Since the turn of the 20th century, church attendance has declined, while spiritual belief has remained. The reason: “Pop culture, has in essence, become the new religion. Movies, music, television, the internet, video games, self-help books – the all persuasive halo of media culture – illuminates North American lives with a candlepower no moral authority, church or state, can hope to compete with” (1). Using Star Wars as the ideal example, Johnson considers the effective spiritual message presented within mainstream media. As church practice has become irrelevant, society has looked to the thrill of pop culture hoping to fill the void. Imam Ezz Gad says, “The moviemakers are trying to fill a gap, a spiritual vacuum created by the shortcomings
