Jediism religion has sprouted worldwide
Michael D. Hernandez
El Paso Times
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Associated Press
Actor Samuel L. Jacksonposes in character as Jedi Master Mace Windu in George Lucas' "Star Wars II: Attack of the Clones." Some people have created a Jedi religion.
Not so long ago, in a movie theater not too far away, filmmaker George Lucas introduced the world to his version of good versus evil.
The "Star Wars" saga was born and with it the Jedi Knight, a Zen-like warrior with a belief that a Force existed in all things and kept the peace with a trusty light-saber.
"They were attractive characters and that's why the saga became so popular," said an Eastsider and avid "Star Wars," fan Trevor Thurman. "They believed in not letting emotions rule you, in thinking clearly and acting as the guardians of the universe."
But the heroic cadre spawned more than the millions of fans who've made watching the films into a veritable religious experience. The Jedi Knights spurred on the idea that one man's science fiction is another man's faith.
Pockets of the burgeoning religion Jedi Knights have sprouted up throughout the world, growing in strength with the help of the Internet and succeeding episodes of the fabled saga. "Star Wars Episode II: The Attack of the Clones" opened nationwide in theaters Thursday.
Inspired by his imagination and the influence of an Akira Kurosawa film, Lucas has never denied his intent to include a spiritual theme at the core of the saga.
"I wanted it to be a traditional moral study, to have some sort of palpable precepts in it that children could understand," Lucas said in a 1997 New Yorker interview. "There is always a lesson to be learned. ... Traditionally, we get them from church, the family, art and in the modern world we get them from the media -- from movies."
A 2001 UK Census might have fueled fever for the faith as it was officially recognized as code 896 from a list of religions citizens could claim, just above Heathen at 897, Atheist at 898 and None at 899.
Though UK Census officials won't know how many claimed to be practicing Jedi Knights until tabulations are finalized at the end of this year, and though many dismiss the census coup as mere practical joke, some clergy are up in arms and crying false idolatry over the disturbance caused by the force.
Pastor Alex Garcia of Mount Franklin Baptist Church is skeptical about an upstart faith that doesn't find its roots in an ancient text like the Bible but found its beginnings just over two decades ago on celluloid.
"It's as if people are looking for a cause to believe in. They want so desperately to have meaning and a purpose in their lives," Garcia said. "But we all know this can be just mental suicide."
Films like the "Star Wars" saga and "The Matrix" that have saviorlike characters are weak substitutes for the real deal, Garcia added.
"I know I would die for my faith, but I don't think people would die for this," Garcia said. "It's just like we tell our children: This is just entertainment; it's just a fantasy."
But Pastor Richard Bunch of First Church of Positive Living disagrees. He claims an Obi-Wan-inspired postulate that if you strike a particular faith down, it will become more powerful than you could ever imagine.
"I say that if a faith sets people toward a higher truth, then that's fine with me," Bunch said. "To me, the force means the energy of God moving through the universe, and if people find God through that force, I would have to say amen."
One group of Jedi Knights professes through its Web site, www.jediism.org, that their faith has ties not to the Lucas vision but to "the truths of every major religion, philosophy and meditative path."
"False premises that we promote the use of lightsabers as yet another weapon of mass destruction, and moving objects with our minds (rather than using attunement to move hearts) also continues to be brought up as a challenge to our validity as a religion," JediLight, a Jedi Councilor, wrote in an e-mail interview.
JediLight added that his group does not recruit new members but averages 10 to 12 new registrations each day.
Fans of the saga as entertainment, Jedi Knights indicate they are not affiliated with Lucas nor any of his companies.
"We do agree with the ideas behind the myth and fantasy," JediLight said. "But that is where our similarities end."
The mysterious force is not without its share of internal religious debate either.
The young faith has various groups claiming their interpretation of the Force is clearer than others' while some Jedi and "Star Wars" enthusiasts felt an even greater betrayal than when gangly Gungan Jar-Jar Binks strutted across the screen, drawing hatred in 1999's Episode I. Lucas also introduced Midichlorians in that long-awaited prequel. Midichlorians -- or microscopic organisms in all living things that communicate the Force -- seemed to derail the idea that the Force was the quintessential source of all things.
It may not exactly be evolution theory versus creationism, but it does stir up controversy faster than the Millennium Falcon can blitz between star systems.
"What it did was take some of the mysticism out of the Force," said Thurman, the East Side fan. "In 'Empire Strikes Back,' Yoda says the force is in all things, but it turns out (the Midichlorians) is a science protected by the Jedi."
Though Thurman is still a leap across Beggars Canyon away from becoming an official Jedi Knight, he said their creed is something he lives by.
"I don't think you have to necessarily dress up (in robes) like them, telling everybody you're a Jedi Knight," he said. "Just striving to do what is just and helping others every day is a better ideal to live by."
Michael D. Hernandez may be reached at mhernandez@elpasotimes.com
The Jedi facts
The Jedi Religion -- an online faith-based organization -- believes one all-encompassing driving force influences the destiny of the universe.
They believe meditation opens the door to higher perception, unlocking perfect wisdom.
To be a Jedi Knight, one must achieve a unanimous vote from the Jedi Council, exhibiting mastery of four quadrants -- the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual.
Twenty-one maxims guide the beliefs of a Jedi Knight: Prowess, Justice, Loyalty, Defense, Courage, Faith, Humility, Fearlessness, Nobility, Franchise, Pure Motive, Discipline, Focus, Discretion, Meditation, Training, Integrity, Morality, Engaging in Conflict, Intervention and Harmonizing.
A ranking in Jediism ascends in the following order: guest, Jedi Apprentice, Jedi Knight, Jedi Knight Officer, Jedi Knight Commander/Jedi Scholar, Jedi Master/Jedi Priest.
The Jediism movement acknowledges all faiths with reverence and values inner enlightenment as well as peace.
Information: www.jediism.org