[Opinion] In an age of institutional failure, ‘Star Wars’ is saving my faith

UNITED STATES
National Catholic Reporter

December 5, 2020

By Jennifer Vosters

As a Catholic woman and a diehard science-fiction/fantasy fan, I’m used to feeling underrepresented.

I learned early on not to hold my breath for three-dimensional women to take center stage in the stories and Scriptures, homilies and home-worlds I loved. I learned to connect with Frodo and Harry and Luke — and with St. Paul and St. Francis and Thomas Merton. But to see the heroic spiritual journeys of women at the fore? Mission: Improbable.

Enter “Star Wars: The Clone Wars.”

All the great sci-fi/fantasy franchises involve deeply spiritual themes, but “Star Wars” takes it a step further: There is religion. We get a divine Force, an order of peacekeeping monks, even a common blessing (“May the Force be with you”). But while binge-watching “The Clone Wars” animated series after the release of its much-anticipated final season this spring, I was not prepared for Ahsoka Tano.

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