in the dark side of the Force and Yoda responded, “You will know when you used its energies to fuel their galactic are calm, at peace, passive. A Jedi uses the conquest. When they came to Tython, the force for knowledge and defense, never for Je’daii were forced to defend themselves, attack.”9 Thousands of years later, Yoda is with many of the members coming to rely still passing on the principles of the Jedi on what they knew as Bogan to fight the Code to his final student. Much as the Jedi invaders. While the Je’daii were able to order codified concepts and ideas, the Sith, repel the invaders, the members of their too, created things unique and distinct to order who had strong embraced Bogan their order, and it is to them that we turn to became tainted after the conflict with the in the next section of this paper. Rakata and began to attack members of their Another of example of Durkheimian, own order. The Je’daii Order endured, but elementary religious forms comes through was irrevocably broken, casting out the the discussion of markings and tattoos upon followers of Bogan from the planet, the the body. Durkheim describes this idea by remaining members renamed themselves saying: Jedi, and created their code. The Jedi created their code out of the The best way of testifying to oneself intense desire to codify what their core and others that one is part of the beliefs were. The goal of the Jedi code in same group is to place the same turn was to set apart their beliefs from that distinctive mark on the body. Proof of all other Force based organizations they that such is indeed the raison d’etre had come into contact with at that time. The of the totemic image is that, as I have Jedi strived earnestly to embrace the aspects shown, it does not try to copy the of Ashla in order that they might never again appearance of the thing it is experience a schism like that which the considered to represent… The Force Wars had caused. In essence, they did purpose of the image is not to just as Durkheim said a society would do, represent or evoke a particular they consecrated the very idea of Ashla into object, but to testify that certain a written word and mantra. This code would number of individuals share the same then endure for over 30,000 years, changing moral life.10 very little during that time. It was this code which every Jedi apprentice memorized and 9 meditated upon when they joined the Order. Lucas, Star Wars. Episode V, The Empire Strikes Back. It was this mantra that Jedi repeated to 10 Durkheim and Fields, 234.

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Nowhere in Star Wars is this concept more themselves in a similar fashion, utilizing the clearly visible than in the tattoos of venom of an insect native to Ziost, and used members of the Sith Order. In particular, the their mastery of the Dark Side to enforce Sith the secondary antagonist their domination over the native Sith from Episode I, dramatically and visually species. It was through this domination that demonstrated his dedication to the Sith the dark Je’daii came to call themselves Sith Order by covering his entire body with Sith Lords, the enforced rulers of the Sith tattoos. In the climactic battle at the species. conclusion of Episode I, the Sith are For the thousands of years that made up revealed to be operating again in the galaxy, its existence, virtually every Sith Lord and Darth Maul’s identification as Sith would possess some form of Sith tattoo to stems largely from the ritual tattoos in which indicate their connection and lineage to this he had adorned himself and their connection original fallen Je’daii. It was a crucial part to the Sith Order. of the indoctrination process, and many For much of galactic history, members aspiring Sith considered it a mark of pride to of the Sith Order utilized a unique tattooing bear the tattoos upon their body, for it was process to set themselves apart from other the purest expression of their dedication, as force users and in particular other Dark Side Durkheim said, to the idea of a particular force users. This was done in large part to moral life. While this “moral” might have indicate to the galaxy at large that the been a dark one, it is symbolic of much of bearers of the tattoos were set apart from all what the Sith Order sought to embody. other Force organizations, and could trace It is this connection, going thousands of their lineage in the Force to the original Sith years into Star Wars history which makes Lords. This process originated with the Darth Maul’s tattoos so impactful. For species known as the Sith, from which the centuries, following the retreat of the Sith order so well known in the films drew much Order into hiding, the followers of the Sith of its inspiration, including its very name. way had kept their tattoos in easy to conceal To give the importance of this fact some places so as to not draw overt attention to context, some Star Wars history should be themselves. But, as began his explored. machinations to destroy the Jedi, which Following the Force Wars on Tython, makes up the plot of the prequel films, Darth the defeated Je’daii who chose to embrace Maul is the harbinger of this coming threat. Bogan fled to the far reaches of the galaxy, Brazenly revealing his fully tattooed face as eventually arriving on a planet known as he duals both Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan, Maul Ziost. It was there that they discovered the stands as a testament to the return of the Sith Sith species, a primitive alien race which Order. Qui-Gon himself says as much when had also embraced the use of Bogan. he gives his report on the incident with Maul Noticing the tattoos which the native Sith on to the Jedi Council. He simply species marked themselves with to delineate says, “…my only conclusion can be that it their clans, the fallen Je’daii tattooed

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was a Sith Lord.”11 Even thousands of years consciousness has its own form, the after the first wielders of Bogan tattooed soul in each takes a distinct form.13 themselves, it still only takes the very sight of the marks for a Jedi to know that it is a Here, we can see that as Durkheim discusses Sith which they face, and not some the nature of the soul, and how its pretender foe. It is much like what acknowledgement is essentially an extension Durkheim said in his study of religion in our of the totemic principle at work in society, own galaxy. Those distinctive marks upon only in a distinct form, ties into a Jedi Darth Maul’s face said more than any other becoming “one with the Force” yet also pronouncement could have about Darth manifesting as a Force Ghost. Maul’s belonging to the Sith Order. Maul Within Star Wars, a Force Ghost or did not have to espouse the Sith code or Force Spirit, is an individual who, through announce his allegiance to the Dark Side; deep meditation and training in the Light the marks on his face made all of that self- Side of the Force, has gained the ability to evident. manifest their presence outside of their body, even following their own death. This The Soul12 ability is possessed only by those who follow the Light Side, though, and it comes As we continue our discussion linking from a Jedi’s ability to flow through and Durkheim and Star Wars, we would like to with the living Force, thereby enabling their now turn to Durkheim’s discussion of the souls to persist, even following death. soul. Durkheim describes the soul by This ability is rediscovered by Jedi writing: Master Qui-Gon Jinn following his death in his duel against Darth Maul. His meditations Since no other souls but these exist, on the Light Side of the Force had helped we arrive at the conclusion that, in him to rediscover this lost talent, and it helps general terms, the soul is none other to highlight many of Durkheim’s key points than the totemic principle incarnated about the soul. in each individual. Nothing about To begin, the Jedi are keen to point out, this derivation should surprise us. as Yoda does to Luke when he is training on We already know that this principle , that life and the Force surround is immanent in each member of the everything and everyone in the galaxy. It is clan, and that by permeating this life which creates the Force and gives a individuals, it inevitably becomes Jedi his or her power. Given this, it is clear individualized…. Since each that all living things, to some extent, possess a soul in accordance with Jedi philosophy. But it is thanks to a Jedi’s training that they 11 Lucas, Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace. are able to take the essence of their soul and 12 Star Wars material in this section sourced from: “Force Ghost”; “Immortality,” all from Wookieepedia. 13 Durkheim and Fields, 251.

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manifest it fully in a fashion much like knowledge.”15 In the case of Yoda, he Durkheim describes. The inability for users possesses both. of the Dark Side to perform this action is It was thanks to this revelation by Qui- deeply tied to how they approach and utilize Gon that Obi-Wan, Yoda, and even Anakin the Force itself. Few Sith, if any, have ever were able to present themselves as Force truly understood what it means to embrace Spirits throughout the original trilogy of the Force. For the followers of Bogan, the films. Obi-Wan appears to Luke as a Force is something to be dominated, and this disembodied voice as he runs the is reflected in their ideology, where the trench, telling to turn off his targeting Force is not something that is with you and computer and to instead use the Force. He around you; it is something to be dominated appears again to him as a visible Spirit on and used as a tool. This is most succinctly the ice planet of , telling him to seek summed up in the simple expression used out Yoda on Dagobah. Finally, all three of when members of each order would speak to these individuals appear before Luke on others. When a Jedi spoke to anyone, following the defeat of the emperor.16 regardless of their Force sensitivity, their In each of these instances, the Force Spirit is parting words would often be. “May the shimmering, and tinted blue, definitely non- Force be with you.” For the Sith, the parting corporeal, but not quite immaterial either. comment would be, “May the Force serve They remain present, and readily identifiable you always.” Even this though, would only in a distinct form which looks much like be spoken to other Sith, never to a non- their bodies did originally in their own lives. Force sensitive. It is this principle which so drives home We first see this ability to manifest the Durkheim’s point. The Jedi freely admit that soul utilized by Qui-Gon in the Star Wars all life flows through the Force, but it is timeline when he cries out to Anakin as a thanks to their meditation upon it, or their disembodied voice as Anakin slaughters a special power, that they are able to see and tribe of Tusken Raiders, in very un-Jedi-like manifest as a Force Spirit before others. It is fashion to avenge the death of his mother. through their unity with the Force that a Jedi Qui-Gon cries out as a Force Spirit to try is able to realize their spirit’s own distinct and stop Anakin, who sadly does not hear role and presence within it, thus enabling him.14 Yoda, in his meditations, does hear them to persist on, guiding, advising, and Qui-Gon, and he reaches out to him to learn communicating with those still alive. how he was able to do such a thing. Here we The counterpoint to the Jedi’s ability to see Durkheim’s principle at work of how do this is strongly highlighted in the nature certain people are able to see and commune of the Sith. For millennia, the Sith had been with by souls “…by virtue of special powers attempting to find a method to secure eternal they owe to either age or special 15 Durkheim and Fields, 244. 16 Lucas, Star Wars. Episode IV: A New Hope; Lucas, Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back; 14 Lucas, Star Wars. Episode II: Attack of the Clones. Lucas, Star Wars. Episode VI: Return of the Jedi.

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life. This was the goal of many powerful is the existence of a certain number Sith Lords throughout the history of Star of beliefs and practices common to Wars. Names such as Darth Vititate, Darth all the faithful, traditional and thus Nihilus, and even Darth Sidious from the obligatory. The more numerous and films all had immortality as their goal. None strong these collective states of mind of them ever succeed in attaining their are, the stronger the integration of desire. Those who even got close, such as the religious community, and also Vititate and Sidious, only did so through the the greater its preservative value. utilization of host bodies, never through the The details of dogmas and rites are simple manifestation of their Force Spirit. It secondary. The essential thing is that was an ability that, due to its very nature, they be capable of supporting a was impossible for the Dark Side. This sufficiently intense collective life.18 further serves to highlight Durkheim’s point about how the soul is an incarnation of the In particular, this quote can be tied to how totemic principle, a principle which the Durkheim’s discussion around the followers of the Dark Side have no integrative force of religion plays itself out understanding. in the nature of the two largest Force organizations in the Star Wars galaxy, the Religious & Magical Groups17 Jedi and the Sith. Within the Star Wars universe, the Jedi To bring our discussion to a close, we and Sith are the two primary collective would like to make one final comparison bodies of Force users. There are a variety of between Durkheim’s elementary forms and others, but none have been as long lasting or the Star Wars universe. It is this point that as impactful to the Star Wars galaxy as a we believe truly ties these two methods of whole as these two groups have been. The understanding humanity together. Durkheim key point we would like to draw out of this discusses how religion itself, through all of is how the nature of the Jedi and the Sith, its constituent parts, totem and churinga, and their status as a religion versus a cult or tattoo and soul, comes to impact man. He magic society, respectively, is played out in does this by saying: the work of the Star Wars films and the expanded universe literature. If religion protects man against the To begin, the Jedi can be looked upon as desire for self-destruction, it is not what Durkheim would call a religion. They that it preaches the respect for his possess many things that have been own person to him with arguments discussed in this paper and have been sui generis; but because it is a discussed in papers written previously, that society. What constitutes this society mark them as operating in what Durkheim would call a religious fashion. Whether it is 17 Star Wars material in this section sourced from: “Jedi Order”; “Sith Order”; “Rule of Two”; “Padawan,” all from Wookieepedia. 18 Durkheim and Fields, 170.

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the nature of their initiation rites, their use of Padawan passes, he or she then becomes a totem and churinga in the lightsaber, the Knight, and is allowed to take on their own connection to the Force itself which is the trainee, who when they ascend to source of their power, their ability to Knighthood qualifies the elder Knight for channel or present the spirit, the possession the rank of Master. The entire process is of their Code, or a myriad of other factors, geared toward integrating the Padawan into they possess many of the hallmarks of a the ideals and lifestyle of the Jedi. The bond religious group. The sheer longevity and between Master and Padawan is incredibly continuity of the Jedi order is what we wish strong, and it leads to, as Durkheim might to highlight. In the Star Wars galaxy, the say, a rather intense collective life for Jedi order has existed, nearly continuously, members of the order. It is this collective for over 5,000 years. It was of virtually one strength which has allowed the Jedi order to mind for much of its existence, and acted as function for as long as it has, and to endure a unifying force not only for its own even the most arduous of trials. They stand members, but also for the , in stark contrast to the Sith Order. of which it operated as de facto guardians. The Sith Order is a group of Dark Side This is evident in their very symbol, wherein Force users that have very little bonding the number nine representing unity to the them together other than their lust for power. early Je’daii was expressed in eight spokes The various forms their order has taken have joining together to form one new whole. Not been marked by internal strife, and near only did this symbol remain integral to the destruction several times over. Their very Jedi philosophy, it also came to be adopted birth came from the schism of the Force by the Republic they had so steadfastly Wars discussed earlier in this paper, and guarded for thousands of years. their existence has been anything but stable, The Jedi Order was incredibly continuous, or peaceful. From the fall of integrated, and stressed this integration several Sith Empires, to their near extinction throughout its lifetime. It possessed a that resulted in the rule of two, wherein only tireless dedication to the Jedi Code, and the two Sith could ever exist, one Master and training and meditation needed to make that one Apprentice, they are the near antithesis code a reality. From a young age, Jedi of what the Jedi Order represents. The trainees would be paired with a Master, who Apprentice exists only to usurp and would then take that trainee into every ultimately kill the Master, and it is this cycle aspect of their life, with the trainee which has brought the Sith to near becoming what is known as a Padawan. The destruction multiple times over. For the Sith, Padawan sleeps, eats, trains, even goes on there are no truly strong collective states missions with the Master as they continue which serve to protect them or their their training together. Their bond becomes members. The legacy of the Sith has been incredibly strong, and it is ultimately the one of pain and fracture, and is more akin to Master who presents his Padawan for the those who use magic for Durkheim than a initiation rites into Knighthood. If the true religion.

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The best way to elucidate this is to dedication to their code, and their define exactly what Durkheim considers to commitment to Ashla, the Light Side of the be a church, and how that ties into religion. Force. On the opposite end of the spectrum, For Durkheim, “Religious beliefs proper are the Sith Order sought only power, and always shared by a definite group that would kill their own without a second professes them and that practices the thought if it meant they could secure victory corresponding rites.”19 He then goes on to or safety. As mentioned above, this became say, “A society whose members are united embodied in their Rule of Two, wherein an because they imagine the sacred world and Apprentice existed only to one day usurp its relations with the profane world in the and kill their Master. same way, and because they translate this This theme of religion versus magic is common representation into identical highlighted throughout the entire Star Wars practices, is what is called a Church.”20 saga, and its catalyst is found in Episode VI Given this definition, it is clear through all where sacrifices himself to save that we have discussed that the Jedi fit this his son Luke, and in turn redeems himself as description most strongly. The Sith on the Anakin, the Chosen One of the Force. The other hand, fall most strongly into what Sith, on the other hand, take the survival of Durkheim would call magic. He describes the fittest, Herbert Spencer approach. The magic by saying: whole goal behind the Rule of Two was to produce an apex Sith, one who, by virtue of Granted, magic beliefs are never their very survival, did so because of their without a certain currency. They are ability to dominate and defeat all that had often widespread among broad strata come before. The films made it clear who of the population, and there are even the ultimate victor was, and that balance peoples where they count no fewer would always return, but the parallels even active followers than religion proper. here remain fascinating. But they do not bind men who believe in them to one another and Conclusion unite them into the same group, living the same life. There is no Ultimately, we have found it incredibly Church of magic.21 interesting how time and again the Star Wars galaxy has become a place where the It is clear that utilizing these Durkheimian ideas of Durkheim and others can be seen at definitions we can sort the Jedi and Sith into work in a variety of fascinating ways. religion and magic, church and non-church. Seeing the Jedi Order as a religion and the The Jedi’s focus on uniting and the broader Star Wars galaxy as a whole, not Master/Padawan training plan showed their from the traditional point of view, but from Durkheim’s, has allowed us to see Star Wars 19 Ibid., 41. in an entirely new light. It is our hope that 20 Ibid. 21 Ibid., 42. this paper will, much as Durkheim hoped to

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do with his own original work in The 07&site=eds-live Elementary Forms of Religious Life, help http://catdir.loc.gov/catdir/description/si those understand the reality of humankind mon033/94041128.html today through a lens they might not have http://catdir.loc.gov/catdir/samples/simo expected to look through. As Durkheim said, n031/9404112. “…religion was able to be the womb in “Force Ghost | Wookieepedia | FANDOM which the principal seeds of human Powered by Wikia.” Accessed 22 June civilization have developed.”22 Durkheim 2018. found the evidence of this birth of http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Force_gh civilization of aboriginal Australia. ost. Ultimately, we think one can find evidence “Force Wars | Wookieepedia | FANDOM of this same birth in the galaxy of Star Wars. Powered by Wikia.” Accessed 22 June Its status as a cultural icon, a juggernaut of 2018. astounding proportions whose value is in the http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Force_W billions of dollars did not become what it is ars. today purely by happenstance. It was able to “Immortality | Wookieepedia | FANDOM tap into something primal within people, Powered by Wikia.” Accessed 22 June something that spoke to individuals the 2018. world around regardless of nationality or http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Immortali creed. That something was the elementary ty/Legends. forms of religious life. “Je’daii Order | Wookieepedia | FANDOM Powered by Wikia.” Accessed 22 June Bibliography 2018. http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Je’daii_O “Category:Force-Based Organizations | rder. Wookieepedia | FANDOM Powered by “Jedi Code | Wookieepedia | FANDOM Wikia.” Accessed 22 June 2018. Powered by Wikia.” Accessed 22 June http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Category 2018. %3AForce-based_organizations. http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Jedi_Cod Durkheim, Emile, and Karen E. Fields. The e. Elementary Forms of Religious Life. “Jedi Order | Wookieepedia | FANDOM Emile Durkheim ; Translated and with Powered by Wikia.” Accessed 22 June an Introduction by Karen E. Fields. New 2018. York : Free Press, 1995], 1995. http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Jedi_Ord http://lib- er. ezproxy.tamu.edu:2048/login?url=http:// “Kyber Crystal | Wookieepedia | FANDOM search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct= Powered by Wikia.” Accessed 22 June true&db=cat03318a&AN=tamug.28082 2018. http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Kyber_cr

22 Durkheim and Fields, 224–25. ystal.

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