This is YOUR Temple!

I've posted a review of the initiates program in my journal. Link here.

Ace suggested that we comment on her journal entry here.

So my response would be to say that I agree with pretty much everything she says about the Initiate's Programme. It could probably do with a revision at some point to address these points in particular:

1) Some kind of more general introduction to Jediism at the very beginning.
2) A more expansive, interwoven look at world religion.
3) A review of the personal tools section, which I didn't really feel I learnt much from.
4) Re-wording of the back catalogue exercises. I did really enjoy these but as Ace says, it was hard to understand exactly what we were being asked to do sometimes and I did slightly reword/edit them in my journal.

Not sure what the answer is on the 'waiting' Ace - patience is of course a skill that a Jedi must learn! However, I imagine that waiting for months or even years must become difficult and possibly disheartening. Perhaps there could be some general guidelines written on things to study or practice that would serve the Initiate well when they reach Apprenticeship?

We have already instigated a discussion about reviewing and updating the Initiate's Programme but something of this importance will take some time. We have been discussing in Council which bits work and which don't, what to include, etc. So bear with us while we get it all sorted. Although we always appreciate feedback since (as the title of this post says) it's your Temple too.

There is so much scope for varying studies within Jediism and even at this Order so trying to condense this into a basic introductory study programme such as the IP will always be difficult and there will always be bits that suit some people and not others. But we will persevere

THIS, is exactly what we would like...

Do you know that the program is now 2 years old?

And it is indeed need of a change, however, it was, like, Initiate's Program 1.0 (actually, with ren and I, and the others, tweaking various points, it is more like v1.9.. lol)

A review is definitely needed, and when we have enough people to keep the temple running, and all the other good stuff, hopefully things will happen at a quicker pace... lol...

For reasons Im sure you can imagine, we just cannot allow access to areas of editing to everyone...

We do see these posts, and appreciate your opinions!!

Jestor wrote: For reasons Im sure you can imagine, we just cannot allow access to areas of editing to everyone...

Entirely understood! Just doing what I can to help.

I can definitely see how the brunt of the work here is falling on a small number of shoulders, so I'd like to express my extreme and sincere thanks to the Council and those who make this temple what it is.

I do hope one day that those of us who are initiates and apprentices will one day be able to help pick up the slack!

Just to let you know: the IP is something I bitched about a few months ago, and even if the material does not change at all, it would still need serious revamp. So far I can tell you the organization is:

Lesson 1:
-Exercise 1
-Exercise 2
-ETC
Lesson 2:
-Exercise 1
....

And that the current exercise 1, 2 and 3 of the current IP have been trimmed and put all together into one introduction.

In the current IP, I have also returned the "introduction to buddhism" bonus.

ren wrote: Just to let you know: the IP is something I bitched about a few months ago, and even if the material does not change at all, it would still need serious revamp.

Yes, however, its not like the rest of us are fighting you on it....

GM Mark and myself, and now you have stated outside of Council this is in need of change....

While I believe all Council has agreed in Chambers....

As far as the "introduction", if you make it requiring no posting, people will skip it....

And, ask a ton of questions that are covered there....

I agree that it should be first, but it should require an acknowledgment in their journal, something subtle to show they've read it....

Now, unless we are going to open this up to debate for the entire membership, in which case we will get more suggestions than we could possibly consider, lets take it back to Council....

Although, I do appreciate this thread, "too many cooks, spoil the broth".... As far as decision making goes...

If version 2.0 isn't to everyone's liking, we can start planning 3.0....

+++++
Commenting on the order, with Campbell in front, I found the commonalities and the theme for what I was looking for a better flow....

Maybe the etiquette, and thesis, and a few others could be in front, but, Campbell shouldn't be at the back....

Yes, however, its not like the rest of us are fighting you on it....

I wasn't complaining lol

As far as the "introduction", if you make it requiring no posting, people will skip it....

The introduction asks people to create a journal.... I don't think they can skip that step
As to people asking questions they shouldn't ask, they're's always the mighty "read the FAQ" answer.... I updated about half of it not long ago....

This is the Star Wars forum:

http://www.templeofthejediorder.org/forum/Star-Wars

I don't see what relevance this has with The Temple

Ok we call ourselves Jedi, and it can be important to remember where we come from, but in all fairness I think associating ourselves with Star Wars does us a big injustice

We are much more than the fiction and we don't need to rely and fall back on it and be reminded of it each time

You might enjoy the fiction, but we don't base our teachings off of the fiction, we have real world examples and real world lessons and teachers that we can use

My suggestion is that we get rid of the Star Wars forum and instead create a new forum called 'Off Topic' which is another word for 'Misc'. That way whenever someone wants to discuss Star Wars, or equally other fiction, they see that it is in the 'Off Topic' forum

If we keep it then I will instead suggest that we make these forums:

Star Trek
Babylon 5
Stargate
Farscape
Battlestar Gallactica
Firefly
Doctor Who
etc...

They all have good teachings about morality there, but lots of sources do, and we no longer use any sources from Star Wars in any of our Initiates Programme (apart from that one bonus lecture)

I also want to delete the Ladies forum, there seems little point in it existing, men can still post there, ladies can still see the topics in other forums etc

If we don't delete the Ladies Forum then instead I want the council to create a Mens Forum as well

At any rate it should be moved to People's forum and out of Special Interest Groups


If the 'Off Topic' section were to be created I'm sure we could also just move the Swap Meet forum into that as well and the Jedi Art

I can understand why these were created (many many years ago) but I think they ought to be reconsidered

I'm not saying delete the threads in those forums, but I think they (or the main forum part) should be moved to a more fitting location

Feel free to discuss below