Post by Alena on Dec 26, 2006 19:52:22 GMT -5
According to the Star Wars films, the Force has two sides, a Light Side and a Dark Side. The Jedi use the Light and the Sith tap into the Dark. In Episode III, Palpatine said that one cannot know the "great mystery" without knowing both sides of the Force. Even the concept of the Force having "sides" can be limiting, for in fact it is ultimately a Unity.
The Sith view of the Force is closer to that of old secret societies. The average person who is religious usually sees things in terms of "good" and "evil." There is an all good God and an all bad devil. The two are sworn enemies locked in eternal combat. A Sith would say that God also made the devil and created evil as well as good (if he/she was expressing it in Judeo-Christian terms). The very nature of matter includes negativity. One cannot wish it away. Suns supernova. Lions eat lambs; the strong thrive, and the weak perish. Nature is full of that which is beautiful and that which is vicious and deadly. The Sith know that this is the way of things.
The Sith view of the Force would likely be deist. The Force is the creator, sustainer, and destroyer. The Force is not something that thinks like a human handing us commandments on stone tablets. It is an energy field that is rather indifferent to human opinions and actions. The skilled mystic can tap into this energy to enhance abilities. There are two schools of thought among Force followers. Some see it as only an energy with no "will" as such. Others will see it as more of a live entity with a will, a thing that directs destinies in a sort of distant way.
The Sith will tap into either side of the Force. There is a Light Side which is mercy, nurturing, gentleness, and serenity. There is the Dark Side which is strength, severity, conflict, and judgement. The Sith knows how to balance these two. To keep in balance a Sith will often go to that mysterious center of the Force in meditation. Palpatine worked from that mysterious center in order to do his intricate balancing act. This center is pure Unity, that place of shimmering darkness that existed before Light was ever born. To shine like the Sun, you must plant your roots deep in the Darkness.
The Darkness is the womb where all is concieved. Dark was first, and is mother of all. This idea exists in the myths of many ancient religions. In the beginning, all was Unity. To make a universe, the Force split into two, Light and Dark. From these two, the rest of the universe came. The Kabbalists and other very old religious traditions give very detailed descriptions of how this came about. The Sith seek that original unity.
The Sith view of the Force is closer to that of old secret societies. The average person who is religious usually sees things in terms of "good" and "evil." There is an all good God and an all bad devil. The two are sworn enemies locked in eternal combat. A Sith would say that God also made the devil and created evil as well as good (if he/she was expressing it in Judeo-Christian terms). The very nature of matter includes negativity. One cannot wish it away. Suns supernova. Lions eat lambs; the strong thrive, and the weak perish. Nature is full of that which is beautiful and that which is vicious and deadly. The Sith know that this is the way of things.
The Sith view of the Force would likely be deist. The Force is the creator, sustainer, and destroyer. The Force is not something that thinks like a human handing us commandments on stone tablets. It is an energy field that is rather indifferent to human opinions and actions. The skilled mystic can tap into this energy to enhance abilities. There are two schools of thought among Force followers. Some see it as only an energy with no "will" as such. Others will see it as more of a live entity with a will, a thing that directs destinies in a sort of distant way.
The Sith will tap into either side of the Force. There is a Light Side which is mercy, nurturing, gentleness, and serenity. There is the Dark Side which is strength, severity, conflict, and judgement. The Sith knows how to balance these two. To keep in balance a Sith will often go to that mysterious center of the Force in meditation. Palpatine worked from that mysterious center in order to do his intricate balancing act. This center is pure Unity, that place of shimmering darkness that existed before Light was ever born. To shine like the Sun, you must plant your roots deep in the Darkness.
The Darkness is the womb where all is concieved. Dark was first, and is mother of all. This idea exists in the myths of many ancient religions. In the beginning, all was Unity. To make a universe, the Force split into two, Light and Dark. From these two, the rest of the universe came. The Kabbalists and other very old religious traditions give very detailed descriptions of how this came about. The Sith seek that original unity.