Catholic Church

I do not see any reason you could not hold on to your current beliefs as well as the Jedi beliefs. However, if you find conflict between the two, it is up to you to address the cognitive dissonance. That means you will either have to modify your old beliefs or your new ones until all the pieces fit for you. This is something I have been in the process of since I've arrived here, and can be a whole spiritual journey unto itself.

As far as the violence part. Jedi are not a violent group. I have yet to meet anyone here who would not exhaust every avenue of peace and compassion before resorting to anything resembling force.

At the risk of possibly alienating people whom I consider to be friends, brothers, and sisters. I would like to say that it is not our place to judge the Catholic church, especially when one of it's brothers has found their way to our doorstep. The sordid history of any religion is a good thing to debate, however confronting Pedroky in such an aggressive way is not in the faith of brotherhood. Better for him to see us as a welcoming community of open minded people, rather than an angry mob wronged by religion.

I'm unclear if your comments were addressed to me, but I'll clarify to avoid any misunderstandings. Tone, I am often reminded does not translate well in text.

I offer no aggression in response. Genuine surprise however that the Jedi could possibly be considered violent in comparison to the Catholic Church.

My response was one of genuine sadness and disappointment after spending some time writing about the sad history of the church. I am tired of seeing people suffer for the sake of religion.

But now that I'm thinking about it, the conversation is not actually aboutCatholicism or Jediism.

perhaps I should change my statement to Jedi are not violent in comparison to the Catholic Church... Yet.

The commandments preach thou shalt not kill or covet. Thou shall love thy neighbour. Jesus said to turn the other cheek. Preached mercy.

All good things really. Interesting for a belief system in whose name millions have been killed since it's creation.

The religion in itself is not the problem. It is as always the people within it who find justification within their interpretation of religion for wherever it is they want to believe.

The church preaches (and has done for a couple thousand years) many of the same things as Jediism. Who's to say that at some point in the future our descendants won't find a way to justify violence on "non believers"?

People are after all the problem. With our beliefs and bias. Our learned intolerance... Even the original poster who states a factually incorrect belief about the Jedi in comparison to his own religion.

Humans have this nasty habit of creating labels which encourage divides, leads to comparison, then judgement. And we have a talent for finding "evidence" or justification for whatever it is we have chosen to believe. Seldom based on fact.

Maybe religion has nothing to do with it. Maybe it's the fact that as a species we are so busy trying to justify and validate our own existence that we can't even see the labels we attach ourselves to for what they are...

Brenna wrote: as a species we are so busy trying to justify and validate our own existence that we can't even see the labels we attach ourselves to for what they are...

Yes, trying to have a proper focus might help with that. It reminds me of the entry point (Right View) to the Threefold Division of the Buddhist Noble Eightfold Path.

I'm a solo Catholic, but not a church goer. By that I mean I have elements of it in my path... not many come to think of it. I have my own interpretations mostly LOL.

I agree about the real Jedi not being violent, but I do like the movies... so as Yoda might say (perhaps controversially);

Adventure. Heh! Excitement. Heh!
A Jedi craves not these things.

EEJim wrote: At the risk of possibly alienating people whom I consider to be friends, brothers, and sisters. I would like to say that it is not our place to judge the Catholic church, especially when one of it's brothers has found their way to our doorstep. The sordid history of any religion is a good thing to debate, however confronting Pedroky in such an aggressive way is not in the faith of brotherhood. Better for him to see us as a welcoming community of open minded people, rather than an angry mob wronged by religion.

And the point I always try to make....

To call any group one thing or another, most responses will be read in a defensive, or aggressive, tone by those who read it..

A challenge was seemingly, issued... For there are many ways to discuss the "violence of the jedi" without sounding accusative....

As you learn about us EEJim, and Pedroky, learn about the individuals, out tones become more apparent..

Pedroky wrote: I'm a Catholic, I pray everyday, I feel sorry for those who doesn't. I meditate also. I've heard that pray is speaking to God, meditating is listening God. I'm interested in the Jedi path because I don't feel satisfied with tha Catholic faith, it's rare seeing really commited people, devoted to God. I don't know if I can be a Jedi Christian, because of the violence associated to Jedi. One thing I'm shure, I want to be better everyday, I'm observing people and listen some conversations, in search of partners of this goal.

I’m not sure I understand the original post. I see several statements, but no question.

In many churches, it is taught that prayer is a form of meditation. Just an interesting tidbit. As to feeling sorry for others that might not do something; I do not. Perhaps it is because I believe that it would be a bit presumptuous on my part to assume that what I was doing was the right way for all and that they were somehow missing out. I don’t know… almost sounds as though it would be arrogance on my part to think that way.

Speaking of devotion by religious members… I am certain that same lackadaisical conviction runs rampant throughout all religions and religious orders. Sounds like a negative outlook doesn’t it? But look at how many members we have versus how many are active. What is it now… 15 – 16 thousand plus? Maybe a couple hundred actually active? Who knows?

I am curious as to why you feel the Jedi are violent? If I was reading that correctly.

Thank you for your answers. I find Jedi path more interesting, it's challenging, although Catholic path is also, but more suffering one. I identify more with Jedi, I prefer to meditate. I will pick the best in Catholic Church, not following it blind.

There are many old teachings that cant easily be justified in a modern world, but the old messages still hold value and will for all time. its not the words from any book....... but the meaning of the words that are still valid. : )

I myself am a Catholic, along with being a Jedi. I have for years thought about leaving the Catholic Church, and very well might do so once I get my own place (for my own reasons). Though as Christ said, and in the nature of the Jedi, we are not to judge one for his past, present or future sins/mistakes.

I have been a Catholic all of my life, raised Catholic, my parents were originally Baptist and Nazarene converts. During my teen years I lost my faith, going honestly down a very dark path, including spiritually. I was very angry, even when it was not justified. I eventually found God again, through my own path (Before it was mostly religion being forced down my throat). In the end we all have to find our path in life. My personal beliefs though, I do not see why the Jediism and Catholicism can not co-exist. I personally find most of the teachings go hand in hand. Now, to the Catholic violence in the past. We must keep in mind that yes, there was terrible violence done by the Church, in the name of God. However, as Catholics we must closely look and study the teachings of God, as humans are very flawed creatures. That is why the violent acts took place, it was the leadership and the obedience of miss guided humans. In every instance in the bible, Jesus taught peace. Even when he was being taken before Pontius Pilate from the garden, his disciples were ready to fight. He could have easily used to disciples, or even his Angels in heaven to quickly end the threat to his life. However, he was true to his teachings, and again used peace.