A request

How about making a forum area for those who wish to speak more on the dark?
With headings on it saying that nothing in this section of the forum should be considered as sanctioned teaching from TOTJO.
Or something to that nature.
This way those who wish to talk about the dark here can, and those here who wish to read it can, but both will understand that it is not sanctioned teaching. It would give Mortose a place to talk about his views.

But beyond that would it be so bad or hurt the temple here to have more diversity and open new sections for Non-Light Jedi type teaching? What I mean, is TOTJO strong enough at its core to become a place where it could handle a "Dark Side" forum set-up, with new titles. Dark Novice/Dark Apprentice/Dark Knight Etc?

Just a thought that was came to my mind. Just wondering what the council thought of this, and what other members think of a new section for Dark Teaching?

AND NO I AM NOT DARK NOR DO I FOLLOW A DARK PATH.

How about accepting the fact that life is multi faceted, and that Jedi should be able to meet them all as they are? Or are we trying to create some kind of Nirvana or Heaven? Do you not consider that people who come here have questions in relation to their shady lives? Otherwise I would seriously suggest asking ourselves "what is it we are so afraid of?"

We also had a section dedicated to the Dark Side which was called the 5th Rite. This seemed to upset people here which motivated them in the name of the Light side to lead a holy crusade, and was disbanded by members of Council who in part are still present now.

I'd originally thought that a dark component would be best pitched into the program as a post-apprenticeship optional component. So you'd have no 'dark' initiates/novices/apprentices instead just Jedi ranks, but perhaps a Knight firmaly established in some Jedi identity could potentially choose to specialise in being a Jedi Dark Knight type thing (versus a Dark Jedi Knight). I'm not sure if entry rank's should be focusing on it too much at a Jedi Temple though, irregardless of experience or suitability for a Dark identity/path, else it might deviate too much from Jedi and instead risk membership becoming too diverse (if that is even possible lol) and inherit the conflicting orientations from the fiction!?

Many come here to find themselves...

I have not seen any say they would like to stop the "light side" of their lives...

But, those trying to "leave the darkeness" happen a whole lot...

We removed unused forums Jon.. In my time here,, I don't think you posted in it but once or twice...

Not only that, but we linked to your order, and it seemed it just never "took off"...

Funnily enough, I don't seem to recall any "light" teachings here...

Both paths teach self control, and harness in your inner energy to accomplish your goals...

A program for both Apprentices and Knights could work if it was balanced, (with the approval of the Council) and offered grounding methods like Asana yoga. It is something I would very much like to work one once I make Knight, but I have to agree with Adder in regards to novices keeping to the current program offered...

I don't see TOTJO teaching, or needing to teach, partitioned aspects to something that represents unity between both dark and light, otherwise it ignores the foundational point. A whole forum section is not needed to observe them separately. If you ask me, I feel that virtues that the common Jedi reach toward are those that are obtained when division / isolation between dark and light are no longer seen. Some like to mistake this virtue for "light", when actually, its a graduation from the urge to run to one or the other - and it seems that TOTJO's aim is to help people graduate that socially conditioned instinct, by focusing on a different pattern of ideas which consider both dark and light equally.

I agree with you Proteus to an extent, however this is why I would probably base such a program on the "Shadow" side than the "Sith" as I don't see both light and dark (in regards to the whole) being incorporated here as often as I see one side more influential than the other...

Huh... I thought it was already a pretty diverse group here. And I wasn't aware that the forums here were dedicated to light side teachings only. I thought it was open to the discussion of all aspects and all beliefs. I must have been wrong. :whistle: