The Jedi Religion
78
The Jedi Code
There is no emotion;
There is peace.
There is no ignorance;
There is knowledge.
There is no passion;
There is serenity.
There is no chaos;
There is harmony.
There is no death;
There is the Force.
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The fictional Jedi faith was contructed by George Lucas in his Star Wars series of movies. A modern-day movement has arisen in which people are declaring themselves to be Jedi on census forms, and several self-declared Jedi churches exist.
The Jedi Church web site declares that the Jedi church has "no official doctrine".
The Jedi church recognizes that all people have an innate knowledge of what is right and wrong, and the Jedi Church celebrates this like no other religion. The basic concepts and ideals of the Jedi religion were introduced by the fictional Star Wars movies. However, these concepts were quickly and readily recognized by many people throughout the world as being a religion that they could more readily ascribe to than traditional religions.
The site goes on to describe the basic concepts of the Jedi faith - there is a Force which binds the Universe together, and it has a dark side and a light side.
The first Star Wars movie (episode IV) really doesn't give viewers much more than this, and for many people is their only exposure to the religion, or philosophy.
Despite its scant detail, the idea of making the Jedi faith into a "real" religion has had wide appeal for a young audience disenchanted with traditional organised religion.
The Jedi Church very helpfully provides demographic information on its site, which shows that the adherents of the faith are overwhelmingly male, primarily born and living in the US, the UK, or Australia, and the majority were born between 1970 and 1999.
At The Jediism Way, there has been a little more philosphical development.
On their page entitled "What is a Jedi", they explore the distinction between the fictional religion and the practices of their members.
At this site you are going to find individuals that refer to themselves as Jedi Realists. The first thing is, the Jedi at this site do not pretend to be the Jedi from the movies. We do not have lightsabers, can't shoot lightring out of our fingers, can't make objects fly across the room, and do some of the other amazing movie magic tricks you saw int he movies. A Jedi Realist as quote from www.thejedi.org is:
"Jedi Realists are people who have recognized the philosophical value of the Star Wars mythology, mainly the fictional Jedi, and have integrated the outlook and values they present."
Pages on the Jedi Code and Jedi Truisms explore concepts which are clearly drawn from the cultural background of the contributors, many of whom are Asian. Buddhist and Confucian ideals take on a new life, encased in a far less codified religious framework.
The Jedi are big on individual responsibility and an internal moral compass, but the classic Star Wars moment ("use The Force, Luke ...") has a yin-based letting-go which resonates well with Buddhist teachings.
Census Reports of Jedi Religion
There has been a movement in recent years to have people in English-speaking nations declare their religion as "Jedi" when the national census is taken.
In Australia, the 2001 census showed over 70,000 Jedi. The Australian Bureau of Statistics made noises about prosecuting people for providing "falso or misleading information", but didn't actually do it.
New Zealand's 2001 census showed over 53,000. That would make Jedi the second largest religion in New Zealand, after Christianity, if the New Zealand government recognised it as a valid religion.
In Canada, the 2001 census showed around 20,000 Jedi.
Engalnd and Wales had almost 400,000 Jedi in 2001, making Jedi the fourth largest religion (after Christianity, Islam, and Hinduism), larger than Buddhism or Judaism.
Not all Jedi sites are serious. At VoteJedi.com, they claim a history millennia long for the Jedi religion, which they say existed as a secret society, boasting such famous (secret) members as Democritus, Lucretius, Hypatia, Voltaire, Thomas Hobbs, David Hume, Thomas Paine, Bertrand Russell and A J Ayer.
The Temple Of The Jedi Order claims to be registered in the state of Texas as a legitimate non-profit religious and educatioal 510(c)3 organisation.
So, is all this just a bit of fun, or do these people have their hands on a new world religion?
Perhaps we can give the last word on the matter to the Jedi Church:
The sun existed before it was given a name, and it could be revered as a God, however, when the sun finally had a human name, it could be written about and communicated with others. The Jedi religion is just like the Sun, it existed before a popular movie gave it a name, and now that it has a name, people all over the world can share their experiences of the Jedi religion, here in the Jedi Church.
Member Blogs From The Jediism Way
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Hee! I was one of the people that put down Jedi in the 2001 census. I did have a reason, though, twisted as it was. Earlier on that day I'd been in the Sydney city centre, and had been harassed by yet another Scientologist with a clipboard to do one of their surveys. I was annoyed, and thought long and on the way home I decided if they could call themselves a religion then I could be a Jedi. Why not?
The latest census I called myself what I really am which is an Agnostic, and happy to be one.
I used to be Jedi, but I found the robes to be unflattering. Today I am a Jedi-Pirate, combining the power of the force, with the swashing of buckles.
If anyone would like to become an ordained Jedi-Pirate minister, they can email me, and I will induct them into the sacred tradition in the hallowed hall of the Jedi Pirates, which just happens to be in my mom's basement.
Hmmmm... somehow I am not surprised, InspirePub and Hope. LOL.
A Jedi-Pirate? So, you're combining the best of both worlds? I approve. :-)
I'd encourage you all to join. Unlike other religions, there is no tithing expected of members, I'll just pop around and pillage you occasionally :)
Ah, Hope, did you pick up the pirate theme from Pastafarian teachings?
(That's the Worship of the Flying Spaghetti Monster, for those not yet inducted to the secret society. I am tossing up doing a Hub on that as well, but I am getting tired ...)
Anyways, apprently global warming correlates with an alarming drop in the number of pirates worldwide, and hence the introduction of International Talk Like A Pirate Day, in a valiant attempt to stave off disaster.
If anough people talk like pirates, to the theory goes, the Flying Spaghetti Monster will relent and spare us from his global warming wrath.
A compelling theory, is it not?
I think you simply must do a hub on the FSM. I think the world needs it. I am in the process on doing one of my Bad Cook Recipe Hubs on how to make a Flying Spagetti Monster meal, because it's important. Maybe even vitally important. Also I like combining religion with simple recipes. I think that's important too.
I always knew that it was crucial that I be a pirate, I just didn't know why. Thank you for enlightening me.
I expect that I will see Hovis and Steph in the basement for their confirmation ceremony soon. Now that they too know the truth, I don't see how they can help but become Jedi Pirates.
Wow. I'm from Texas and had no idea.
See, Peter, you could make a tax-deductible donation ...
Brilliant hub - I am definitly voting Jedi in the next NZ census - iwasn't aware of the option last time and just went for atheist but that is so boring! I am delighted to find another humorous hub on the religion theme - just did one myself and was hoping that some others would come from the non-believers perspective!
I am torn between which is better, the hub or the comments. i was going for the hub until i saw jedi pirate! either way this was a very entertaining posts!
OK, the Flying Spaghetti Monster is now on HubPages, too.
http://hubpages.com/hub/The-Church-Of-The-Flying-S
Enjoy ...
Now I've heard of everything! Hopefully when they die, The Force will save them. Or do they die....???
Yes, they do die.
The explanation of the last line of the Jedi Code on Jediism Way is as follows:
There is no death; there is the Force.
This line can be misleading to some. This does not mean being a Jedi will make you live forever. Sorry, folks, hate to break it to you like that. No, this shows that through the Force, our essence will never die. Our soul, our energy, it is part of the Force. As such, we are luminous beings encased in a shell tissue and organs, skin and bones. When the body dies, we do not die, but rather we move on to a higher plane of existence. We become one with the Force. Through this, we live on is all Jedi...in all life. What better fate could a child of the Force have, but to live on for all time as part of all its children. The same is true of you. You are made up of an infinite number of the Force's children, their energies recycled back into the Force itself, maintaining its strength.
Thanks for clarifying :)
If you only knew how close to the Truth your above description of death really is!???:):):):):):):):):):):):)
(how come smilies don't show up on comment capsules ?:(
Are you saying you are really a Jedi, after all, Sparkling Jewel?
I guess the comments don't use BB Code ... :)
But the old-fashioned text-based milies work just fine.
This is a brilliant piece of writing... Well done, INSPIREPUB. !!!
Aww, you'll make me blush, now, Martin!
I enjoyed this.
Great to hear, rdelp. Thanks for stopping by ...
Here are what some jedi think, feel, and see. jedi.wikia.com http://www.new.facebook.com/group.php?gid=21935360
This is similar to the way the Christian and Islamic religions started as well. Not a movie of course, but through fable.
I'm not a big fan of Star Wars but wow, I really really enjoyed reading this. I totally voted up on this.
This is AWESOME! My kids are playing StarWars battlefront as I type this...maybe I should join...
begin a jedi is so cool!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Darn-it! I was about to publish my article about the Jedi religion when I actually found a category under "new religion" for "Jedi"! So I searched and found yours which was a bit more informative and naturally well written - so I am publishing mine on Examiner.com (I have a link on my profile page if anyone is interested).
My question to you would be, which version of the mantra (there is no death, only the Force) is the accepted one?
Personally, I like the Sith, they aren't afraid to explore facets of the Force that some deem unnatural (I am a big Palpatine fan and can do his voice too!).
Thanks for an illuminating hub :-)
O.k. so as I'm reading this I'm getting a little offended not by what your saying but by the fact the most of what info you found isn't the true Jedi faith we didn't begin because of the movies if you want to see the real Jedi website ill put the link here http://www.orderofthejedi.org/
enjoy and undstand the true jedi
"real jedi":
I don't think it's very fair at all to call a single web-based Jedi organization "the real" Jedi faith. There have been, literally, hundreds of such groups over the years - Jediism, THEJEDI, the Force Academy, Unified Jedi, Temple of the Jedi Order, and on, and on.
To claim that a single Internet-based group is the ONLY valid Jedi Realist group is, quite honestly, a fairly ignorant statement.
It's not about "what group is right", because the members of just a single group can't come to agree on the definition of the Jedi, or expectations of them, doctrine, what training might include, and so on.
It's about the individual view, the individual Jedi.
And, you can deny it all you wish, but Jediism/Jedi Realism came about only because Star Wars exists. The principles would still be the same, but the name would not.
I am a christian but just learned about the jedi faith what do you guys worship or do you guys do this for fun
I just want to know this info since I'm a star wars fan
we will be like gods.turn off death gene.
it is another means for people to relate to god. the force is that connection to god which even christians teach we are bound to god by the divine spark.
stephhicks68 Level 6 Commenter 3 years ago
Very interesting! A Star Wars fan, but did not know about this aspect!