It Depends
Will J.J. Abrams’ sequels prove me right? Peter SchellhasePeter Schellhase studied political philosophy at Patrick Henry College, and has worked…
Star Wars Symposium
The Church Needs Hobbits
Not everyone needs to be a St. Thomas Aquinas. Brian BrownBrian Brown loves building the environments, habits, and networks that…
When Competing Moral Claims Get in a Fistfight
The result is how you judge moral complexity.
Glimpses of a Redeemer in Lord of the Rings
This is a plot begging for a redeemer. Riley StrongRiley Strong is an upcoming high school senior. She is well-known…
Harmony is Better than Balance
While Star Wars seeks to find balance, Lord of the Rings demonstrates harmony.
Characters with Consequence
In which universe do more characters have to make moral choices that matter? Casey RathCasey Rath is a five-year Washington,…
Darth Vader and Solzhenitsyn
Who is willing to destroy a piece of his own heart? Nathaniel TorreyNathaniel Torrey is the editor of the Work…
Visions of Home and Friendship
In presenting a world that is rich with community and tradition and goodness, Tolkien has provided an antidote to the…
A Constellation of Worldviews
On the surface, the morality of the Star Wars universe seems quite simple: light side versus dark side, good versus…
Morality Is Always Simple in Fantasy
I find contemplating the morality of any story a fascinating exercise. Narratives have always been a powerful form in shaping…
A Less Elegant Moral Universe for a Less Civilized Age
“Any entity – no matter how many tentacles it has – has a soul” – Br. Guy J. Consolmagno, SJ,…
A World Where Feelings Are King
As someone who has only seen the Star Wars movies, and never read any of the books, I feel obligated…
Taoism and Mere Christianity
“Luke, you’re going to find that many of the truths we cling to depend greatly on our own point of…
How Does Good Triumph Over Evil?
Both Lucas and Tolkien in their stories explore how goodness is tempted by the nature of evil, but only Star…
What is Evil?
There are two primary domains in which the Star Wars franchise clearly emerges as more morally complex than The Lord…
There Are No Mere Mortals in Lord of the Rings
A complex moral universe requires a richness of different character levels, and the ability to move between them. Brad LittlejohnBrad…