View source for Jediism

{{short description|Philosophy mainly based on the Jedi characters in Star Wars media}}
{{Redirect|Path of the jedi|the episode of Star Wars Rebels|Path of the Jedi|the Disneyland attraction|Star Wars: Path of the Jedi}}
{{for|the census campaign|Jedi census phenomenon}}
{{pp-pc}}
'''Jediism''' (or '''Jedism'''<ref name=LamontheWP>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/checkpoint/wp/2014/11/18/the-pentagons-pugnacious-critic-on-religion-gets-his-day-in-congress |title=The Pentagon's Pugnacious Critic on Religion Gets his Day in Congress |last=Lamonthe |first=Dan |newspaper=Washington Post |date=18 November 2014 |access-date=20 November 2015}}</ref>) is a philosophy,<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-38368526|title=Jedi is not a religion, Charity Commission rules|date=2016-12-19|newspaper=BBC News|access-date=2017-02-14|language=en-GB}}</ref> and, in some cases, a [[tongue-in-cheek]] [[parody religion|joke religion]],<ref name="nzherald"/><ref name="Cusack2010"/> mainly based on the depiction of the [[Jedi]] characters in ''[[Star Wars]]'' media.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=exQ4Zmtjc_sC&pg=PA59|title=Popular spiritualities: the politics of contemporary enchantment|first1=Lynne|last1=Hume|first2=Kathleen|last2= McPhillips|page=59|publisher=Ashgate Publishing, Ltd.|year=2006| isbn=978-0-7546-3999-2}}</ref> Jediism attracted public attention in 2001 when a number of people [[Jedi census phenomenon|recorded their religion as "Jedi" on national censuses]].
Jediism is inspired by certain elements of ''Star Wars'', namely the fictional religion of the Jedi. Early websites dedicated to bringing up a belief system from the ''Star Wars'' films were "The Jedi Religion and regulations" and "Jediism". These websites cited the Jedi code, consisting of 21 maxims,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.templeofthejediorder.org/40-information/38-21-maxims-of-jediism|title=21 Maxims of Jediism}}</ref> as the starting point for a "real Jedi" belief system.<ref name=findingforce>{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PB57P_dOF7EC | title=Finding the Force in the Star Wars Franchise: Fans, Merchandise, and Critics | publisher=Peter Lang | author=Matthew Wilhelm Kapell|author2= John Shelton Lawrence | year=2006 | isbn=0-8204-6333-7}}</ref> The real-world Jediism movement has no leader or central structure.<ref name="D.Grant2008">{{cite book|author1=Nancy K. Grant |author2=Diana J. Mansell |title=A Guidebook to Religious and Spiritual Practices for People Who Work With People|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=eg5qZixgqbMC&pg=PA249 |access-date=16 July 2012 |date=2008 |publisher=iUniverse |isbn=978-0-595-50527-2|pages=249–251}}</ref>
== 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,<ref>{{cite book | title=Exploring religion and the sacred in a media age | last1=Deacy|first1=Christopher|first2= Elisabeth |last2=Arweck | page=15|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HRmYapWETqcC&q=jediism&pg=PA15|publisher=Ashgate Publishing, Ltd.|year=2009 | isbn=978-0-7546-6527-4}}</ref> 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''.<ref name="KapellLawrence2006">{{cite book|author1=Matthew Kapell|author2=John Shelton Lawrence|title=Finding the Force of the Star Wars Franchise: Fans, Merchandise, & Critics|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PB57P_dOF7EC&pg=PA106|access-date=16 July 2012|date=1 August 2006|publisher=Peter Lang|isbn=978-0-8204-6333-9|pages=105–112}}</ref>
While there is some variation in teaching, the Jedi of the Temple of the Jedi Order follows the "16 teachings" based on the presentation of the fictional Jedi, such as "Jedi are mindful of the [[negative emotion]]s which lead to the Dark Side" and "Jedi are guardians of peace and justice".<ref name=about.com>{{cite web|url=http://altreligion.about.com/od/beliefsandcreeds/a/jedi_teachings.htm|access-date=6 September 2013|title=Basic teachings of the Jedi|first=Catherine|last=Beyer|publisher=[[The New York Times Company]]|work=[[About.com]]|archive-date=5 October 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131005145007/http://altreligion.about.com/od/beliefsandcreeds/a/jedi_teachings.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref> Adherents also follow "21 maxims".<ref name=findingforce /><ref name=doctrine>{{cite web|url=https://www.templeofthejediorder.org/index.php/doctrine|access-date=15 December 2023|title=Doctrine of the Temple of the Jedi Order|publisher=Temple of the Jedi Order}}</ref>
== Census phenomenon ==
{{Main|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.<ref name="census">{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/9737886/Jedi-religion-most-popular-alternative-faith.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/9737886/Jedi-religion-most-popular-alternative-faith.html |archive-date=2022-01-12 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title='Jedi' religion most popular alternative faith|work=The Daily Telegraph|first=Henry|last=Taylor|date=2012-12-11|access-date=2012-12-14|location=London}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref name="Cusack2010">{{cite book|author=Carole M. Cusack|title=Invented Religions: Faith, Fiction, Imagination|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EoduVhGsfp0C&pg=PA125|access-date=4 January 2013|date=15 September 2010|publisher=Ashgate Publishing, Ltd.|isbn=978-0-7546-6780-3|page=125}}</ref><ref name="nzherald">{{Cite news|url = http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=2352142|title = Jedi Order lures 53,000 disciples|date = August 31, 2002|access-date = July 30, 2013|website = [[The New Zealand Herald]]|publisher = [[APN News & Media]]|last = Perrott|first = Alan}}</ref>
== Legal recognition ==
=== United States ===
In 2005, the Temple of the Jedi Order was registered in [[Texas]]. It was granted [[Internal Revenue Service|IRS]] tax exemption in 2015.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.templeofthejediorder.org/images/TOTJO-IRS-Exemption-Letter.pdf|title=IRS Determination Letter}}</ref> In May 2005, an article on the growth of Jedi religion by Catholic author [[Jon M. Sweeney]] was the most read article on the website Explorefaith.org that year.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.explorefaith.org/news/05_17_05.html|title = Explore faith : In the News}}</ref>
=== United Kingdom ===
During the drafting of the UK [[Racial and Religious Hatred Act 2006|Racial and Religious Hatred Act]], an amendment was proposed that excluded Jedi Knights from any protection, along with [[Satanist]]s 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200506/cmstand/e/st050629/pm/50629s01.htm|access-date=2010-02-22|title=Racial and Religious Hatred Bill|date=2005-06-29}}</ref>
In 2007,<ref>{{cite news|last1=Wells|first1=Jonathan|title=Inside the Church of Jediism: what it's like to follow The Force|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/men/thinking-man/inside-the-church-of-jediism-what-its-like-to-follow-the-force/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/men/thinking-man/inside-the-church-of-jediism-what-its-like-to-follow-the-force/ |archive-date=2022-01-12 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|access-date=7 January 2017|publisher=Telegraph|date=2015-12-15}}{{cbignore}}</ref> 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".<ref name="Cusack2010" /> In 2009, Jones was removed from a [[Tesco]] supermarket in [[Bangor, Gwynedd|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 (Star Wars)|Dark Side]] and we are only aware of [[Palpatine|the Emperor]] as one who never removed his hood."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2009/sep/18/jedi-religion-tesco-hood-jones|work=The Guardian|title=Jedi religion founder accuses Tesco of discrimination over rules on hoods|access-date=2011-02-22|first=Helen|last=Carter|location=London|date=18 September 2009}}</ref>
In 2013, the [[Free Church of Scotland (post-1900)|Free Church of Scotland]] expressed concern that a proposed [[Marriage and Civil Partnership (Scotland) Bill|Marriage and Civil Partnership bill]] would "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.<ref>McKenzie, Steven [https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-21844467 "Star chores: Do Jedi want to marry people?"], ''[[BBC News]]'', London, 20 March 2013. Retrieved on 14 June 2014.</ref><ref>Hudson, Tony [http://www.politics.co.uk/news/2013/03/25/marry-you-i-will-jedi-strike-back-against-church-on-weddings "Marry you, I will: Jedi strike back over weddings criticism"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190509124510/https://www.politics.co.uk/news/2013/03/25/marry-you-i-will-jedi-strike-back-against-church-on-weddings |date=2019-05-09 }}, ''Politics UK'', 25 March 2013. Retrieved on 14 June 2014.</ref>
In December 2016, the [[Charity Commission for England and Wales]] rejected an application to grant [[Charitable organization#England and Wales|charitable organization]] status to The Temple of the Jedi Order, ruling that the group did not "promote moral or ethical improvement" for charity law purposes.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-38368526|title=Jediism not a religion, Charity Commission rules|work=[[BBC News]]|date=19 December 2016}}</ref>
=== Turkey ===
In April 2015, the students of [[Dokuz Eylül University]] in Turkey started a petition on [[Change.org]] demanding a Jedi temple be built on the campus. The petition was in response to a previous petition which had demanded a mosque on the campus of [[Istanbul Technical University]] (İTÜ). The petition demanding the mosque reached 180,000 signatures, falling short of its 200,000 target, and invoked a response from [[Mehmet Karaca]], the [[rector (academia)|rector]] of İTÜ, promising "a landmark mosque". Soon after, students from other universities started petitions demanding Jedi and Buddhist temples on their campuses.<ref name=CampusJedi>{{cite news|title=Thousands of Turkish students sign petition to build Jedi Temple on university campus|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/thousands-of-turkish-students-sign-petition-to-build-jedi-temple-on-university-campus-10161225.html|access-date=8 April 2015|work=[[The Independent]]|date=8 April 2015}}</ref><ref name=JediTurkey>{{cite news|title=Turkish University students demand Jedi, Buddhist temples amid mosque frenzy|url=http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/turkish-university-students-demand-jedi-buddhist-temples-amid-mosque-frenzy.aspx?PageID=238&NID=80634&NewsCatID=341|access-date=8 April 2015|work=Hurriyet Daily News|date=6 April 2015}}</ref>
== See also ==
* [[Intergalactic Krewe of Chewbacchus]]
* [[Dudeism]]
== References ==
{{Reflist|30em}}
==External links==
{{sister project links|d=Q258945|s=no|wikt=Jediism|c=category:Jediism|n=no|b=no|voy=no|v=no|q=no|m=no|mw=no|species=no}}
*{{cite web |url=https://www.templeofthejediorder.org/doctrine-of-the-order |title=Doctrine of the Temple of the Jedi Order |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180317084203/https://www.templeofthejediorder.org/doctrine-of-the-order |archive-date=17 March 2018}}
*[http://www.patheos.com/blogs/altmuslim/2005/06/star_wars_an_islamic_perspective/ Inspiration: Star Wars: An Islamic perspective]
* {{cite web |title=To Be A Jedi |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/w3csy2py |website=Heart And Soul |publisher=[[BBC World Service]] |access-date=21 December 2018}}
{{Religion topics}}
{{Star Wars}}
{{Irreligion}}
[[Category:Jedi]]
[[Category:New religious movements]]
[[Category:Subcultures of religious movements]]
[[Category:2001 in religion]]
[[Category:Religion in science fiction]]