Jediism - Where does it belong?

Jediism

So I've been thinking what is the ACTUAL purpose of Jedi? Where do we fit in, in society? What's the point of Jediism? After all we are NOT the Jedi from the movies...

I'm not asking for the generic answer "To serve the community" because I know that already.

but I mean what's our purpose? As TOTJO Jedi should we be doing something? Should we be out there helping people where we can? Or just living our day to day lives with very little action in them?

You see, this thread is inspired by people saying.

"We should have this as a symbol we're a Jedi! That way people know we can help them!"

But what help can we give them that they can't get else where? If anything we are more of a hindrance in emergency situations. For instance if someone comes up to you and said "I've just been beaten up by that gang over there" you literally have no power but to say "you can borrow my phone to ring the police" or take them to the hospital.

We are normal people who follow Jediism...we are not the Jedi from star wars...we do not have the power to do anything that a government can do...and I highly doubt any government would turn to us for help...

So lets see if you can answer the question.

What are Jedi good for?

I do not mean what DO YOU WISH they are good for...but what are Jedi actually GOOD for...being an alternative doesn't count either. What can we bring to the table that the world hasn't already got?

You call yourself „protectors of the Republic”…
What exactly are you, Skywalker?
You aren’t military – we have a military.
You aren’t a diplomat – we have diplomats.
You aren’t a peace officer or a judge – we have those.
So why exactly do we need you?
Fyor Rodan, Senator of the New Repulic [New Jedi Order novel]


As you said, a Jediist is a normal human being who follows the faith in the Force.
What can you do? Whatever a normal human being can do. Live your ideals at least. Inspire others. Make this world more peaceful and mindful by moral statements and living by it.
All else is determined by your skills. Learn a new skill and you can do more. Learn martial arts to defend, learn first aid and other medical skills to save lifes. Learn about self-sufficency to help people become more independent...
The fictional Jedi also had the JSC (Jedi Service Corps) which is much overlooked as an option or at leat inspiration for the real world.

It's all up to us what skills there are under the Jedi flag.

we do not have the power to do anything that a government can do...

As you probably live in a democratic country, you have power over your government when your are old enough to vote. Your government can do nothing without your help. It's when people LET the government do everything, because they do not care. It's like with a dog who sits on the couch, while there is no space left for its master.

A cutting question, Metsu. Wasn't expecting it.

Force Realists are people who take an interest in their own development. They become better at doing things. There's education, there's training, there's the application of those things. People can make their own lives and selves better, and if those people are disposed towards doing good to others proactively, then the skills they gain at a place like this makes places like this important.

While I don't agree with Jedi / Sith / Force as a religion, I do follow it as a philosophy and path. Our place in the world should begin as a training institution. To inspire people, to train them, to push them towards following their dreams.

Currently the Realist community is probably part of the Human Potential or New Age Growth movement, and that ain't a bad thing.

Look at me, in the nine months since I've joined, I've learned a crapload about myself and others, I've dropped weight, become fit, gained awareness, and have become a lot more confident. Confident enough to do things. And while so far they've mostly been self-growth/realisation and career based, there's no telling what I'll do with those skills as time goes by.

Well, what does a new born baby do?

They struggle to stay alive, they eat what they are fed, they drink what they are given, they ,.... and soon, they start to study, and learn what is out there, in world. Soon, they'll know the world, and will start to choose a path, (ex: to be a programmer, or a salesman, or a ....).

Now, look at us, Jedi, in which part we are now?

Well, we've passed that new born state, we are in school, we should study for know, to see what is there, soon, we'll be able to choose a path, and by soon I DO mean soon. That time comes, when we know how to organize ourselves, when we can contact more in real life (we are starting to ... ) when....

Where does a sketch artist fit into the world?

All they do is draw on paper. So? What does that have to do with anything?

Well, what is it they draw? Why is it they draw? What exactly are they showing in their drawing? What does their work inspire?

I see a Jedi like the sketch artist. We do normal everyday things no different than others in the world. The difference is, metaphorically, where most people might be scribbling lines that may not particularly or intentionally show anything to others or themselves, we do our everyday things in order to draw and reveal a picture of something for others to discover for themselves - The Force.

There are many people who spout agreement that "we are all one". But what Jedi do, is not just say it, at least not just verbally, but through what we do to make an example of its existence. Christians like to "spread the good news" to people about Jesus. This begins to become more awkward and sometimes the butt of jokes and ridicule because of the fact they go around verbally proclaiming it everywhere to people, but yet they don't live it. We aim to be different in that we are not here to talk about the Force anywhere near as much as we are here to demonstrate it. How does one demonstrate it though? And what are the chances of the average person seeing us doing our thing and being like "HEY!... What amazing people they are for what they are doing, sharing all this empathy, chivalry, wisdom, and love! It sure does remind me of the idea of The Force in Star Wars! These people must be like Jedi!" ... not likely in the least bit. However...

When the 9/11 attacks took place, and those firefighters risked their lives the way they did, what did the residents of New York, and much of the rest of the country and even world, feel about that? What was the state of unified awareness between so many of those individuals at the time of rescue, help, and service? How much love, strength, inspiration, and wisdom was manifested out of it all? Many were not aware of this unified phenomena occurring directly, at least not by the term "The Force", but I bet you could ask any of those closely involved with that event, in that city at that time, and I'm sure they will describe a very sacred example of what we know as The Force, of people coming together for the common good, sacrificing themselves and connecting on a level that they very very rarely ever had before that time.

While 9/11 events are not regularly happening (fortunately enough), for each of us, all we can do is subtly and gradually paint the image of the Force through the small things we do, in this same way. People won't recognize it with words, they won't recognize it with their eyes or their ears. They may not even recognize it in any conscious sense. It is more of a silent art in many respects like this - almost like an inside knowledge of something too profound for the average person to accept, yet, behind the scenes of society, we are wielding this information to look out for them, to watch over them, and by wielding it, we are leaving hints of its existence for anyone who is able to intellectually or even emotionally decipher its truth.

Sorry, I know this was long, but I felt moved to write, when thinking about it, and this is how I feel about it.

Metsu Desal wrote: I do not mean what DO YOU WISH they are good for...but what are Jedi actually GOOD for...being an alternative doesn't count either. What can we bring to the table that the world hasn't already got?

This is the 64$ question, Metsu. It's probably a weak point in my personality, but my honest answer is: absolutely nothing. With all the billions of people that do now exist, and those who have existed, I believe we've had all possible ideas exhausted. [That changes when the world gains a new ability or technology, about every 6 months.] After all, has any of us seen an ORIGINAL movie in the last 5 years, one that isn't a rehash of an old 80s TV series or a redux on a 70s film?

The thing that IS different is what we DO with our talents. Remember the two Jedi who were handing out flyers at a mall last month? That was ingenuity in action. What if it were taken a step further? How about: organizing a canned food drive; every time we delivered some food, we'd leave a "Jedi" [Tojo] business card with the bundle? Send a large donation (100$ or better) to the Red Cross, and enclose a Jedi business card as the "donor." How many times have you seen an actor's or high-end businessman's name / corporation on a donor list and it [unsurprisingly] got media attention, at least a mention in the local news?

These aren't the only examples, of course. They do demonstrate how we can "use the system" to our advantage to get into the public eye and do some demonstrative good at the same time; two birds, one stone. Humans aren't as creative as we should be; we cycle ideas every 10 years. It what we =DO= with those ideas to which we can put our signature.

By the way, forgive my "Tojo" references. I don't like putting "the" in acronyms: that leaves "Tojo" which is similar (ignoring doubled vowels for the moment) to "Dojo" which Japanese for TRAINING studio. Makes more sense for me, and it's easier to type.

You have the ability to grow more powerful than you could ever imagine. It is my opinion you are supposed to turn your efforts inward for your own development.

Take that however you wish.


I believe once you have pulled yourself up by your own bootstraps you will be in a better position to help others do the same.


So in other words, help yourself to become stronger first, then if you wish to help others you are in a better position to do so.

Metsu Desal wrote: Jediism

So I've been thinking what is the ACTUAL purpose of Jedi? Where do we fit in, in society? What's the point of Jediism? After all we are NOT the Jedi from the movies...

I'm not asking for the generic answer "To serve the community" because I know that already.

but I mean what's our purpose? As TOTJO Jedi should we be doing something? Should we be out there helping people where we can? Or just living our day to day lives with very little action in them?

You see, this thread is inspired by people saying.

"We should have this as a symbol we're a Jedi! That way people know we can help them!"

But what help can we give them that they can't get else where? If anything we are more of a hindrance in emergency situations. For instance if someone comes up to you and said "I've just been beaten up by that gang over there" you literally have no power but to say "you can borrow my phone to ring the police" or take them to the hospital.

We are normal people who follow Jediism...we are not the Jedi from star wars...we do not have the power to do anything that a government can do...and I highly doubt any government would turn to us for help...

So lets see if you can answer the question.

What are Jedi good for?

I do not mean what DO YOU WISH they are good for...but what are Jedi actually GOOD for...being an alternative doesn't count either. What can we bring to the table that the world hasn't already got?

Where does any individual fit?

Each jedi is different, each has a different set of skills, a different perspective...so each jedi fits into a different role, meets different needs...rather than trying to fit into a specific slot why not simply fill in the empty slots, wherever they may be...

When you look beyond the self-improvement aspects of Jediism, you can see that it fits in the larger spectrum of society as follows:
1. Realism: Jediism is a new religion which can offer a higher purpose to people without requiring magical thinking.
2. Optimism: Jediism doesn't have a self-fulfilling prophecy about the end of the world (aka weak pessimism).
3. Transparency: Jediism doesn't have secrets.
4. Gratis: It's free, as in "free beer". No charge
5. Libre: It's free, as in freedom. No strings attached

I think we could offer more... I doubt TOTJO could sanction things like:
a. Disempowering people like Assad, Hitler, etc
b. Robin Hood tactics to address poverty
c. Search and rescue
d. War resistance
e. wikileaking
f. civil disobedience
but you know I can dream can't I?

Bastian wrote: You call yourself „protectors of the Republic”…
What exactly are you, Skywalker?
You aren’t military – we have a military.
You aren’t a diplomat – we have diplomats.
You aren’t a peace officer or a judge – we have those.
So why exactly do we need you?
Fyor Rodan, Senator of the New Repulic [New Jedi Order novel]


As you said, a Jediist is a normal human being who follows the faith in the Force.
What can you do? Whatever a normal human being can do. Live your ideals at least. Inspire others. Make this world more peaceful and mindful by moral statements and living by it.
All else is determined by your skills. Learn a new skill and you can do more. Learn martial arts to defend, learn first aid and other medical skills to save lifes. Learn about self-sufficency to help people become more independent...
The fictional Jedi also had the JSC (Jedi Service Corps) which is much overlooked as an option or at leat inspiration for the real world.

It's all up to us what skills there are under the Jedi flag.

we do not have the power to do anything that a government can do...

As you probably live in a democratic country, you have power over your government when your are old enough to vote. Your government can do nothing without your help. It's when people LET the government do everything, because they do not care. It's like with a dog who sits on the couch, while there is no space left for its master.

Excellent quote and explanations. I couldn't agree more.