German church holds Star Wars themed mass to attract more young people

HandsomeDan

A church in the German capital invited “Star Wars” fans to attend a special service yesterday themed on the sci-fi blockbuster in an attempt to attract more young people into the pews.
About 500 people heeded the call and attended the service, some carrying lightsaber props or wearing Darth Vader masks. It was more than twice as many as usually come to Zion Church on a Sunday.
“We were very happy to see so many people in the church today,” said Protestant pastor Lucas Ludewig said after the service. “It’s great that there are subjects that people are interested in. They trust us to make them part of the church service without making it too Christian or too Star Wars, but to find a good compromise.”

http://www.thejournal.ie/germany-church-star-wars-2513746-Dec2015/

Mrs OBumble

Protestant pastor means it wasn't a mass!

In which case, so what. Evangelical churches hold all sorts of themed services.

The Randy Riverbeast

Probably should have went with looking more like Jedi rather than Sith :pac:

Manach

... and in this season please remember those less fortunate than yourselves: ie who have not watched the Force Awakens, so no spoilers please .

On the OT, in the book "How Star Wars conquers the Universe", there is a section on the religious aspects of the original trilogy. While on the main the key elements of ur-myth making were drawn from the book "The Hero with a Thousand Faces", there were elements of Buddhism as well as aspects of Christian (redemption) but to a lesser extend. For the infamous "Holiday Special", that just belongs to the Dark Side.

looksee

Have to say, as an ex-Protestant, I find that a bit sad and rather cynical. It has overtones of proselytising - we will give you soup/shelter/entertainment if you come to our church service. We will give you god in Darth Vader's image.

Overheal

So they added more pew pew to the Pews. :pac:

This is how Christianity adopted pagan holidays, just saying.

uck51js9zml2yt

Religion gone bad mad!

joseph brand

“It’s great that there are subjects that people are interested in."

I don't even.


Where was this church during the Harry Potter films? Or are those films satanic or evil due to wizards and witches? It's mad isn't it?

lazybones32

Mission complete: the theme has garnered media attention and advertised the stunt. From the few pics I saw, I don't think many youth were attracted, only grown-ups dressed as wookies or Sith Lords.

Still, it's not the weirdest 'evangelizing' technique I've heard of: http://www.christianswingers.com/ wins that award in my books.
"God has put me here to spread his word and our lifestyle community is a great place to do it," Dean...who believes that he's been given a unique opportunity to share his faith with those who might otherwise never hear about Jesus.
"I don't think God would be mad at what we're doing. At first I was conflicted but the more we looked at it the more it makes sense to us," Christy Paraves, Dean's wife.
"I'm getting to people that will probably never even visit a church," he said. "God's not gonna put a lion with a bunch of elephants, so what's he gonna do? He's gonna put a swinger with a bunch of swingers to spread his word. Simple as that." Christiantoday, Sept, 2014.

cattolico

Its not a Mass. There are 20,000+ protestant denominations with a very wide range of views.

Thinkingaboutit

I think Lutherans do sometimes use the word Mass for their Divine Service, but this seems cynical and thrashy. Unfortunately, there are oftimes themed New Masses. This sort of childishness would fit the Limerick Redemptorists like a glove.

J C

cattolico wrote: »

Its not a Mass. There are 20,000+ protestant denominations with a very wide range of views.

... and there are a billion+ Roman Catholics ... with a very wide range of views as well !!!:p:)

J C

The Randy Riverbeast wrote: »

Probably should have went with looking more like Jedi rather than Sith :pac:

Going on the dark side ... with the men in black ... or am I just mixing up two films???:)

I thought I'd seen it all ... but this takes the biscuit ... or should that be the light sabre ???!!!:pac:

Graces7

"they trust us to make them part of the church service without making it too Christian or too Star Wars, but to find a good compromise.” Says it all..too Christian? :eek: Whatever next?