• Welcome to Religious Forums, a friendly forum to discuss all religions in a friendly surrounding.

    Your voice is missing! You will need to register to get access to the following site features:
    • Reply to discussions and create your own threads.
    • Our modern chat room. No add-ons or extensions required, just login and start chatting!
    • Access to private conversations with other members.

    We hope to see you as a part of our community soon!

Would you want a Jediism section in the New Religious Movements DIR?

Would you want a Jediism section in the New Religious Movements DIR?

  • Yes

    Votes: 8 53.3%
  • No

    Votes: 7 46.7%

  • Total voters
    15
  • Poll closed .

Theweirdtophat

Well-Known Member
I figured I would make a poll to see if people really want to see one. :)


I know there's a few Jedi here and I feel a new section can bring a few new things here as well as a few new members here and there and perhaps maybe other people from different religious backgrounds can add and blend this with their own faith. There's UFO religions and Scientology but I always feel there should be a Jediism section as well. Some might say it's basically just Taoism and Buddhism mixed together but there's a little more to it than that. It has it's own principles, how they envision the universe, ect..


So who's up for it? :)
 
Last edited:

Terese

Mangalam Pundarikakshah
Staff member
Premium Member
It's a fictional religion for a fictional reality. Why should it be given a DIR?
 

Theweirdtophat

Well-Known Member
It's a fictional religion for a fictional reality. Why should it be given a DIR?


I understand how you might feel but you don't have to be rude about it.


What does it matter what people believe? They should believe what they wish. It isn't like they believe that Yoda and Obi Wan actually exist or they emulate the Jedi exactly. A philosophical spiritual belief can help someone, whether it comes from "fiction" or not. Besides there are have been a few made up religions in the past yet no one has a problem with it. You can have Scientology and Realism but not Jediism? I don't understand.
 

Theweirdtophat

Well-Known Member
It's a parody religion used as a protest on censuses. Why should it be given a DIR? Should Pastafarianism get one? What about Dudeism?


I don't really know why people bring up Pastafarianism anyway since that is intended to be a joke religion. Dudeism is a lot like Taoism in many ways but that has some beliefs that might help someone.


Jedi or the ones that actually are Jedi, take it seriously with their meditations, the way they envision the universe and aren't just Star Wars fanboys who go around with the title of Jedi. Some do but some don't. Some never even saw Star Wars or even like it, but just enjoy their beliefs. Just because it started as a protest thing, doesn't mean Jediism doesn't have sound beliefs and practices. Because obviously people got into it and practiced it.

I'd hardly call Jediism a "parody religion" because for one thing, it's not a parody of anything really It's not making fun of anything or joking around like Pastafarianism so it doesn't make sense to call Jediism a parody religion. Really when does it matter why does it matter if the source is fictional as long as the beliefs are sound and practical? I mean I've met actual Jedi that do take it seriously. How can we say that we tolerate all faiths yet put one down because it's from fiction. Pretty hypocritical if you ask me. Pastafarianism doesn't take itself seriously. Jediism does.
 

Terese

Mangalam Pundarikakshah
Staff member
Premium Member
I understand how you might feel but you don't have to be rude about it.


What does it matter what people believe? They should believe what they wish. It isn't like they believe that Yoda and Obi Wan actually exist or they emulate the Jedi exactly. A philosophical spiritual belief can help someone, whether it comes from "fiction" or not. Besides there are have been a few made up religions in the past yet no one has a problem with it. You can have Scientology and Realism but not Jediism? I don't understand.
I didn't mean to come off as rude, but the fact that its ripped from a movie does not give it an favors. Scientology, at the risk of derailing this thread, is corrupt.
 

wizanda

One Accepts All Religious Texts
Premium Member
Jedi has far quicker ways of teaching enlightenment; than a lot of the other more dogmatic based fictional texts do. ;)

Also who said the force or dark side is fictional, they are real. :confused:
 

Quintessence

Consults with Trees
Staff member
Premium Member
I didn't mean to come off as rude, but the fact that its ripped from a movie does not give it an favors. Scientology, at the risk of derailing this thread, is corrupt.

Why does it matter if inspiration is "ripped" from a movie, and what does Scientology have to do with anything? (that's some more rude language there, by the by)

Have you actually looked into the religion, or talked with people who have been involved with it?
 

Theweirdtophat

Well-Known Member
I think the problem is that because it comes from fiction, it must be a joke. It's not a parody religion because it's not making fun of anything. Ironically some fictional religions I can relate to more than some world religions.
 

Quintessence

Consults with Trees
Staff member
Premium Member
I think the problem is that because it comes from fiction, it must be a joke. It's not a parody religion because it's not making fun of anything. Ironically some fictional religions I can relate to more than some world religions.

I think it's deeper than that, or has its roots in how we as a culture regard fiction on the whole. We culturally devalue things labeled as "fiction" or "imaginary" when it comes to using them as inspiration for governing our life's paths. But we are inconsistent with how we do this. Apparently, it's okay for inspired people to go to sci-fi conventions that are pseudo-religious gatherings celebrating a fandom, but the moment they anchor their lives around it in a positive way, we freak out about it. It's not something I understand, and I think it represents a way of looking at storytelling and mythology that... is in need of some maturing. The stories - the "fictions" we tell in the modern day - are modern mythologies. Especially mythologies like that of the Star Wars universe. They have a characteristically religious depth to them - teach us things about how to relate to each other, how to relate to the world. And they do so in a way that is contemporary and powerful.
 
I don't care much for it personally, but should the poll not just have 1 answer, yes? Either you want one, or you have no say in the matter, it's a DIR.

It's basically "is there enough interest to make it viable?"

No one can object to a sub-forum, there must be plenty most people don't even know exist. Personally, I've never been inconvenienced in any way by a post I haven't read.
 

Sunstone

De Diablo Del Fora
Premium Member
I don't care much for it personally, but should the poll not just have 1 answer, yes? Either you want one, or you have no say in the matter, it's a DIR.

It's basically "is there enough interest to make it viable?"

No one can object to a sub-forum, there must be plenty most people don't even know exist. Personally, I've never been inconvenienced in any way by a post I haven't read.

^This. At issue is whether there is enough interest in one, not whether there is any opposition to one.
 

Revoltingest

Pragmatic Libertarian
Premium Member
Is there any need to have a DIR?
Are the Jediism threads derailed by anti-Jediists?
Or does having a named forum a rallying function, in which case it needn't be a DIR?
 

YmirGF

Bodhisattva in Recovery
^This. At issue is whether there is enough interest in one, not whether there is any opposition to one.
I agree, that is the point. I simply cannot imagine an invasion of Jedi's wanting to mix it up on RF. George Lucas might find it amusing though.
 

Laika

Well-Known Member
Premium Member
Voted "Yes". I know nothing about Jediism, but if there was a certian number of members who wanted a sub-forum as a way to talk about and practice their beliefs without fear of ridicule from others, I'd support it. I don't think RF rules never explicitly state it, but it is clearly implied that the forum is supposed to be impartial in enforcing the rules. [RF isn't a democracy btw so admins are under no obligation to observe polls either. more like a pluralistic dictatorship. ;) ]

I had a quick look on wikipedia and its says there are "21 maxims" and the "16 teachings". I confess my surprise that people are taking it seriously, but if 19 million people in the world are forced to worship Kim il Sung and the Kim family, maybe I should be able to keep a straight face when something like this comes up.

To be honest, I've wondered if RF has needed a set of rules governing the introduction of new DIRs. Just a thought for @Sunstone and @Quintessence but I think it would have to be if X number of people belonged to said belief system and wanted one. if there are technical problems, you could have a rule about a group demonstrating that they do infact have a distinct belief systems (as the two links above would be sufficient) but that is potentially discriminatory. There are obviously going to be groups that aren't represented because they are too small or too new, but its probably going to be "rare". We had two or three Omnists sign up a while back (I'm not sure if they are still here) and I wondered whether they needed one of their own. if we have "enough" members for it, we should embrace the diversity as that benifits everyone in exchanging ideas.
 

Theweirdtophat

Well-Known Member
Voted "Yes". I know nothing about Jediism, but if there was a certian number of members who wanted a sub-forum as a way to talk about and practice their beliefs without fear of ridicule from others, I'd support it. I don't think RF rules never explicitly state it, but it is clearly implied that the forum is supposed to be impartial in enforcing the rules. [RF isn't a democracy btw so admins are under no obligation to observe polls either. more like a pluralistic dictatorship. ;) ]

I had a quick look on wikipedia and its says there are "21 maxims" and the "16 teachings". I confess my surprise that people are taking it seriously, but if 19 million people in the world are forced to worship Kim il Sung and the Kim family, maybe I should be able to keep a straight face when something like this comes up.

To be honest, I've wondered if RF has needed a set of rules governing the introduction of new DIRs. Just a thought for @Sunstone and @Quintessence but I think it would have to be if X number of people belonged to said belief system and wanted one. if there are technical problems, you could have a rule about a group demonstrating that they do infact have a distinct belief systems (as the two links above would be sufficient) but that is potentially discriminatory. There are obviously going to be groups that aren't represented because they are too small or too new, but its probably going to be "rare". We had two or three Omnists sign up a while back (I'm not sure if they are still here) and I wondered whether they needed one of their own. if we have "enough" members for it, we should embrace the diversity as that benifits everyone in exchanging ideas.

You're one of the few on this thread that has made sense. :) Really, I see no harm in adding it. Especially since we are more likely to come across Jedi than Jains and Rastafari.
 

Laika

Well-Known Member
Premium Member
You're one of the few on this thread that had made sense. :) Really, I see no harm in adding it. Especially since we are more likely to come across Jedi than Jains and Rastafari.

Thanks. I think there are obviously going to be some 'technical' things involved with the admins, but I don't think there is any reason in principle why it should be opposed. it harms no-one, even if the idea of Jediism being taken seriously is a little baffling.
 

Theweirdtophat

Well-Known Member
I think the principles and beliefs aren't really laughable because it came from a fictional source. It's a good system. I would find it strange they start worshipping Yoda or Obi wan and believe they exist but they don't. They are good principles and I see nothing wrong with a group that follows such principles, meditates, keep in shape, study, ect. The real question is what bad will come from adding a new DIR? Especially one that has a somewhat significant population. And we're more likely to run into them than some other religious groups.
 

Laika

Well-Known Member
Premium Member
I think the principles and beliefs aren't really laughable because it came from a fictional source. It's a good system. I would find it strange they start worshipping Yoda or Obi wan and believe they exist but they don't. They are good principles and I see nothing wrong with a group that follows such principles, meditates, keep in shape, study, ect. The real question is what bad will come from adding a new DIR? Especially one that has a somewhat significant population. And we're more likely to run into them than some other religious groups.

mostly I think its the ridicule factor. "it's fiction; no-one will take it seriously". But this seems to happen even when you have self-professed believers of "ridiculous" belief systems standing in front of you. it ends up with someone telling you what you believe even though its wrong, which would be really funny if it wasn't so annoying. to some extent, it is probably threatening to hear out something that we would mostly dismiss out of hand. it's not "normal" and it just upsets alot of people.
 
Top