Weathering criticism from news companies like the BBC, supported fanatically by Internet-goers who create websites and sign petitions, and practiced by over 500,000 people in English-speaking countries alone, is Jediism here to stay? Jediism, a religion inspired by George Lucas’ “Star Wars” saga, has been taken seriously by few and mocked by many. But why isn’t Jediism considered a legitimate and official religion? It has over 390,000 followers in Great Britain alone and there are at least three established Jedi churches. However, doubt of Jediism as a religion might be because of the immediate yet inaccurate stereotypes that surround it. Is Jediism dressing up in costumes at movie conventions and waving a plastic lightsaber around? Is it being convinced you can shoot blue lightning bolts out of your hands and trying Jedi mind tricks on the weak? Hardly. Jediism, like many other popular religions today and throughout history, has a set of beliefs, a connecting purpose, and a very serious, faithful following of believers.
Jediism is inspired by the “Star Wars” movies, but the religion itself is nowhere near science fiction. A person who practices Jediism, many times referring to themselves as a Jedi, believes in an all-encompassing power known as “the Force” and knows that its guidance will set he or she on a path of right action. No Jediism follower believes and interprets the Force or Jediism in exactly the same way. A Jedi does not repute or support the existence of God, and many Jediism followers practice other religions, including Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, etc. The one thing that connects every Jediism follower is the belief in the Force. A user-created website called The Jediism Way says the Force “connects all living things, gives animation to the universe, and provides a template for existence”. The website also lays out the Jedi definition: “Jedi are a noble order of protectors, guardians of peace and justice, unified by their belief and observance of the Force. They are individuals who actively work to improve their own life and the lives around them every day.” Do I personally consider myself a Jedi? No. However, I, like many others, can relate to the principles and beliefs that Jedi devote their lives to.
I came upon the topic of Jediism while researching for an Anthropology project. In my Anthropology class, titled “Religion in Culture”, Dr. Michael Wesch asked my class the first day to define religion. It took the entirety of the class period, but we could all agree on some things that religion is: faith, a set of beliefs, explanation, institution, a spiritual outlet, and a meaning of existence were just a few. Jediism covers all of these and more. The belief in the Force connects Jediism followers and gives them a higher power to have faith in. The Force is a power similar to many others: Chi, Mana, Tao, Vigor, the Holy Spirit. Why are these names accepted but the Force is not?
Many argue that because Jediism originated from a movie, it is irrelevant and silly. But is the motion picture of today not the legend, myth, or story of the past? Different religions throughout history have originated from stories, myths, and legends and have been taken seriously and become official religions. In a technologically advanced and ever-evolving world, movies are the most modern form of story telling we utilize. Jediism, inspired by a movie, would not only be acceptable but in actuality more appropriate and relevant to today’s world. We as humanity are constantly changing, and many people agree that perhaps religion has not kept up. Jediism is a religion and an outlet for those people who are searching for a modern myth that follows something so big like the “Star Wars” phenomenon. What is wonderful about Jediism is that it does not dispute the existence of other religions or of deities. It only presents the existence of a higher power, an energy field spiritual in nature that binds and connects us all, and it gives those searching for a modern revelation something to believe in.
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7 comments:
I would completely agree; Jediism is one of the most legitimate religions (based on a general definition of religion as defined in the blog) on the "market" right now... even moreso than perhaps the pastafarians following the Flying Spaghetti Monster or Scientologists with their repressed Thetan levels. I'd even argue that Jediism has "tithed" more money (if we count the income of Lucas's films and merchandise) than the other two religions... although I admitedly would have to check the facts.
It is interesting though that there are over 500,000 dedicated followers (dedication as proven by a physical check on the federal census) of this religion.
Thank you for the insight!
Scientology was formed under the ridiculous ideas in Hubbard's scifi books, and it has a huge following today. So why can't the same apply here?
By how you describe it, it sounds nearly identical with some of scientology's principles too. Co-existence with other religions, connective higher power, achieving a higher being, etc. Give it a look if you haven't already
Tana, I like your article. I am no expert on the subject of what it takes for a belief to become an official religion and I would ask who is indeed if anyone. At first I thought, of course Jediism is not a legitimate religion, its a bunch of nerds taking a movie far too literally. However, I thought more and realized that maybe there was more that individuals can make out of this movie. Yet, it seems to me that although these individuals believe in a larger power that connects us all, it seems all too based on innumerable other religions. Where does one draw the line when creating a new religion? I acknowledge the point that many religions today are based off similar beliefs and foundations, but where does the originality come into play?
These individuals say that they want to better the lives of themselves and those around them. That is completely fine, but every other major religion in the world believes in the same thing as well. So how exactly are they different? Now it would seem that I just completely refuted myself and agreed with you. However, again I bring up originality. All of the major religions today (i.e. Islam, Christianity, Hindu, etc.) have, according to their own beliefs, holy documents that justify their religion and give them their meaning and something to live by and preach from. The followers of Jediism have a movie script written by people whose sole intent was to entertain moviegoers and hopefully draw them into the theater so they could make a profit. That to me does not seem like a legitimate basis for a religion that is worthy of recognition.
This is my own personal bias and belief, but a religion based on a motivation to make a profit does not seem like a foundation from which to argue from.
I miss you banana.
What changes for these people if Jediism were to become official?
I'm a Jedi and I don't believe in the Force. Being a Jedi can be by signing up to the Jedi church in the absence of any firm convictions, just as a person can be a Christian, get Christened and baptised, yet find their faith uncertain while still regularly going to church and following the tenets of the faith. So not all Jedi believe in the Force.
Neither are films the most modern form of storytelling we utilize - oral storytelling is just as modern and occurs just as widely as it ever has. Lying is also a common form of storytelling.
The religions that are taken seriously today yet which, it could be argued, mostly, if not universally, came from stories, which had some basis in truth (or were at least said to).
Jediism has developed out of a story specifically written as a business venture for the purpose of entertainment. This is rightly considered to be a completely different entity than stories told as part of oral tradition, which were, in contrast, told as a means of bonding tribal communities and educating each new generation as to why various traditional practices are followed, providing moral instruction, spiritual expression, etc. The latter, which became 'genuine' religions, were 'living' stories that were *communicated* personally in an intimate way; they were able to change and evolve; Jediism has been lifted from a one-way medium about which no discussion can take place and it is told through a strictly delineated 'forum' - the cinema or TV screen. A film story is a concrete, unchanging expression that absolutely cannot be said to be living as oral stories can. It can be taken away and *converted* but then it becomes something else; and that something can always be traced back to its artificial, impersonal roots.
Finally, your notion that the followers of Jediism "actively work to improve their own life and the lives around them every day" is both false and incongruent with the Jedi of the films. The movie Jedi exist solely to serve others; they absolutely do not work to improve their own lives.
Also, the idea that members of any religion actively do anything to improve the lives of others is highly idealistic and naive. In practice, most people, even so-caled committed Christians, are blindly self-serving because they falsely conclude that not doing harm equates to doing good. It does not.
This is a crock of nonsense.
The films were made as a business venture as entertainment.
Movies are NOT the "most modern form of story telling we utilize" - oral storytelling is, which continues as it always has. Movies are impersonal, one-way, involve NO communication, can't evolve, and are 'read' in a strictly delineated forum - the cinema or TV screen.
In contrast, the stories that genuine religions evolved from were actual *communication*, involving two-way interaction, were 'living' changeable entities which were told as a means of bonding tribal peoples, providing each new generation with tranditional instruction, moral guidance, spiritual succour, etc. They were also mostly, if not entirely, based to some extent in truth (or at least what was supposed to be true given the lack of scientific knowledge). This is an entirely different model from the movie story - a cold, impersonal, money-making project. The film story may be changeable once *taken away* into the oral realm but its artificial origin always remains.
Your interpretation of the Jedi practitioner as "individuals who actively work to improve their own life and the lives around them" is incongruent with the Jedi of the films, the latter being entirely selfless.
The idea that any religious group actively helps others is also extremely naive. Even many so-called committed Christians often do no good for others because they mistakenly believe that doing nothing bad equates to doing good. It does not. So I find the idea of people who would 'play' at being religious actively doing anything for others highly doubtful.
Finally, not all Jedi believe in the Force. *I* don't, for example, yet I'm a Jedi Knight. This isn't because I don't take my religion seriously; it's perfectly possible for any religious person to have only a weak faith or to doubt certain aspects of it.
in regards to the movie being written as business venture for purely entertainment is simply not true. george lucas is a self proclaimed fan of joseph campbell and his hero model. he set out to create a hero myth that would be more applicable to our modern society than traditional stories like those in the bible. lucas was well aware of what he was making and the parallels he would create and they were for the most part intentional. whether or not this legitimizes jediism i dont know but it is simply not valid to dismiss star wars as purely entertainment and a business venture.
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