As commentors pointed out, and my editor at CT discovered… I was wrong. Star Fast is not a joke. It’s real. Jack Black, a Wrestling Priest? Donnie Darko Director Directs The Rock?13 Years of Waiting are Coming to an End for T-Bone Burnett Fans
I recently stumbled accross a similarly disturbing website: http://www.needgod.com/.
Yeah, Levi,
I think the disturbing thing about the Star Fast site is that it’s legalism notched up to an almost Jack Hiles / Bob Jones level is mixed into a pop-culture phenomenon. It just kind of catches off guard. Although I don’t think it’s hateful, just very stern and seemingly un-loving, and having little to do with redemption or grace, from what I see.
The needgod.com site looks like just another Southern Baptist evangelism tract in net space. But then again, I didn’t really take the quiz.
Good grief, what an arbitrary joke. I just left a scathing comment to the Star Fast site.
You know what? I’m going to be first in line (second or third day) and I’m going to enjoy every minute of Episode 3!
Hmmm. I’m going to be in line, but I’m not too confident I’m going to enjoy every minute of it. Time will tell…
You know, when I first went to the Star Fast site I kinda chuckled, thinking it was a joke.
Then I was horrified, realizing it wasn’t. It seemed to be lacking in grace and kindness and the things that I would’ve preferred to see in a Christian site.
But then I read something there that made me stop and think. Under “Definitions” the site has this:
star fast v. : To voluntarily abstain from going to see Star Wars Episode III in the movie theatre, as an act of spiritual discipline; to deny the appetites of the flesh; associated with humility and repentance from being engrossed in the things of the world.
And I thought to myself…you know, that’s not such a bad thing to do as a Christian, to deny myself something that I WANT to see, just as an act of self-discipline.
Does that mean I signed up for the Star Fast? No. Does it mean I won’t go see Episode III? Probably not (unless the reviews suck). Does that mean I agree with the methods and text of the Star Fast site? Not totally.
But I can acknowledge that the idea of fasting from some “worldly” thing, like a film, isn’t such a bad idea for us as Christians. Maybe if the Star Fast idea had been presented in a more graceful, kind manner, it would’ve connected with me (and other Christians) better. Alas…
But it’s arbitrary. Why Star Wars? I’ll tell you why. Because it’s high profile and thereby an easy target. Why not some small lesser known movie instead?
And why draw the line at movies? Why not novels or music? How should we define self-discipline anyway? If I “fast” from seeing Episode 3, then I’ll have achieved self-discipline? Check that one off the list!
Give me a break!
Got to love:
Can I still watch Episode III as soon as it is released on DVD?
If it’s God’s will. But, if you’re already thinking about that, you definitely need to extend your fast.
How do you know when to stop? Does this logic carry through to fasting food? I’m going to fast, but If I even think about eating when I finish I’ve obviously still got to fast.
Matt