I would like to seriously discuss the pros and cons of this philosophical interpretation of the Force religion. First of all...
"There is no why."
If you keep asking why for long enough, eventually there will be no answer. Maybe the universe isn't based on a foundation of logic at the most fundamental level? Jedi aren't even meant to think about the Sith philosophy; the are just meant to be faithful. In the ROTS book it says "In the Force, Obi-Wan is beyond questions."
Greed leads to self destruction
I think this is very true. Take corporations for example. If they go too far in trying to rip people off instead of selling a quality product, eventually they will perish.
The will of the Force
"He has no need to attack, or to defend. There will be a battle here, but he is perfectly at ease, perfectly content to let the battle start when it will start, and end when it will end. Just as he will let himself live, or let himself die." It seems the Jedi see themselves as messengers of the Force, avartars through which it enacts its will. The Sith on the other hand seem not content to let the Force control them, but to control the Force themselves.
That's all I've got to say for now.
__________________ "I realised that there was this incredibly benevolent force that wanted me to know that there was no reason to be afraid... ever." "We don't have to win, we just have to fight."
"There is no way to peace, peace is the way." "Be yourself. Those who mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind."
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This Jedi Philosophy is loosely based on Buddhism with some made up terms for the story. You might find it fun to do some research and find where the different aspects of Jedi Philosophy come from.
I think logic is not the fundation of the universe, and theres even a theorem in mathematics that says that any logical systems are either contradictory or imcomplete always. So in this way science and any thing that uses logic will always be limited, and have contradictions.
"Sometimes I think its strange to try explain why theres no why."
In other hand blind faith in the Jedi Code, for example, is wrong too. The right thing should be something like understanding why it is right. Not a logical understanding, but following it because it feels right, the Jedi would say: "The force shows us the right path."
Greed leads to self destruction
Maybe thats because we become too dependant of acquiring things thats not always possible. Humility could be to have independece on these things.
The will of the Force
I think that has something with the "eliminate the ego" philosophy of the buddhism. It could mean that we should have faith in the natural order of things, and not try to control this order in some way. In Jedi words "We must let the force guide us."
Careful, the forum Nazi's are gonna start harassing you cause there already is a post like this titled, 'talking about Jedi religion'.
You know how those Nazi's get.
Anyways...
__________________ May suffering ones be suffering free
And the fear struck fearless be.
May the grieving shed all grief-
And the sick find health relief.
-Zen chant
It's amazing how people are so quick to dispel religion and God and can't sit in church for more than a half an hour but can contemplate and use a fictional movie as a doctrine and blueprint to live their lives.
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With the number of hypocrites today sitting in church and going out and doing harm to anyone who crosses them, it is no wonder that people will search for anything better. It is rare to find any Christian who is Christ like, but I know many Buddhists that are.
Last edited by Shakyamunison on Jun 20th, 2005 at 07:06 PM
Believe me for most of my adult life I has used that precise excuse as the reason for not going to church but only recently have I realized that we don't go to church to judge or be like others but for what church offers and that is the good word and the positive message it brings.
So now I try to think of that when I go to church and think that although the majority in that church are perhaps among the worst human beings in terms of spirituality but I don't go there for them but for myself.
I think that concept helps much.
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Thank You, LordFear...
This is what drove me away and I'm still working on my attitude. It is good to see that others see this and are trying to fix it one person at a time. If everyone saw it your way, things would get better. I wish you great happiness.
Well said Shakyamunison, almost everything in a church nowadays is purely hypocrisies and the last thing you will find in a church is spirituality. But for me, religion is knowledge and understanding, I´m not Christian, or Buddhist, or anything else, but I like the knowledge that comes from them all. As for the Jedi philosophy that came from a movie, I think its less contradictory than christianism.
Well I return the Thank You also.
I appreciate you seeing things through my eyes.
Hopefully others in time will discover this way of thinking and that
will perhaps lure them back to the good path
maybe the "church" religions are not satasfying to me?
maybe I dont believe in what they say...
there are many reasons. The "jedi" religion followers have the same rights as you do. they can believe what they want.
plus, I've seen no evidence that Christianity is anything more then "fiction" as you call it...
that goes for all religions.
so please dont bash peoples beliefs. no matter if you agree with them or not. it makes you seem stupid. Even if thier faith is based upon a "fictional" movie. the morals implied by this movie are not sessassarly false, and perhaps they are good for living your lives...who knows.
Jedi philosophy is a combination of many religions, as GL did heavy reseach on all of them. For an in-depth look into Star Wars and the Jedi and their philosophy, I recommend (ironically titled) Star Wars and Philosphy. Surprise on that name. Anyways, the book is part of a series of books that takes popular culture and picks it apart via philosophy. It's an excellent read and easy to follow along without losing grasp of the whole picture.
Otherwise, all you'd find on here are people's opinions, informed or no, and it devolves into a pissing contest.
While I agree that we shouldn't be bashing each others belief the statement christianity is no more then fiction. Is not only a bash but also an uneducated one.
There is substantial proof that jesus christ did exist, and there are millions around the world that would admit there is a very spiritual element. what would you trust evolution? sorry but science has repeatedly disproven many evolutionist ideas and the scientific community in general beleives in the cambrian explosion which actually supports creationist ideas which are also very logical. I have no conflict with people who beleive evolution I have many atheist friends, I have no problems with people beleiving what they want, so please don't be bashing organized religion when there's an equal if not greater lack of proof for other beliefs.
__________________ The whole world trembles in fear before my awesome unholy army of garden gnomes soon we will rule the world and from there...home depot!!!
Well thought. Chirstianity is just like Star wars, the only difference is that Star Wars is a movie, and chirstianity is a book. We just need to write the Jedi philosophies in a book, and call it bible or something else, so it can have the same status as other religions.
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I wonder if it's been done already.
I did a quick look to see. Here are some sites, there must be others. I didn't look really close at these, just thought I would see what I could get with a fast search.
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This thread should not become an attack on Christianity. For one thing, it is not the Jedi way. To criticize something because you disagree with it is not only an attachment, but a display of ignorance.
So, back to topic--the pros and cons of this "philosophical interpretation of the Force religion."
First, and most difficult, what is this Force idealism about?
Every person has their own viewpoint here. Mine is to be aware of life and the connectivity of all things. Life is energy, there is an energy field where ever life exists. You can call it the Force, or something else. This energy field doesn't care about anything, it just exists. So to say it has a will is a bit of a stretch, but okay-just go with it. If you call it a will, its limited to just being objective. To know something objectively is to know it as the Force knows it, so to do the Force's will, you must act without bias. You must act without emotion, ignorance, or passion.
Greed leading to self destruction is but one example of how an emotional attachment can take you places you don't want to go.
He has no need to attack. There is often need to defend. Defense doesn't always mean violence, defense can be spoken or written as well. You should always defend yourself, and those not able to defend themselves. Violence is sometimes necessary, only as a last resort. Always know that no matter how bad someone seems, they can be redeemed. Never give up hope for your fellow man, for when he is lost is when he most needs a guide.
Violence to acheive peace rarely lasts for long, it is always preferable to acheive peace through communication. This is not always possible, so you should be prepared for violence, though not obviously so. If you go looking for a fight, you will find one. That is not the goal of the jedi. Know always that killing in wrong. One may kill in self defense, or the defense of others, but only if there is no other way to stop the conflict; and even then it is still wrong--even when it is necessary, it is still wrong. To take a life is to stain your spirit, and it cannot be made up for, so don't try. That would be passion, and ignorant.
Meditation is crucial to the life of a jedi. Or at least a time of quiet introspection each day. Examine your actions to see if you are truly being objective. Rate yourself without bias, and seek to be more objective the following day. If you discover you have done something contrary to the will of the Force (objectivity), you may be able to rectify the matter by reapproaching it without bias.
I don't know how much more detail I can offer, so I'll stop.
Bring on your hate, now. Or don't. I will respond fairly if I respond.
i think that conflict is a necessity it forces people and nations to become better as said by the sith
also the Jedi view the force as the end to end while the sith view the force as the means to get to ends, that power is only given to those who chase it and thereby make themselves worthy.
greed does lead to self destruction, but greed starts off with ambition which we all know to be fundamentally needed to go from day to day
the force does not take sides neither is it light or dark there are just the powers and those who use them make themselves light or dark
for example a Jedi could use force lightning without giving to the dark side
i personally believe that the Jedi are scared of the dark and you cannot have light without dark and visa versa you need both to succeed with the force
but the pacifist view of the jedi is weak since you cannot advance without the possibility of war or war itself
Is that happening here? It's the philosophy forum after all, not religion.
Also, there's a fallacy whose name I forget at work here, where you're implying that we should dismiss any ideas that come from "Jedi philosophy" simply because it's based on a fictional universe. To a non-religious person, both modern religions and Star Wars are equally man-made and fictitious, so the points they make are equal in their potential merit.
Kinda like shakya said, there's not much in Jedi that can't be found from other, non-fiction religions or creeds. That said, lightsabers make it way more badass. There's actually a LOT more to Jedi philosophy and its following than the OP suggests. it's a very interesting cultural phenomenon.