'Many of the truths that we cling to depend on our point of view.' [Obi-Wan Kenobi]

Watching the Star Wars movies, and reading the books; particular in the Jedi training scenes, it is not hard to see why some people have adopted the Jedi philosophy and adapted it for a religious way of life.

Take a look at these Star Wars quotes:
"Do or do not - there is not try." ~ Yoda
"Your focus determines your reality." ~ Qui-Gon
"Sometimes, we must let go of our pride and do what is requested of us." ~ Anakin Skywalker
"There is no shame in falling. There is only shame if you refuse to rise once again." ~ Jedi Master Pernicar (Darth Bane: Path of Destruction)
"Before one can learn truth, one must unlearn lies." ~ Nom Anor, Traitor
"Life is more a matter of choosing than of knowing. You can never know the eventual destination of your path, but you can always choose in which direction to take each step." ~ Jacen Solo, Traitor
"An understood emotion is not unreasoning. That is why the route to mastery is through self-knowledge." ~Vergere (Traitor)
...some where taken from the films and some were taken from the books, but all could be adopted and adapted for Jedi spirituality.

The formation of Jedi Churches and individuals claiming the Jedi faith, is a simple transition of adopting a spirituality and way of life portrayed in films and books into reality.
Is this for everyone? maybe not. However while the emergence of the Jedi philosophy as a faith has proved controversial it must be remembered that the Jedi philosophy and faith already existed, even if it was only fictional.
The books and films portrayed the structure of the ways of the Jedi, their beliefs, ritual and practices; it could be said that George Lucas was the founder of this fictional 'religion'. With all this evidence does any of it make Jediism less of a religion? After all what is religion?

To finish up the very memorable scene of Luke's training scene with Jedi master Yoda on the planet Dagobah.

'Hokey religions and ancient weapons are no match for a good blaster at your side, kid.' [Han Solo]

“To be a Jedi, you must construct your own lightsaber. Finding the right crystals and metal pieces to forge your own weapon can be difficult, but the Star Wars Force FX Lightsaber Construction Set makes it easy for you. In just seconds, you can assemble 5 pieces, a blade, and some batteries to forge one of over 700 possible configurations of lightsaber! Use a variety of pommel, handle, and detail parts to create a personalized weapon that looks just like the ones that belong to Luke Skywalker, Darth Vader, Anakin Skywalker, or Obi-Wan Kenobi… or something totally new that’s uniquely you!”

This was said in the star wars section of fanboy.com by Michael Pinto on Jun 4, 2008.

Various lightsaber constructions sets are available for purchase on the Internet, as well as videos for constructing a lightsaber, customising a lightsaber, demos, training manuals and training videos.
The following video is the first from a series of lightsaber training videos available on youtube, which starts with teaching the basic strikes and forms need to fight using a lightsaber and continues on to more advanced moves.

'You must unlearn what you have learned.' [Yoda]

I suppose that I am a product of the modern Internet age, for when I am faced with something new I always have to go and...
... that's right wiki it. (well the logos a really big clue)
Come on! It's what we all do.
At first I couldn't find it on wikipedia when searching for 'Jedi,' 'religion' & 'faith'. I started to hyperventilate, how could wikipedia not have an entry on the Jedi faith? It knows everything, it's a god of knowledge...hmm...now that would have been interesting a blog on wikipedia - the god of knowledge, I feel a sequel blog coming on...but at a later date.
Anyway don't worry kids I found the entry I was looking for under 'Jediism'.

According to wikipedia 'Jediism' is a 'non-theistic new religious movement based upon the philosophical and spiritual ideas of the Jedi as depicted in Star Wars media.
The real-world Jedi assert the existence of the Force, and advocate adherence to the Jedi code. According to recent censuses in some English-speaking countries, over 500,000 people declared their religion as Jedi, and at least three Jedi churches exist in the USA and the UK.' (Holyhead Jedi Church, Temple of the Jedi Order, and the Jedi Praxeum.)
The wikipedia entry then goes on to list the Jediism philosophy - the Force and the side of the Force vs. the Potentium theory, and the controversy that Jediism has had with censuses, the media and politics.

All the facts of 'Jediism' is listed here, but what do you as readers of this blog make of the wikipedia entry?
The wikipedia entry appears to be quite short and basic, maybe someone whose reading this and is a practicing Jedi could add to it.

Getting married by a Jedi minister...

- a serious expression of faith or the latest craze?

'I'm out of it for a little while, and everybody gets delusions of grandeur.' [Han Solo]

A section on The Jedi Church's website contains links to websites of Jedi ministries and ordained Jedi ministers; as well as a page for each ministry/Jedi minister to advertise their services. In order to advertise on The Jedi Church's website it is necessary to be certified by the site (which simply involves purchasing a certificate of membership for the Jedi Church). Advertised on the Jedi Church is:

• the New Zealand Jedi Ministry - Auckland City Order
• the UK Church of the Jedi/ Church of Jediism
• the Maryland Jedi Order
• the Order of the Jedi Canada
• the East of England Jedi Ministry
• the Jedi Wikkia
• the Rev. Todd Modgling OCP (Ordained Clergy Person) (advertising the Temple of the Jedi Order)
  
• Mark Chalifoux
• Br1mm Stone
  
• Simon Dunn
  
• Mike Ursu
• the House of Sith
• Master Puejo Gonmad
• the UK Scotland Jedi Order - Jedi Mike
  
• Master Grigori
• David E. Pittman SR
• The First Jedi Church of California
• the Jedi Order of Nashville, Tennessee
• Aaron Johnson
• Kristine Foley
• Jedi Jed
• Tom Warren
• Neil Rothwell
• Jedi Benjamin Simon Dunn

Some of the ministries and Jedi ministers that advertise on The Jedi Church's website are well established with detailed and organised public websites; some required initiation and are private; while others (mostly the Jedi ministers) list a few details and communication is possible through the email provided by The Jedi Church.
Looking at the varied ministries and Jedi ministers who advertise on The Jedi Church's website it is possible to see that the Jedi Church is viewed by followers of the Jedi faith as a established and credible source of information, communication within the Jedi faith community. The Jedi Church appears to be a source of authority for a faith which has no certified offline authoritative leader or hierarchy.

'A Jedi uses the Force for knowledge and defence, never for attack.' [Yoda]

A page covering The Jedi Church's doctrine begins by saying that The Jedi Church has no official doctrine or scripture. While this stance is in contrast to the major institutionalised faiths The Jedi Church's actual doctrine is fundamentally similar and has many parallels to these organised faiths.
For example comparing the Jedi faith doctrine with Basic Christian doctrine (taken from the Christian Apologetics & Research Ministry, using passages from the Bible) it is possible to draw distinct similarities.

1. Both Christianity and the Jedi faith believe in one all powerful, eternal entity.
2. Both Christianity and the Jedi faith believe in an opposing evil to this all powerful entity ~ the common element in many religions of 'Good versus Evil'.

With the Jedi faith doctrine being so similar to the major world religious faiths is the Jedi faith possibly being used by people disillusioned with the institutionalised religions as a familiar replacement. Without the enforced doctrine the Jedi faith projected by The Jedi Church website could be seen as an attractive alternative.
Also with the Jedi faith's beliefs being so similar to the major world religious faiths will the Jedi faith be viewed as yet another religion portraying the same message ,which may be overlooked or as a new approach to a set of beliefs which people agree with and follow?

Not what we intended?

The following video, called the Star Wars Jedi Church is a satirical take on the Jedi faith. I found this video originally as a link posted by someone on the Jedi Church website, questioning whether this interpretation of the Jedi faith is "not what we intended?"

'I find your lack of faith disturbing.' [Darth Vader]

While browsing the internet I decided to see how the media portrayed the Jedi Religion. Living in Great Britain I thought what better way to do this than to have a look on the good old BBC’s news website.
These are the articles I found on the national section of the BBC’s news website in chronological order...

The gospel according to Luke (Skywalker)
Tuesday, 6 March, 2001, 15:00 GMT
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/1204829.stm

'You may be a fan of the Star Wars films, but are you a follower? Moves are afoot to have the fictitious Jedi philosophy the movies espouse recognised as a proper religion.'

Godfather director Francis Ford Coppola suggested George Lucas should turn the Jedi philosophy invented for Star Wars into a religious movement.

Star Wars fans have distilled the movie into religious cannon taking the film scripts as scriptures and creating such websites as The Jedi Creed, http://jedicreed.org/

Star Trek also has its own sci-fi followers who seek spiritual guidance.

Jedi e-mail revealed as hoax
Wednesday, 11 April, 2001, 09:32 GMT 10:32 UK
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/new_media/1271380.stm

An email stating if the Jedi faith will become and official religion if enough people list it as such in a forthcoming British census has been revealed as a hoax. Despite this fans have been urged to go ahead with the plan, although the Home Office has said that however many people go through with the plan the Jedi faith will not be added to the census.

Jedi makes the census list
Tuesday, 9 October, 2001, 16:06 GMT 17:06 UK
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/1589133.stm

Jedi Knight is officially listed as a religion on the 2001 census following a campaign, although officials from the Office of National Statistics have pointed out that it’s the addition to the census does not offer the status of official recognition.

Jedi 'religion' grows in Australia
Tuesday, 27 August, 2002, 07:29 GMT 08:29 UK
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/2218456.stm

70, 509 people in Australia declared themselves followers of the Jedi faith on their census forms, believers in the “force”; although only 5, 000 are probably true believers.

Census returns of the Jedi
Thursday, 13 February, 2003, 15:15 GMT
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/2757067.stm

The 2001 census revealed that Jedi is the chosen religion for 390, 000 people. The response for the support of the Jedi faith was strongest from students and the towns of Brighton and Hove. The article ends with the question, ‘could this mean an invite for Yoda, the Jedi Master, to give BBC Radio 4’s Thought for the day?’

The overall view I personally gain from reading the BBC’s articles is one that despite being written about in a well supported and positive light is also being perceived something of a satirical ‘faith’. For on thing all the articles are listed in the entertainment section of the website, despite the fact that the articles mentioned that Jedi had been included as an official religion on the 2001 census and therefore would suggest that such articles might be listed on the religions & ethics section of the BBC’s website.

'It's against my programming to impersonate a deity.' [C-3PO]

BELIEFS

The opening statement for the Home page clearly lays out the underlying beliefs of the Jedi religious tradition stating that they believe 'that there is one all powerful force that binds all things in the universe together'. The Jedi Church website goes on to state that 'our sense of morality is innate' and even further that the Jedi religion itself is 'something innate inside every one of us'. These are pretty strong claims, although most institutionalised religions hold similar strong statements to be true as part of their belief system.

On a darker not the Jedi Church then goes on to warn against 'the dark side!' (sounds interesting - something which will have to be looked at) and to 'listen to the force within you'.
Despite the ominous warning a rather positive picture is painted. The Jedi religion is portrayed as a religion that can only be described as good and even better for anyone interested in following the Jedi religion it's open to everyone.

The Home page finishes off on the cheerful and positive note that 'The Jedi Church is a good force in the universe'.
yay!! :)
Nothing like the unknown dark side!!!
Mwah Ha ha!!!!!!!

'Welcome, young Skywalker. I have been expecting you.' [Emperor Palpatine]

After exploring the site my interest several things have come to my attention,
but let's view the overall impression of the site...

ORIGINS: WHO/WHAT ARE THEY?

The site itself is managed in New Zealand and according to the Home page
'accepts all races and species from all over the universe as potential members of the religion'.
The Jedi Church are followers of the Jedi religious faith and are keen to point

out that they're an official religion.

~this is a result of census issues, which they discuss on the Home page. The New Zealand Census bureau consider the answer of Jedi to the religious identity question to mean "Response outside
of scope" or "Answer understood, but will not be counted". The Jedi Church wants the New Zealand government to 'accept our [Jedi religion] faith and accurately record the statistics'.

'Don't call me a mindless philosopher, you overweight glob of grease.' [C-3PO]

So I'm currently deep in heart of the Jedi Church website. Shhh!!!!
After some initial investigating it looks promising. Browsing this sight has not only brought back in immense need to go and watch 'Return of the Jedi' again, but has also provoked a rising interest in the subject of the Jedi religion.
There are certain questions that I'm interested in finding answers for and with these in mind I have subscribed to their monthly news and forum digest am beginning my research.
I think I'd like to start with...
Shhh!!!.....
Quick hide! Stormtoopers!!!

A long time ago, in a galaxy far far away...

So I walk into my second lecture of my final year at uni and instead of being assigned the usual essay we've each told to start a weblog; focusing on a case study of our own personal choice and to outline our research experience.
Well this shouldn't be too hard, right!?!
So I've registered on the blogger site, thought of a blog title and am ready to begin...
...
erm...
...
... Okay not so easy!
Having choices is sometimes so much harder than being told what to do.
It is by pure chance that while on the internet I come across the Jedi religion. Curiosity (and slight boredom) I put 'Jedi religion' into Google and the first link that came up was http://www.jedichurch.org/, the description underneath saying 'The Jedi Church promotes the religious philosophy that there is one all powerful force that binds the entire universe together..'
Okay so it’s not some fan site for the Star Wars movies (pity as they are brilliant). Let's give it a try. My mouse hovers over that web address and clicks on the link...