The Jedi Religion

I just saw this article over at the BBC:

You may be a fan of the Star Wars films, but are you a follower? Moves are afoot to have the fictitious Jedi philosophy the movies espouse recognised as a proper religion.
If 8,000 New Zealanders have heeded an e-mail asking them to declare Jedi as their faith on this week's census forms, then Star Wars will have spawned an officially recognised religion.

Kiwis who went along with the jape may have to explain themselves to the authorities since it is an offence to enter false information in the census.

But then surely no one can seriously adhere to the "ancient" Jedi creed so keenly observed by Obi-Wan Kenobi and Luke Skywalker in the blockbuster series of films.

You can read the rest here

Oh no. And I always thought the difference between SW fans and Star Trek fans was that SW fans did NOT believe in what their films said. 🙁

Nope, we're all just as bad as each other! 😂

Still, beats going to church every Sunday, unless you like that sort of thing. Which I know some of us do, just not me I'm afraid.

Afraid? Afraid of what?

NOt afriad, just saying that I'm not big on religion.

WOW RAZ.... I've heard a lot of things said about the Jedi philosphy but that's the most left field I've ever heard. And I don't wanna be compared to a Star Trek fan. WAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHH !!!!! 🙁

Wait til George hears about this. 😛

These people are pretty said. Maybe they turn in to GL worshipers.

Do you think they'll have a church shaped like the Millenium Falcon?

I will tell you right now- and I;ve supported a lot of sci-fi causes over time (bring back Blake's 7!)- NO-ONE is as bas as die-hard StarTrek fans. Even if this relgiion takes off, it will be nowhere near as bad as Trekdom

Mark of a troublsome ST fan- insists on the "Trekker" handle

What's that?

Anyway, I think this religion thing of real Jedi is pretty pathetic. Didn't anyone tell them it's only a movie.

Ahem, but some say the same about real religions. Me? I'd just let them get on with it. Faith is where you find it after all.

Oh come on. That is so out there. You can't compare something as flimsy as Jedi with any religion.

That's not necessarily true. And some things are very much not suitable for religious treatment.

Please explain.

Oh I know, but like I said Faith is where you find it. I have definate Faith, but absolutely no religion.

Faith in what?

I have faith that somewhere out there in the universe there is a higher purpose, a greater being. However, I have no idea what it may be, or how it mnay represent itself. Therefore it would be impossible to follow any religion as I would not be able to follow something that I would have doubts in.

Ok, this is very complex...

The main problem is, the people who should know the most about faith- the religions themselves- would be very uncomfortable in the idea that faith can come from any source at all, if the faith is IN that source. Some religions would behead you for such a belief.

A good definition of faith would help, buty is sadly impossible- though I assume we are using fiath in the religious sense, rather than the "having confidence and belief in" sense, which is a little different.

For example, as loyal fans most of us have 'faith' in George Lucas, but we don't worship him. And with good reason. People shouldn't be worshipped in a religious sense. Such belief is downright harmful, unless it is attached to a higher thing (like the Lamas).

Hence, although you CAN find faith anywhere, you're not necessarily right about it, and over-faith in a person often is just obsession.

In any case, this Jedi thing is nothing to do with faith. If they seriously beleived in it, thwty would never call themselves devotees of it because they would know that without the Force jedi-ship is impossible. What we have here is enthusiatic fans. To lable themselves as an actual religion is probably more an indication of society than an actual attempt at fraud, but it is worrying nonetheless.

OK, ok, you just got Waaayyyyy to scientific for me this late at night with this much wine....

I've been accused of being scientific again... guess I'll have to watch what I say...