Creating something.

Right, I am going to be controversial here, and some of you may not believe in what I say.

Jediism/The Jedi faith. It is a waste of resources. You are attempting to create a religion or faith from a series of films. This is a waste of resources. The resources I speak of are you. People who are legitimately looking for something in their lives, whether it be the ability to help others, a place in the world for yourselves or even just to become a symbol of something better. Everyone reading this was pulled here because they want something better and idealistic in the world.


Even scientology has done more to further their beliefs. Sure they are a cult, and very strange people. But they have provided aid to disaster zones and local atrocities. Look around and ask yourself do you see any of that here? When was the last time you heard of a jedi on the news?

I might sound damning, but this is not my aim. You guys are the potential, and the one good thing about all of this. You have all come here with the same ideas the same aspirations, and there are a lot of you. Use this place and its people to step out from under the creation of someone else. Something relevant and spawned from our society and our generation. Something that champions free speech, and will defend the weak. An order that can welcome and encompass all religions and points of view. A new order that one day people might come to join as a viable alternative. Not something stifled and ripped from a film. You are all children of the internet, and your creativity is up there, I have seen it.

As for places for meeting/"worship" that I see talked about on here, I argue that you do not need one, nor do you have to rely on the internet. For years christianity had no churches due to the persecution they faced. The met up in any place that they could. These days peoples homes are just as good. All you need is to start running a list of people in an area that are willing to host for an evening afternoon. Bake some cookies, get some beer in. Do what you have to do to branch out. You only need a few catalysts and a few core groups before you actually have a working structure. You don't even need to entertain at home if having strangers rock up to your house makes you uncomfortable. Hop on a train and meet in a coffee shop or at an event.

With the likes of anonymous fighting for rights and the world we live in so utterly unstable, the potential is there for you all to create something new. You just have to take the first step, and be the light for others to follow.

That is one of the beauties of the path… we celebrate our diversity. We each have opinions and views and we share them openly with each other.

This is not the first time we have heard the things you mentioned, and I am not arguing the validity of your perspective.

I have witnessed over the years that it is easy to point out perceived shortcomings and not as easy to rectify them in the individual’s eye.

Many, as in most religions, do what they can to help others. They do it quietly and n the side, expecting nothing in return. And so it is not seen by most. But I’m sure the ones whom were affected will not forget.

[][][] wrote: This is a waste of resources. The resources I speak of are you. People who are legitimately looking for something in their lives, whether it be the ability to help others, a place in the world for yourselves or even just to become a symbol of something better. Everyone reading this was pulled here because they want something better and idealistic in the world.

Look around and ask yourself do you see any of that here? When was the last time you heard of a jedi on the news?

What you see is simply the face of a group. You cannot know us individually or know our actions in life. And you will seldom see "Jedi" in the news,none of us here do the things we do and then declare publically , "I did that because I am a Jedi." We are a small group of people endevouring to use our "resources" more wisely, there are millions who have never even considered the posibility of doing that. Are they not a more urgent use of your own resource? Preaching to the choir seldom results in converts.

And yes, we have taken a step, and we are lights that others may follow... or not.

We're sorta already doing all this...

I'm not sure what your...I guess this IS preaching to the choir.

Inspiration is taken from many different sources and what we are doing with it is a good thing. I don't see how we don't already fulfill much of what you would have us do. If this is a "don't call yourself Jedi because people won't take you seriously" than I might see some validity there, though I have arguements against that line of thinking.

I certainly appreciate you recognizing the potential of my fellow Jedi and encouraging us to better. This is something we all strive for, here, and its gratifying to see a part of the world back it up without fishing.

I've used the early Christians as an example for local groups. I can't imagine why we'd not use the Internet. Saying we're based on movies tells me somebody had not spent time here.

Well, person who-wants-to-come-judge-us-and tell-us-that-our-path-is-the-right, (im assuming that's how your symbols translate, forgive me if im wrong, my symbol reading isn't very good, as you must not understand English well enough to make a pronounce-able name)

I ,am one if two regular contributors here, who recently run for office....

Just chill, we got this...

To grow to quick, like a sudden fire, is to die to quick from overexposure/compensation/spreading ourselves too thin...

Whereas right growth, at the right time, is beautiful....

Oh yea....

Please dont take this as me being snotty...

But, I like to be playful, yet serious...

I say all this with a smile...

To the original poster:

I am relatively new here. I was looking for something new and different when I found this place. Sure, it doesn't have the physicality of a church, but I find solace here. I look back, even the three months I have been here, and realize that I have changed the way I see the world. I have a wider perspective than before, which allows me to review what I see and find my personal truth.

What has been done here is not a "rip-off" from a movie series. The movie series, from my perspective, presents an idea. We see our views as somewhat common with the ideas from the movie, though we know without doubt that the movies are pure fiction. The concept that we have taken from them regarding a form of belief, however, is quite real. Ideas do not belong to the medium in which they are presented, and are subject to the interpretation of all, including your interpretation, as above.

We may be new. We may be unknown. We may not make the evening news. And, honestly, I appreciate that. New is what I was looking for. I am not here to be a superstar or media icon. I am here to share a belief in the values that make us what we call "Jedi". My faith in what I call the Force (God, Yahweh, Allah, karma, etc) is my own.

Thank you for your honest appraisal of what you see here. Your added perspective strengthens my own, and I see every question as a potential for growth. I hope that our answers help you gain some perspective on what we see here, and perhaps create more questions.

Note that these are my personal opinions, as I teach and live a little differently than most, and have a slightly different viewpoint. That being said,

Jediism/The Jedi faith. It is a waste of resources. You are attempting to create a religion or faith from a series of films.

Nearly every "old religion" is based on stories and parables originally passed down through oral tradition and then the written word. Stories and parables that were used to describe a greater power, to teach moral lessons, and to give the people things to aspire to. Those stories and parables became legend, then myth, and finally religion. I personally do base quite a bit of what I personally teach and practice on the stories, parables, and moral lessons found within both the movies and books of the Star Wars fiction, because I see the same inspiration behind those stories and parables as with those of older religions. To me personally, there is just as much truth in the Star Wars fiction as there is in other, older works of fiction which have become religion. The difference being, to me at least, that the Force as described and as I believe in it is all-inclusive whereas other faith-based anthropomorphic versions of the Force, portrayed as various "gods" are exclusive, divisive, and require their believers to close their minds to all else.

This is a waste of resources. The resources I speak of are you. People who are legitimately looking for something in their lives, whether it be the ability to help others, a place in the world for yourselves or even just to become a symbol of something better. Everyone reading this was pulled here because they want something better and idealistic in the world.

Belief and faith are not in themselves a waste of resources. Human beings are genetically predisposed to curiosity and belief. We are more or less programmed to look for answers, whether those answers are belief in a higher power, or pursuit of scientific knowledge, etc. We would be wasting our resources if we were to turn a blind eye to those things which are all around us. We seek knowledge... we seek the truth in things. We seek to make both our own world and the world around us a better place. That is not a waste.


Even scientology has done more to further their beliefs. Sure they are a cult, and very strange people. But they have provided aid to disaster zones and local atrocities.

And Scientology has also destroyed countless lives, ripped families apart, scammed people out of everything they own, and has even murdered some of it's own followers. Do a little research before getting all starry-eyed over their propaganda and their illusion of philanthropy.

Look around and ask yourself do you see any of that here? When was the last time you heard of a jedi on the news?

There have been more than a few of us briefly on the news. We stay out of the spotlight and do not seek personal glorification. Whenever there is a disaster, there are those of us which do all we can to help, and not just by talking about it, meditating, or praying. A lot of us actually get off our collective asses and actually help. But we do it to help, not to seek personal glory. We are ever behind the scenes, doing whatever we are able to help make the world a better place, especially in times of need.

I might sound damning, but this is not my aim. You guys are the potential, and the one good thing about all of this. You have all come here with the same ideas the same aspirations, and there are a lot of you. Use this place and its people to step out from under the creation of someone else. Something relevant and spawned from our society and our generation. Something that champions free speech, and will defend the weak. An order that can welcome and encompass all religions and points of view. A new order that one day people might come to join as a viable alternative. Not something stifled and ripped from a film. You are all children of the internet, and your creativity is up there, I have seen it.

Everything worthwhile that has stood the test of time has been built on a foundation. Our foundation draws from a number of sources, and adopting the mantle of Jedi is just as valid as any other, if not moreso because we are free from bias and closed minds. We are open to new ideas, accepting and tolerant of other people's personal beliefs rather than persecutionary.

As for places for meeting/"worship" that I see talked about on here, I argue that you do not need one, nor do you have to rely on the internet. For years christianity had no churches due to the persecution they faced. The met up in any place that they could. These days peoples homes are just as good. All you need is to start running a list of people in an area that are willing to host for an evening afternoon. Bake some cookies, get some beer in. Do what you have to do to branch out. You only need a few catalysts and a few core groups before you actually have a working structure. You don't even need to entertain at home if having strangers rock up to your house makes you uncomfortable. Hop on a train and meet in a coffee shop or at an event.

We already have several core groups within the overall community of Jedi, and with that we also have a working structure. It will grow and evolve over time, but it is already in place. We don't "rely" on the internet, it is just another tool of fellowship we all use.

With the likes of anonymous fighting for rights and the world we live in so utterly unstable, the potential is there for you all to create something new. You just have to take the first step, and be the light for others to follow.

While I applaud anonymous's efforts in promoting internet freedom, they are a chaotic group who does just as much damage as they do good. We have created something new. We have built on the foundations already in place which drew from the core beliefs of several religions and philosophies. We have made the fictional ideas a reality. We are the light in the darkness that others may choose to follow.

[][][] wrote: When was the last time you heard of a jedi on the news?

Aw, darn! I knew we left something off the "Become a Legitimate Religion" checklist.

In all seriousness, in the short time that I've been here, I have seen many individuals helping their communities. You don't have to make a big show of giving. You don't have to be on the news, or donate a trillion dollars or seven thousand boxes of Tide. All it takes is kindness, one to another, to change someone's life for the better, and that's almost always best shared person-to-person.