Jediism does not base its focus on myth and fiction but on the real-life issues and philosophies that are at the source of myth. Whether you want to become a Jedi, are a real Jedi looking for additional training or just interested in learning about and discussing The Force, we're here for you. We believe in Peace, Justice, Love, Learning and Benevolence: It is unlikely that the Jedi way conflicts with other beliefs and traditions.” - https://www.templeofthejediorder.org/
On May 25th, 1977, Star Wars premiered in theatres. Before long, it was a cultural phenomenon, spanning two direct sequels, an entire prequel trilogy, a sequel trilogy, spin-off movies, books, videogames, toys, merchandise, and about everything you could find under the sun. It is no surprise that Star Wars became such a beloved brand. With its groundbreaking special effects, Star Wars flew off silver screens and immersed audiences in “a galaxy far, far away...”
By now, pretty much everyone knows the story of Star Wars, also called A New Hope: Luke Skywalker gathers a group, made of lovable robots and sharp-shooting smugglers–including the dashing Han Solo, loyal Chewbacca, and the droids C3PO and R2-D2–on his mission to rescue Princess Leia from the Empire, governed by the wicked, robotic Sith Lord, Darth Vader. The film made all three of its lead actors instant stars, turning Carrie Fisher into an object of adoration for millions of young male fans and launching Harrison Ford’s now-legendary career as an action-hero superstar.
But it didn’t stop there. There was a sequel released three years later, The Empire Strikes Back. Three years after that, the duology became a trilogy with Return of the Jedi. After that, Star Wars became more than a movie, and more than a trilogy. It was a phenomenon. Video games, novels, toys, and beyond, media stretching to a galaxy, far, far away. For many, Star Wars is, was, and will be a way of life. Of course, it didn’t even stop at that.
About a year or so after the release of The Phantom Menace, according to a 2001 census conducted in many English-speaking countries, people listed “Jedi Knight” as their religion. Originally, the “Jedi Knight” answer was supposed to be a joke. A farce. A parody of a religion, not unlike the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster. Soon, the joke became a way of life, and the religion of Jediism was born.
The Jedi have many beliefs and tenants, all of which can be broken down into a few basic lists and creeds, taken from the various Star Wars media. Jedi believe:
“In the Force, and in the inherent worth of all life within it. In the sanctity of the human person. We oppose the use of torture and cruel or unusual punishment, including the death penalty. In a society governed by laws grounded in reason and compassion, not in fear or prejudice. In a society that does not discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation or circumstances of birth such as gender, ethnicity and national origin. In the ethic of reciprocity, and how moral concepts are not absolute but vary by culture, religion and over time. In the positive influence of spiritual growth and awareness on society. In the importance of freedom of conscience and self-determination within religious, political and other structures. In the separation of religion and government and the freedoms of speech, association and expression.” - https://www.templeofthejediorder.org/doctrine-of-the-order
The three tenants of the Jedi Order are focus, knowledge, and wisdom. “Wisdom is the sound application of accrued knowledge and experience through patient, good judgment. Knowledge can be acquired by focusing on the task at hand. Focus is the art of pruning the irrelevant and pouring the best of your mind into what you are doing.” - https://www.templeofthejediorder.org/doctrine-of-the-order
In addition, the Jedi have 16 “Teachings” and 21 “Maxims” which make up what a Jedi must do and must not do. These beliefs can be broken down to a few basic rules:
Jedi, along with all living things, are part of the force. Jedi are those in touch with the force. A Jedi must trust in the ways of The Force, no matter how strange it may seem. What belongs in the physical realm belongs in the physical realm, yet all life is connected to The Force. Our minds and emotions are gateways to The Force, and thus, our emotions and wisdom connect us to the universe. All Jedi seek to be one with The Force and live in harmony. The sole purpose of being a Jedi is to better understand the universe and all life within it.
A Jedi must be patient and kind. A Jedi’s mind is clear and calm. Jedi are mindful of the future, yet not at the expense of the moment. Jedi must understand that one’s self is made up of three parts: mind, body, and spirit. A Jedi must use his skills to the best of his ability; no matter how small of an act of kindness may be, it is still an act of kindness. Every good deed a Jedi does makes the universe calmer and more balanced. A Jedi will act with motivation and purpose, and will never blindly seek violence and will only do so to protect others, for inaction and action alike are two sides of the same coin.
A Jedi believes that love and compassion are what makes life whole. While emotions can get the better of us, emotions serve as a connection to one another, and with that, The Force. A Jedi will cultivate empathy, and must try to understand the emotions of others. No life capable of emotions is any greater or less valuable than that of a Jedi Knight. Above all, a Jedi must be one with his emotions and wisdom.
In this way, Jediism is a very inclusive and peace-loving way of life and belief. Like in the movies, Jedi will not force their beliefs on non-force users, and were only drawn to violence under extreme circumstances. In the words of Mace Windu from Attack of the Clones: “We are keepers of the peace, not soldiers.” Jedi believe in the strict separation of church and state, because the freedom of all life is important. No religion, not even Jediism, can be trusted with the state, and therefore, must be separated, regardless of popularity and size.
Jedi see all living things as equal, regardless of species, race, or previous religion. In short, Jedi and non-Jedi alike are judged by their character, rather than who they were/are. There are no specific rituals or rites that a person must go through to become a Jedi. All that matters are what the Jedi does. The real test of whether or not a Jedi is fit to be a Jedi are within the Jedi’s acts. The only test of being a Jedi is being a Jedi. Spirituality isn’t something that can be tested or measured, but instead, lived.
Jediism has no god or deity, at least, not in the traditional sense. Jedi believe in The Force, a sort of energy that binds the universe together. To quote Obi-Wan Kenobi from A New Hope: "Well, the Force is what gives a Jedi his power. It's an energy field created by all living things. It surrounds us and penetrates us; it binds the galaxy together."
In short, The Force is akin to ki/qi from Taoist beliefs, or the Holy Spirit from Christianity. Beyond physical form and true comprehension. The Force has been called the spirit of the universe, representing everything good and evil. The two opposing forces that create all of reality, bringing order and peace.
In the Star Wars media, The Force is what give the Jedi amazing powers; the ability to read minds, move objects by thought alone, and the like. Real-world Jedi are adamant that The Force does not give people extraordinary powers, at least, none that have been discovered. This shows that Jediism has gone beyond a joke religion, and has become a real way of thinking and a way of life.
Even in the Star Wars media, Jedi will not boast or show off their abilities, because that would be a misuse of The Force. The Force must only be used to protect and defend, and never to attack. Real-life Jedi are told not to brag about what they are, and instead focus on what they can do with their existence to help others: To give, and to do good acts, based on the teachings of the Jedi Knights.
The approximate number of Jedi in the world is hard to say for sure, due to the humorous conception of the idea. It must be said, however, how many people chose “Jedi” when asked about their religion. In Australia, for instance, more than 70,000 people identified themselves as Jedi, about .35% of Australia’s total population. In addition, in order to be recognized as a religion in Australia, an organization must reach over 10,000 people. It is fair to say that thousands of people consider themselves Jedi.
Jediism has grown in recent years, well above the “thousands” mark. In England, Jediism is the seventh-largest religion with over 150,000 members. In the Czech Republic, almost 15,000 people consider themselves to be Jedi. In Canada, over 9,000 listed “Jedi” as their religion. Recent reports from online surveys have stated, in the United States, almost 5,000 people call themselves Jedi.
However, this rise in popularity is not without problems. Many “real” Jedi are put off by Jediism being called a fake or joke religion. In some countries, such as the United Kingdom, Jediism is seen as a joke. A draft of the Racial and Religious Hatred Bill compared Jedi to Satanists, Scientologists, cultists, practitioners/believers of animal/human sacrifices, and Pagans. This bill would have stripped the Jedi from all legal protection, seen nothing more than a joke/cult.
While there are no specific legal titles held by the Jedi, there are many honorary titles given, based on merit. Again, based on the Star Wars franchise, the ranks are as follows: Novice: A Temple Member who is currently studying the “Initiate Program”. Initiate: A Novice who has completed the Initiate Program and has taken the oath of the Jedi, which has been validated by a higher-ranking member of the order. Apprentice: An Initiate who has been accepted by a Teaching Master as their Apprentice. This involves tasks and lessons. It relies on a good working relationship, dedication and recognition of mutual improvement. An Apprentice must be at least sixteen years of age, for legal reasons. Jedi Knight: An Apprentice who has successfully completed their apprenticeship to the satisfaction of their Teaching Master and the Council. They uphold the principles of Jediism as defined by the Solemn Vow of the Jedi Order, and have completed the Associate level of the degree scheme. They can take on Apprentices of their own. A Knight must be at least eighteen years of age, again, for legal reasons. Senior Jedi Knight: A Knight who has completed the Degree Scheme training to Bachelor’s level. Jedi Master: A Senior Knight who has successfully taught three apprentices. Grand Master: An honorary title bestowed upon Masters for exceptional dedication and service to the Temple of the Jedi Order. As such it is not considered to be higher than the rank of Jedi Master.
The degrees described are validated by senior members of the order, and taught by such. Much like in the movies, a “Padawan” is trained by a Jedi Master. Through good deeds and a better understanding of one’s self, one climbs the “ladder” of Jedi rankings. Thankfully, becoming a higher-ranking Jedi has nothing to do with one’s ability to swing a lightsaber.
When a person dies and passes on, they become one with The Force. According to jedichurch.org, “The original Star Wars trilogy was the best visualization of what we believe, as it is what binds us all together in this faith. There are repetitive references to an afterlife, in which people in the afterlife can talk to us. I think it is fair to say that many Jedi probably to believe in an afterlife of some sort or another, however, this is really left up to each of us to make a judgement call.”
All teachings of what the Jedi are and what they do come from various Star Wars media, and have been pieced together by real-life Jedi. However, several books have been published that discuss Jediism as a serious religion. Jediism -Philosophy and Practice, written by Matthew Vossler, offers a spiritual and philosophical way of understanding The Force.
While there are no specific legal rituals in Jediism, Jedi are able to conduct weddings and funerals, either in the parody/themed variety or the real thing. Some Jedi take their religion seriously, and are happy to conduct weddings. This is curious, however. It is strictly stated in Star Wars that Jedi cannot be married, because it would play with their emotions and make them forget who they are. It must also be noted that lightsaber combat is not taught by real-world Jedi, so there are some obvious differences.
In conclusion, Star Wars is more than a franchise, it is a way of life. When George Lucas wrote his first drafts for his sci-fi space opera in the early 70’s, he would have no idea what Star Wars would become. It took several drafts, millions of dollars, and after many delays, Star Wars made over 775 Million dollars at the box office, shattering records, and restoring faith in science fiction movies.
And from then on, Star Wars snowballed into a franchise. The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi were successes on their own, and it didn’t take long for a prequel trilogy to be produced. Not long after The Phantom Menace came along, real-life Jedi rose up from obscurity and founded their own religion. A Jedi is not a mystical space wizard with a sword made of light. A Jedi is instead a guardian of peace and prosperity.
A Jedi Knight does not let emotions get the best of him/her, but instead acts through the emotions of others. Jedi are taught not to hate, and not to seek revenge. A Jedi is not a superhero, but instead, a guardian of all that is right a non-violent. A Jedi will not incite or applaud violence, but instead, do everything to prevent it. In the words of the Jedi masters of old, may The Force be with you, always.
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