LIVE TONIGHT! 22nd March Huffington Post Live: Star Wars Is a Religion

I was impressed. The producers were great and I had an extensive pre-show interview with one of them. That's how the Joseph Campbell segment got on there. It's a very good deal for us.

Congratulations Br. John, you made every point clear and that is important. Now get prepared to get hordes of newcomers.

This was an amazing interview all the way 'round, and each one of you had something educational to say. I think that Alexandra was well-spoken and had a lot of interesting things to say, and Patrick made a few good points (especially in regard to the story of wearing of hoods), but I think that Br. John brought the most (and most varied) information to the discussion.

It was an amazing interview, and I learned a lot about other perspectives, and I'm sharing it with other friends, because it was a very informative interview all around. Good job!

steamboat28 wrote: This was an amazing interview all the way 'round, and each one of you had something educational to say. I think that Alexandra was well-spoken and had a lot of interesting things to say, and Patrick made a few good points (especially in regard to the story of wearing of hoods), but I think that Br. John brought the most (and most varied) information to the discussion.

It was an amazing interview, and I learned a lot about other perspectives, and I'm sharing it with other friends, because it was a very informative interview all around. Good job!

Congrats!

I have to say a job well done. Br. John, you were amazing and think you brought the entire idea and faith to light in a way others could not only understand, but appreciate our thoughts and beliefs.

Absolutely wonderful. Though, I do wish they had let John chime in after Alexandra took his "jedi heaven" crack too literally. I don't think she understood that was just a part to his story retelling and not an actual belief. It even looked like John kind of shook his head a little, lol. Could be wrong, though

That was quite well delivered ...

I listened to it again this morning. If there was some intention to ridicule or berate, Br. John made these eventual intentions much more difficult to execute.

Something which I felt particularly well done was the explanation of how we do not promote "believe this and not that" in the TotJO - that one can be a Jedi of ANY other faith.

The Campbell-Watts basis, and not simply Star Wars, for Jediism was well emphasised also. Bravo ...

Over all, very well done.

"before 1999" *tear to eye* Br. John, I could kiss you for that- thank you for making it clear that we aren't a group that came about because of that darned 2001 census. And thank you for pointing out that ToTJO and CoJ aren't the only groups. *hugs*

First a BBC article, and then this great interview. People are starting to know TotJO!

The sad thing is... look at those [urk=http://live.huffingtonpost.com/r/segment/star-wars-is-a-religion/5149087e2b8c2a28da000155]comments[/url], for example this one:

Yes Star Wars is a religion. George Lucas is its god. Think about it. He has created an entire universe filled with worlds, characters, Philosophy and scenarios with himself as absolute creator.

There will always be things like that though...

There are a few more media things being talked about, details will be released when they are published

One thing from the interview, Jedi as in people who dedicate their life to understanding and mastering "the force" have existed for thousands of years. This isn't something that started when Lucas wrote star wars, nor did it become a religious phenomenon in the 1990's.

The school of Jedi I study has existed for 2500 years, others are older than that even.

Other than that I enjoyed the interview and found it very interesting.

maynoth wrote: One thing from the interview, Jedi as in people who dedicate their life to understanding and mastering "the force" have existed for thousands of years. This isn't something that started when Lucas wrote star wars, nor did it become a religious phenomenon in the 1990's.

The school of Jedi I study has existed for 2500 years, others are older than that even.

Other than that I enjoyed the interview and found it very interesting.

Try explaining that sufficiently in a half hour interview split between 3 people and a host with a range of other questions also needing to be asked...

maynoth wrote: One thing from the interview, Jedi as in people who dedicate their life to understanding and mastering "the force" have existed for thousands of years. This isn't something that started when Lucas wrote star wars, nor did it become a religious phenomenon in the 1990's.

The school of Jedi I study has existed for 2500 years, others are older than that even.

Other than that I enjoyed the interview and found it very interesting.

Maynoth...

You are saying people called themselves Jedi, 2500 years ago?

Really?

Or is what you are saying is the ideas and briefs we have, 2500 years old?

And if the first, could you please she's me an example?

Thanks...

We now have a copy of the video in the library. People with a modern browser should be able to stream directly from there.

http://library.templeofthejediorder.org/video/John-HuffPostLive-22.03.13.mp4

Jestor wrote:

maynoth wrote: One thing from the interview, Jedi as in people who dedicate their life to understanding and mastering "the force" have existed for thousands of years. This isn't something that started when Lucas wrote star wars, nor did it become a religious phenomenon in the 1990's.

The school of Jedi I study has existed for 2500 years, others are older than that even.

Other than that I enjoyed the interview and found it very interesting.

Maynoth...

You are saying people called themselves Jedi, 2500 years ago?

Really?

Or is what you are saying is the ideas and briefs we have, 2500 years old?

And if the first, could you please she's me an example?

Thanks...

No, Jedi wasn't a name they used 2500 years ago. I am not sure if they called themselves anything. Scholars referred to them as Xians or Hsiens.

Stories of these elite masters are deeply embedded in Chinese folk history and culture, their history and legends resemble very closely the fictional Jedi from Lucas's fiction.

I will send you an example via pm so as not to prolong argument and debate here.

OK, so by that, "Jedi" have only existed for the last 35+ years, right?

I get what you are saying, the philosophy and way of thinking isnt new...

Just making sure we are speaking the same language...

Jestor wrote: OK, so by that, "Jedi" have only existed for the last 35+ years, right?

I get what you are saying, the philosophy and way of thinking isnt new...

Just making sure we are speaking the same language...

People who devote their lives to the study and mastery of "the force" have existed for 2500 years at the very least.

I define a Jedi as a person who devotes their life to the study and mastery of the force, but others may not, it seems to be open to interpretation.

ren wrote: We now have a copy of the video in the library. People with a modern browser should be able to stream directly from there.

http://library.templeofthejediorder.org/video/John-HuffPostLive-22.03.13.mp4

Can we have this uploaded to our official YouTube Channel?

Proteus wrote: Can we have this uploaded to our official YouTube Channel?

Probably unlikely due to rights issues.

Just finished watching it. Great job Br John.