My thoughts:
Let's first look at the OT. Lucas tells us that Yoda and Sidious, the two masters/teachers of the Light and Dark sides, are 'beyond' lightsabers. That's why we never see them using it, because they've gone beyond the need to use them. I feel like Johnson has emulated this with the new trilogy. The two big guys of both sides of the force are Luke and Snoke, both of whom aren't really going to use lightsabers in any context, since their abilities in the force are just that good that they don't need to use one in a competitive fight really. We can't use the Luke vs Ben fight as an example, because Luke was just stalling Kylo and clearly toying around. Snoke is too physically weak, but we can't put it beyond him to actually augment himself like Yoda. Overall, the theme of the big goodie and big badie being beyond lightsabers, with the main characters [young], so in this instance Kylo and Rey still using them is a direct mirror of the OT.
It's too early to really debate Snoke vs Luke. We don't have enough feats. For now, Snoke is clearly above Ben and Rey, just as Luke is clearly above them.
Originally posted by samappo
It was a pretty quick reaction from Snoke I thought. Anyway, I think the ragdolling of any combination of "Skywalker" + "pissed off" is impressive.
Eh, it seems more like he caught an unarmed Kylo off guard there by bouncing lightning off the floor. I agree that Snoke isn't weak, maybe Dooku level? IDK.
Originally posted by redpill
maul fought a padawan in obi wan yet he never ragdolled him the way snoke ragdolled rey, when maul had the incentive to do so.
Right except that was merely TPM Maul, and “Padawan” Obi-Wan had completed his training. However Rebels Maul has ragdolled the 7th Sister. All Inquisitors are former Jedi.
Originally posted by The Ellimist
He's prob more powerful than Maul but I don't know how he's above Sidious.
Here’s the thing. Even IF he’s more powerful than Maul in the Force, that still doesn’t mean he can stop Maul Saber slicing him, given Snoke’s physical weakness and Zero Saber showings.
Originally posted by The Ellimist
Eh, it seems more like he caught an unarmed Kylo off guard there by bouncing lightning off the floor.
Also don’t forget Kylo started on his knees, so had to get up and attack before Snoke Just fires FL at him. And right after he’s shot, Snoke’s guards threaten him. The same guards we know he needs Rey’s help to defeat.
Honestly we're being really speculative here - we have no hard lower and upper limit to how strong he is relative to PT/OT characters.
It would be weird if a Skywalker of Ben's age and training were still weaker than, say, one of the B-team, so I think Snoke is solidly above Maul because I don't think Maul could ragdoll Kit Fisto and co.
Author intent aside, Snoke ragdolling Rey isn't a display of Force power beyond moving a person.
There's no passive Force barriers in Canon, nor did Rey indicate she threw up any active Force barriers.
The best we've seen of Snoke telekinesis (again, author intent aside) is overpowering Rey's grip of the lightsaber.
http://www.killermovies.com/forums/f6/t642433.html
Essentially, telekinesis only works when the person is vulnerable and / or has an opening in their defenses.
There's no innate Force barrier protecting individuals like in Legends, though.
The Darth Vader comics especially show this by Vader being capable of choking Jedi Masters when they're unprepared, but the same Masters can resist when they're prepared.
No. In Legends, all Force users have lesser / passive Force barriers that are active at all times. They can then also throw up active Force barriers, which are far stronger and a reflection of their power.
In Canon, it's more of if the individual is prepared or not. The general defense to telekinesis is returning the favor with a telekinetic attack back on the person, also (ROTS, Vader comics, etc.).