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From A Certain Point Of View

by: jedi_iain

date posted: Sep 08, 2006 12:45 PM | updated: Sep 08, 2006 1:18 PM

I Am A Jedi, Like My Father Before Me

Browsing through the new new blogs this morning before work, I came across an interesting entry by Master Tachi about the 2001 British census, here

Reading this, I decided that the time was right to tell you all a little more about myself, this time focusing on my religion.

As my title implies I am one of the 390127 Jedi living in Britain, however unlike many of them, I'm sure, I do actually believe in the Force, kinda.

My story starts, like all good stories, A long time ago In a galaxy far far away. well actually it was less than a decade ago and in England, but anyway.
I was never a true believer in Christianity, and what faith I did have eventually died away, but I always believed there was something, some kind of live force, connecting everything.

I also believe in spirits, not ghosts exactly, but a presence of some description that remains after death. I've often had strange feelings that I can't really explain, many about my Grandad who died when I was 9, feelings almost like he was there, I know it sounds corny but I felt his presence.

I've also had extreme cases of deja vu, like evnts happening that feel like a past dream. Kinda like a passive foresight.

Anyway on to my point.

For years I looked for a religion that shared these beliefs, so far the closest thing I've found to match is what GL describes in the movies. I'm not just a Star Wars nut, I am a jedi! I occasionally meditate and also practice lightsaber combat (although the lightsaber is only because of SW)

So as I say at top, I believe in the Force, and thats why when the census came around I filled in "Jedi" under the religion question, my whole family did in fact although they don't believe like I do.

Please comment, especially if you share my beliefs.

May The Force Be With Us All

Edit:
I just want to be clear that I do not wish to offend anyone with this blog, I simply felt like sharing this.
I respect everyones veiws on religion and feel that everyone has a right to their own beliefs.
I would also like to say that I have not based these beliefs on SW, I have just adopted the terms Force and Jedi (and the lightsaber, but thats not really part of my beliefs).
(Thanks to Pablo Wan and JediMelindaWolf for reminding me to write this)

http://blogs.starwars.com/from_a_certain_point_of_view/4

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Pablo Wan

date Posted: Sep 08, 2006 1:02 PM

MMM...Well, I'm a starwars fan, and I always say i am a padawan, some class mates call me Jedi, and sometimes my parents think I'm too into these force matters.

But I have to say I believe in God. I pray now and then and I also meditate sometimes (You can meditate no matter which religion you practice, the only thing that changes is what you base your meditations on).

I am Catholic, and so my family is, and even though i've had faith crisis, I've never thought of SW as a possibility for a religion (though my Yoda's huge altar may not show so

).

I respect your beliefs, but I don't share them

I guess It's OK unless you become a Sith (My saber is near my hand and ready to battle).

MTFBWY

JediMelindaWolf
Try not. Do. Or do not. There is no try.

date Posted: Sep 08, 2006 1:06 PM

The Force, at least to me, is a combination of many different beliefs that encompass that living connection we have with the world around us (in the U.S., the closest we have to anything like that that is native to this land is Native American spiritual beliefs). I feel a stronger connection to this way of thinking than to any structured form of religion. It's not that I consider the Force a religion. The basis of it is more meaningful to me, is what I am trying to say.

Have you ever read The Dharma of Star Wars? Although I am not yet done with the book, I have found it enjoyable and a good read.

MTFBWY

	jedi_iain From A Certain Point Of View
date Posted: Sep 08, 2006 1:17 PM Have you ever read The Dharma of Star Wars? I haven't heard of this book, but I will keep an eye out for it

	Shadow_JediX
date Posted: Sep 08, 2006 2:06 PM well my parents hate star wars so even if i wanted to be i wouldn't have a chance considering i grew up in a christian home i do believe in jesus

	Japanese Fett
date Posted: Sep 08, 2006 2:26 PM PRAISE THE LORD! Gospel music in background Well, I do train myself in lightsaber combat, and I meditate occasionally(or that's my Buddhist ways) So I'm a ChristianBuddhistJedi! Sayonara, & MTFBWY

gold5
I lost Tiree, lost Dutch!..or How I learned to stop worrying and love the Death Star.

date Posted: Sep 08, 2006 2:43 PM

You will find many here who share your thoughts here. I don't think you would see any of them actually praticing Force worship or anything and I doubt you actually do either. The concept of the Force does have some basis in real world spirituality. So for me it is not so much the Force shaping my beliefs but my beliefs shaping my thoughts on the Force within the GFFA. I've written much on this.

	MasterTachi Whispers in the Jedi Temple
date Posted: Sep 08, 2006 3:07 PM Great blog, It's nice to hear others opinoins on such matters, it makes you think about your own opinions. I've also had extreme cases of deja vu, like evnts happening that feel like a past dream. I always get thoose they give me the wierdest feeling.Once more, great blog - Master Tachi

Dagon23
One Sith to Rule them All

date Posted: Sep 08, 2006 3:16 PM

It cool that you believe in the Force. I was raised Christian so I'm not so sure I fully believe in the force, but maybe it's like the hand of God guiding. When I was 4 my Grandpa died, he was my best friend and every once in awhile I thought he was still there. The Same thing happened after my dog, with whom I was and still am very attached to.

P.S. If you read my comment on Tachi's Jedi religion blog (And then the Prophet Obi-wan said "Use the Force Luke") please don't be offended, I was only messing around

confusedone
I have the fear of being afraid and I'm on strike against strikes

date Posted: Sep 08, 2006 3:40 PM

I like that you have your own thoughts. You never need to go with the crowd or what you grew up with. I have to say I'm a devout Catholic, but I respect your decision. I would never criticize anyone who said they believe in the Force. I really don't understand why people critcize others for their beliefs. I also respect that you shared this with us. However, what better place to tell folks you're a Jedi?

TheDarkSideLives

date Posted: Sep 08, 2006 5:26 PM

I am similar to you in that I was raised a Christian and at one time I was an ordained minister, until I had a "crisis of faith". I studied many religions to see what made one religion better than others. The "Jedi" religion actually has a basis in "earthly" religions. George Lucas based the "Force" on the Asian concept of "Chi" which is an energy field that is in all living creatures(sound familiar). The ideas of a Jedi are similar to Zen Buddhism(for the record that is what I practice). Zen Buddhism isn't a true religion so much as a philosophy of life on how to act. So in effect, there are millions of people that believe in the Jedi religion, they just go by a different name.

cont. because the computer says I talk to much

TheDarkSideLives

date Posted: Sep 08, 2006 5:27 PM

Zen also teaches tolerance of others and tolerance of other beliefs. I respect everyones beliefs and if you find comfort in any religion, stick with it. Don't change your ideas/beliefs just to make others feel comfortable. Buddhist monks have also been shown to be able to use "Chi" to do things that would normally be impossible, including changing their body temperature at will and while it hasn't been documented(to my knowledge) some claim to be able to heal others through a transference of "Chi" energy(if you have read some SW books, that will sound familiar also). Regardless of the beliefs of anyone reading this, my respect and best wishes to you all.(not very Sith sounding, I know).
MTFBWY Always

Hoppy Har Ghost
The Cormyrean Jedi's Holojournal

date Posted: Sep 08, 2006 5:31 PM

DUDE I TOTALLY AGREE!! some of my friends, they arent SW fans, so they say that its Magic...think like Elminster and Gandalf, but theres not much a diff in the descriptions, not disney magic
Same with the deja vu
Oh well the world isnt the same as the way our ancestors left it (or is it?)
About the deja vu, sometimes my friends are convinced its more seeing-the-future-ish-ness...
and force=tao to some extents (read black cat a few times lately)

jkthunder
Seven Pieces

date Posted: Nov 06, 2006 1:26 PM

Great entry! I'm glad I found this. I'm pretty much a kinda Jedi type person too, and pretty much beleive in the Force. It sounds weird to say that... I beleive in the concepts it beholds, even though it's fictional. Truthfully, it's all taken from real life concepts too, although a mix of many.

I think the art of the lightsaber is a wonderful thing, and even though it comes from fiction its now widely practiced/used by fans around the world, and is a great benefit for them! The lightsaber forms and philosophies behind it also come from a mix of real world stuff, like the samurai - but it's evolved into its own thing.

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