I would like to dedicate this blog to Gidrea Lightsky. Even though I thought about writing this blog beforehand, reading her blog entry really motivated me.

As for you, son of man, speak to the house of Israel: You people say, "Our crimes and our sins weigh us down; we are rotting away because of them. How can we survive?" Answer them: As I live, says the LORD, I swear I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked man, but rather in the wicked man's conversion, that he may live. Turn, turn from your evil ways! Why should you die, O house of Israel?
Yet your countrymen say, "The way of the LORD is not fair!"; but it is their way that is not fair. When a virtuous man turns away from what is right and does wrong, he shall die for it. But when a wicked man turns away from wickedness and does what is right and just, because of this he shall live. And still you say, "The way of the LORD is not fair!"? I will judge every one of you according to his ways, O house of Israel.

Ezekiel 33: 10-11, 17-20

Now one of the criminals hanging there reviled Jesus, saying, "Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us." The other, however, rebuking him, said in reply, "Have you no fear of God, for you are subject to the same condemnation? And indeed, we have been condemned justly, for the sentence we received corresponds to our crimes, but this man has done nothing criminal." Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." He replied to him, "Amen, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise."

Luke 23: 39-43

Many people have said that they don't understand or are unconvinced that Anakin could be redeemed from his life of evil simply by doing one good deed (saving his son Luke from Emperor Palpatine). They feel that he didn't really earn his redemption at the end of Return of the Jedi and he doesn't deserve it. Well, they're right. Anakin didn't "earn" his redemption, nor does he "deserve" it. Redemption is a blessing that is bestowed upon us despite our wrongdoing. What we need to do is accept it, being truly sorry for what we've done and trying to reverse the effects of our sins in any way we can. Then we need to live our lives in righteousness, avoiding evil, loving others, and doing good deeds as much as possible.

Yes, I know that Christianity doesn't exist in Star Wars, but this Christian concept is profoundly embodied by Anakin's redemption. It doesn't matter how bad you are or how long you've been that way; redemption is possible for everyone and it's never too late, even for one of the most evil men in the galaxy. This is why I think Return of the Jedi is the most Christian movie of the Star Wars saga.

I welcome the opinions of believer and non-believer alike, but be civil as always.