Featured Do many Christians like the religious aspects of “Star Wars” movies?

[William]

If Lucifer = Darth Vader, then instead of being a rival god or cosmic accident, he becomes a character inside the larger story — a created aspect that dramatizes the shadow. That takes pressure off the “where did evil come from” problem: it isn’t a rival force outside God, it’s a function within creation, written into the script.


That ties right back to Cain:


YHVH tells him, “sin is crouching at your door… you must rule over it.”
In other words: the beast is there by design, but it’s meant to be tamed, not obeyed.
Lucifer/Vader then illustrates what happens when the beast isn’t mastered — the shadow takes the driver’s seat.

Christianity often paints itself into a corner by insisting God can’t be connected to that shadow at all. But if we see Lucifer as a useful fiction - a story-form for the untamed shadow of creation - then he’s not a rival to God, but a mirror to us.

 

[William]

Where is this "taming" noticed? In the open door back to redemption..Darth Vader finally dealing with his demons - taking off his mask and declaring his love for Luke...Re Pharaoh the door remains open at all times as we work WITH Our Father and not against him...In Pharaohs case, he remained the prodigal son in exile...but a son no less...

 

[Scooter]

When it comes to the other outlook of the Bible being sacred beyond compare, I think that is looking it at too highly which can lead someone to miss the ordinary features. It is literature at the end of the day in that it is written by humans who are prone to error, cultural bias, etc. The same applies to any other piece of literature. Whether or not God is behind any of that, is still debatable.

True, humans are prone to error. However, there is no error in scripture. The Bible is a compilation of writings spanning a period of roughly 1500 years, written by approximately 40 authors, in three different languages. Despite the time, language and number of writers, the Bible has one central theme, one hero and one final outcome. There is a harmony that unites the Bible that can only be attributed to divine guidance. That makes all of scripture extraordinary, and the Author worthy of worship. The way a person approaches the Bible will have eternal consequences.

 

[Scooter]

If we take the text at face value, “sin” is not an essence inside Cain but a presence outside, one he can resist.
That aligns more with “ignorance vs. knowledge,” or “shadow vs. light,” than with a hardwired “nature.”
To then insist there must be a “sin nature” is to force the Bible into later doctrinal molds.

All sin comes from external temptations. However, the willingness to commit sin comes from within a person. There are some sins that I have no desire to commit no matter how often I am tempted. There are other sins I am much more prone to commit because of their attractiveness to me. Just as I prefer cheeseburgers over spaghetti, there are some sins that have more appeal to me than others. It depends on my nature which ones I am more susceptible to. It is a daily struggle to resist the temptations to sin. In my heart I want to be holy, but my nature urges me to do things that I know are wrong.

 

[Scooter]

Christianity often paints itself into a corner by insisting God can’t be connected to that shadow at all. But if we see Lucifer as a useful fiction - a story-form for the untamed shadow of creation - then he’s not a rival to God, but a mirror to us.

Not at all. It is the nonbeliever who paints himself into a corner when he sins then tries to pass the blame to God. Adam did this when God confronted him about his disobedience in eating the forbidden fruit: Genesis 3:12 And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat. Adam basically said, "God, I was fine but You decided to give me this woman. It is her fault as well as Your fault that I ate the fruit!"

BTW, Satan loves that people just see him as a useful fiction. The thief never presents himself as a threat, but as a companion or a friend. Once the guard is lowered, the thief does what a thief always does. Satan presents himself as a fictional character and when one accepts this image of the Devil, he does what the Devil does. Trying to blame God for falling victim to the wiles of the Devil will not work.

 

[William]

Christianity often paints itself into a corner by insisting God can’t be connected to that shadow at all. But if we see Lucifer as a useful fiction - a story-form for the untamed shadow of creation - then he’s not a rival to God, but a mirror to us.

Not at all. It is the nonbeliever who paints himself into a corner when he sins then tries to pass the blame to God. Adam did this when God confronted him about his disobedience in eating the forbidden fruit: Genesis 3:12 And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat. Adam basically said, "God, I was fine but You decided to give me this woman. It is her fault as well as Your fault that I ate the fruit!"

BTW, Satan loves that people just see him as a useful fiction. The thief never presents himself as a threat, but as a companion or a friend. Once the guard is lowered, the thief does what a thief always does. Satan presents himself as a fictional character and when one accepts this image of the Devil, he does what the Devil does. Trying to blame God for falling victim to the wiles of the Devil will not work.

From "Us and Them" to "Our Father"

The Ghost, the Beast, and the Spiral of Shared Consciousness

williamwaterstone.substack.com

 

[Scooter]

Well, that’s all interesting to those who may not know the Lord. But since I do know the Lord your view is not realistic to me. But thanks for sharing.

 

[AgnosticBoy]

Well, that’s all interesting to those who don’t know the Lord. But since I do know the Lord your view is not realistic to me. But thanks for sharing.

Moderator Comment

This statement amounts dismissing someone's view based on their religious status. I do not want members claiming superiority or making others or their views feel inferior or less valued for reasons not involving logic and evidence.

I already have a guideline in place for views not to be dismissed simply because they are an opinion, but I will also add not to dismiss someone or their views based on their religious status.

 

[AgnosticBoy]

BTW, Satan loves that people just see him as a useful fiction. The thief never presents himself as a threat, but as a companion or a friend. Once the guard is lowered, the thief does what a thief always does. Satan presents himself as a fictional character and when one accepts this image of the Devil, he does what the Devil does. Trying to blame God for falling victim to the wiles of the Devil will not work.

Moderator Comment
This uncalled for to bring up Satan in connection to William's view on "useful fiction". Sure, you can quote Scripture, but not if it's being directed towards a member - to criticize or judge them. Let's keep it clean!

UPDATE:
After looking into this matter further, I realized that Scooter's statement was not being used to criticize or label anyone as the Devil or being like one. My apologies to Scooter. William originally referred to Lucifer as useful fiction, and Scooter was addressing that.

 

[William]

Thanks AB.

I do not post on this forum to be judged by anyone. If I have a Lord, it is Source Consciousness aka YHVH/The One True God/Our Father.
Therefore:
It is not for us to say who and who isn't a child of Our Father. Our Father is the Only Lord of Lords and all other lords and ladies are Our Fathers Children/us.

That was part of the content of the link I gave to my most recent interactions with Our Father, where we discuss (along with AI) the subject of this forum thread.

It grieves me when name-calling and accusation speak such while in shepherds clothing...