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Jediism

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For the census campaign, see Jedi census phenomenon.

Jediism is a nontheistic new religious movement[1] based on the philosophical and spiritual ideas of the Jedi as depicted in Star Wars media.[2][3]

History

Although inspired by elements of Star Wars, Jediism has no founder or central structure.[4]

Early websites dedicated to drawing a belief system from the Star Wars films were "The Jedi Religion" and "Jediism". These websites cited the Jedi code, consisting of 21 maxims, as the starting point for a "real Jedi" belief system.[5]

Beliefs

Although followers of Jediism acknowledge the influence of Star Wars on their religion, by following the moral and spiritual codes demonstrated by the fictional Jedi,[6] they also insist their path is different from that of the fictional characters and that Jediism does not focus on the myth and fiction found in Star Wars.[7] The Jedi follow the "16 teachings", which are based on the presentation of the fictional Jedi,[8] as well as "21 maxims".[5][9]

Main article: Jedi census phenomenon

Jediism received press coverage following a worldwide email campaign in 2001 urging people to write "Jedi" as their answer to the religion classification question in their country's census, resulting in the Jedi census phenomenon. The majority of such respondents are assumed to have claimed the faith as a joke.[10][11][12]

During the drafting of the UK Racial and Religious Hatred Act, an amendment was proposed that excluded Jedi Knights from any protection, along with Satanists and believers in animal sacrifice. The amendment was subsequently withdrawn, the proposer explaining that it was "a bit of a joke" to illustrate a point that defining religious belief in legislation is difficult.[13]

In 2008, 23-year-old Daniel Jones founded the Church of Jediism with his brother Barney, believing that the 2001 UK census recognised Jediism as a religion, and that there were "more Jedi than Scientologists in Britain".[11] In 2009, Jones was removed from a Tesco supermarket in Bangor, North Wales, for refusing to remove his hood on a religious basis. The owner justified Jones's ejection 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."[14]

In 2010, a man who described himself as a "Star Wars follower" and "Jedi Knight" was thrown out of a Jobcentre in Southend, Essex, for refusing to remove his hood, and later received an apology. The man said that "The main reason is I want to wear my hood up and I have got a religion which allows me to do that."[15]

In 2013 the Free Church of Scotland was worried that the proposed Marriage and Civil Partnership (Scotland) Bill 'will lead to Star Wars Jedi marrying couples'. Patrick Day-Childs, of the Church of Jediism, and Rev Michael Kitchen, of Temple of the Jedi Order, both defended the right of Jedi to perform marriage ceremonies.[16][17]

References

  1. ^ Chryssides, George D. (2011). Historical Dictionary of New Religious Movements. Ashgate Publishing, Ltd. ISBN 978-0-810-87967-6.
  2. ^ Hume, Lynne; McPhillips, Kathleen (2006). Popular spiritualities: the politics of contemporary enchantment. Ashgate Publishing, Ltd. p. 59. ISBN 978-0-7546-3999-2.
  3. ^ http://www.jedichurch.org/
  4. ^ 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.
  5. ^ a b Matthew Wilhelm Kapell; John Shelton Lawrence (2006). Finding the Force in the Star Wars Franchise: Fans, Merchandise, and Critics. Peter Lang. ISBN 0820463337.
  6. ^ Deacy, Christopher; Arweck, Elisabeth (2009). Exploring religion and the sacred in a media age. Ashgate Publishing, Ltd. p. 15. ISBN 9780754665274.
  7. ^ 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.
  8. ^ Beyer, Catherine. "Basic teachings of the Jedi". About.com. The New York Times Company. Retrieved 6 September 2013.
  9. ^ "Doctrine of the Temple of the Jedi Order". Temple of the Jedi Order. Retrieved 6 September 2013.
  10. ^ Taylor, Henry (2012-12-11). "'Jedi' religion most popular alternative faith". The Daily Telegraph. London: Telegraph Media Group. Retrieved 2012-12-14.
  11. ^ a b 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.
  12. ^ Perrott, Alan (August 31, 2002). "Jedi Order lures 53,000 disciples". The New Zealand Herald. APN News & Media. Retrieved July 30, 2013.
  13. ^ "Racial and Religious Hatred Bill". 2005-06-29. Retrieved 2010-02-22.
  14. ^ Carter, Helen (18 September 2009). "Jedi religion founder accuses Tesco of discrimination over rules on hoods". London: The Guardian. Retrieved 2011-02-22.
  15. ^ Levy, Andrew (2010-03-17). "Political correctness strikes back: Jedi believer wins apology after being kicked out of Jobcentre for wearing a hood". London: The Daily Mail. Retrieved 2011-02-22.
  16. ^ McKenzie, Steven "Star chores: Do Jedi want to marry people?", BBC News, London, 20 March 2013. Retrieved on 14 June 2014.
  17. ^ Hudson, Tony "Marry you, I will: Jedi strike back over weddings criticism", Politics UK, 25 March 2013. Retrieved on 14 June 2014.
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