Jediism: Difference between revisions
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==History== |
==History== |
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Jediism |
Although inspired by elements of Star Wars, Jediism has no founder or central structure.<ref name="D.Grant2008">{{cite book|author1=Nancy K. Grant Ph. D.|author2=Ph. D. Diana J.|author3= Mansell R. N.|title=A Guidebook to Religious and Spiritual Practices for People Who Work With People|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=eg5qZixgqbMC&pg=PA249|accessdate=16 July 2012|date=30 October 2008|publisher=iUniverse|isbn=978-0-595-50527-2|pages=249–251}}</ref> It became known following the [[Jedi census phenomenon]] in 2001 and the preceding email campaign to put "Jedi" as an answer to the census religion classification question.<ref name="Cusack2010">{{cite book|author=Carole M. Cusack|title=Invented Religions: Faith, Fiction, Imagination|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=EoduVhGsfp0C&pg=PA125|accessdate=4 January 2013|date=15 September 2010|publisher=Ashgate Publishing, Ltd.|isbn=978-0-7546-6780-3|page=125}}</ref> |
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The phenomenon attracted the attention of sociologist of religion [[Adam Possamai]] who analyzed it in the framework of what he dubs "hyper-real religion".<ref name="Cusack2010"/> Although inspired by elements of Star Wars, Jediism has no founder or central structure.<ref name="D.Grant2008">{{cite book|author1=Nancy K. Grant Ph. D.|author2=Ph. D. Diana J.|author3= Mansell R. N.|title=A Guidebook to Religious and Spiritual Practices for People Who Work With People|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=eg5qZixgqbMC&pg=PA249|accessdate=16 July 2012|date=30 October 2008|publisher=iUniverse|isbn=978-0-595-50527-2|pages=249–251}}</ref> 23-year-old Daniel Jones founded the "International Church of Jediism" with his brother Barney in 2008, believing that the 2001 UK census recognized Jediism as a religion, and that there were "more Jedi than Scientologists in Britain".<ref name="Cusack2010"/> |
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==Belief== |
==Belief== |
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Revision as of 05:24, 30 July 2013
 | It has been suggested that Jedi census phenomenon be merged into this article. (Discuss) Proposed since June 2013. |
Jediism is a religion based on the philosophical and spiritual ideas of the Jedi as depicted in Star Wars media.[1] It was the most selected "alternative faith" in a 2012 census of England and Wales.
History
Although inspired by elements of Star Wars, Jediism has no founder or central structure.[2] It became known following the Jedi census phenomenon in 2001 and the preceding email campaign to put "Jedi" as an answer to the census religion classification question.[3]
Belief
Followers of Jediism align themselves with the moral code demonstrated by the fictional Jedi.[4] Although Jedi acknowledge the influence of Star Wars on their religion, they also insist their path is different from that of the fictional characters; to some, Jediism focuses more on the principles common to many religions than it does on the myth and fiction found in Star Wars.[5]
A common belief among Jedi is the "Jedi Code":
There is no emotion, there is peace.
There is no ignorance, there is knowledge.
There is no passion, there is serenity.
There is no chaos, there is harmony.
There is no death, there is the Force.[6]
Sometimes, the line "There is no chaos, there is harmony." is omitted.[6] Some groups have adopted an alternative phrasing:
Emotion, yet peace.
Ignorance, yet knowledge.
Passion, yet serenity.
(Chaos, yet harmony.)
Death, yet the Force.[7]
Popularity and reaction
Census figures released in 2012 of England and Wales showed 176,632 respondents indicated "Jediism" as their faith, making it the most common "alternative" faith and the seventh most common overall,[8] although the majority of respondents are assumed to have claimed the faith as a joke.[9] This was a decrease from 390,127 Jedi in the 2001 census.[8]
During the drafting of the UK Racial and Religious Hatred Act, an amendment was proposed that excluded Jedi Knights from any protection. The amendment was subsequently withdrawn, the proposer having made his point that defining religious belief in legislation is difficult.[10]
In 2009, the founder of the International Church of Jediism was removed from a Tesco Supermarket in Bangor, North Wales, for refusing to remove his hood on a religious basis; the owner justified the boot by saying, "He hasn't been banned. Jedis are very welcome to shop in our stores although we would ask them to remove their hoods. Obi-Wan Kenobi, Yoda and Luke Skywalker all appeared hoodless without ever going over to the Dark Side and we are only aware of the Emperor as one who never removed his hood."[11] The following year, a Jediist was thrown out of a Jobcentre in Southend, Essex, for refusing to remove his hood; he later received an apology.[12]
References
- ^ Hume, Lynne (2006). Popular spiritualities: the politics of contemporary enchantment. Ashgate Publishing, Ltd. p. 59. ISBN 978-0-7546-3999-2.
{{cite book}}: Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help) - ^ Nancy K. Grant Ph. D.; Ph. D. Diana J.; Mansell R. N. (30 October 2008). A Guidebook to Religious and Spiritual Practices for People Who Work With People. iUniverse. pp. 249–251. ISBN 978-0-595-50527-2. Retrieved 16 July 2012.
- ^ Carole M. Cusack (15 September 2010). Invented Religions: Faith, Fiction, Imagination. Ashgate Publishing, Ltd. p. 125. ISBN 978-0-7546-6780-3. Retrieved 4 January 2013.
- ^ Deacy, Christopher (2009). Exploring religion and the sacred in a media age. Ashgate Publishing, Ltd. p. 15. ISBN 9780754665274.
{{cite book}}: Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help) - ^ Matthew Kapell; John Shelton Lawrence (1 August 2006). Finding the Force of the Star Wars Franchise: Fans, Merchandise, & Critics. Peter Lang. pp. 105–112. ISBN 978-0-8204-6333-9. Retrieved 16 July 2012.
- ^ a b Beyer, Catherine. "The Jedi Code A Code of Belief for Jedi". About.com. The New York Times Company. Retrieved 11 November 2011.
- ^ Jedi School Press (2011). A Saber of Light Second Novice Edition. p. 8. ISBN 978-0-6155-6721-1.[dead link]
- ^ a b Taylor, Henry (2012-12-11). "'Jedi' religion most popular alternative faith". The Daily Telegraph. Telegraph Media Group. Retrieved 2012-12-14.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
nzheraldwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "Racial and Religious Hatred Bill". 2005-06-29. Retrieved 2010-02-22.
- ^ Carter, Helen (2009). "Jedi religion founder accuses Tesco of discrimination over rules on hoods". The Guardian. Retrieved 2011-02-22.
- ^ Levy, Andrew (2010-03-17). "Political correctness strikes back: Jedi believer wins apology after being kicked out of Jobcentre for wearing a hood". The Daily Mail. Retrieved 2011-02-22.
