Meeting this friday with a spiritual group - Question.

So I have a meetup this Friday with a local spiritual group called Divinity & Draft, with it's members who are called "Seekers". It is an open forum group with no focus being placed on any particular religion or faith, however it seems that most of the members (from what I have read on their profile pages) follow some from of Christianity or Christian inspired path with an emphasis on god.

This will be my first time discussing my belief in Jediism with a group, as I have only discussed it with individuals in the past who were curious as to what the rank insignia on my right arm indicated. I am not nervous about discussing my beliefs, although I am sure I can expect a question about star wars to be thrown in somewhere along the line :laugh: .

Which, I suppose, brings me to a key question. Why is it that if Jediism has nothing to do with Star Wars, do we call ourselves Jedi? This is one question I have been asked on a recurring basis when I am talking to people about my faith, and it is one I do not have a good answer for. I am sure this has been addressed somewhere in the past, however I have been unable to find anything clear and definitive as to why our faith and congregation are named in the manner they are.

We carry the name because we were inspired by the fictional Jedi. For me, it's their sacrifice, their willingness to serve others even at the expense of their own life. Their dedication. Their connection to and respect forall living things. It were Jedi who were my heros and examples growing up. I would secretly try to emulate them as best as I could. Now I have stronger conviction and am not so secret about it lol.

Totally agree, Kamizu. I've even reconciled the whole chopping limbs off thing with "life isn't going to play nice, either."

For me what was shown in the movies represents a timeless spiritual focus which has evolved with advancement in science and technology to further refine and advance the (human?) spirit. It is not the Lightsaber's or Force powers, but those things do represent that dedication and focus (in that fictional universe) and its that which to me is Jedi. For me then its a forward looking 'religion' and not a backwards one. From there we get into the syncretistic, all encompassing and unified perspective which the doctrine outlines.

Star Wars was based on mythic concepts that were presented in a new light in the [original] films.

The Jedi in the films represented a culmination of particular ideals and beliefs.

It is not the Jedi that we are trying to 'imitate', but the ideals and beliefs that they stood for. Not only that, but these ideals are very old and in the same way that Star Wars presented old ideas in a new light, we are presenting old ideas in a new light.

That 'light' is to use a modern name people are familiar with and which also represents our nature: 'Jedi'.

That is how I would answer the question.

Why is it that if Jediism has nothing to do with Star Wars, do we call ourselves Jedi?

That, my friend, is the right question :whistle:

I don't say "it has nothing to do with the movies"...

It was the inspiration.... The movies were the spark...

In the "Jedies and Sithism" thread, the last couple of posts talk about having to get into the ideals (and that applies to anything) to really understand them...

As I said, the movies were the spark...

Many of us know nothing of the Extended Universe, and so only know the Jedi and Sith as shown to us as Lucas presented them...

Well, like most movies, they were woefully inadequate, and leave a lot to interpretation..

Even in this fictional world as it was, they didn't agree on everything...

And, the world being much more complex than a movie, we all wondered "What Would Jedi Do" and since they are fictional, we had to imagine the "right" thing to do....

The "force" was loosely defined, and fit in with my personal definition...

I used to say I was agnostic, until I realized there was "something", but, I refused to assign it a personality...

So, so far, we have heros, who believe in a "force" of some kind...

So, by that very loose definition, and its a great, geeky nod to my youth, and I like to laugh, why not?

So, its loosely based on an idea that was never really detailed enough for many of us...

It showed great promise in its openness, and in its "non-limiting way" allowed me to find my own path..

Hows that?

:lol:

I start by telling people that "Jedi" is easier to spell than "Episcopalian" :laugh: