May 5 2020 - There's a Force for Everyone in being a Jedi
It's a long time since the Force came among us. It's over 40 years. Since that time, the philosophy of Jediism has developed. It is based on the depiction of the Jedi characters in Star Wars media. This got attention in 2001 when a number of people recorded their religion as Jedi on their country's national census - it was meant to be a joke. I assumed this is mostly Americans. But it turns out that 400,000 people in the U.K. and 70,000 in Australia did this.
In 2005, the Temple of the Jedi Order was registered in Texas (of course). There is also a substantial membership in Britain. Here's how many people have self-identified as Jedi as of 2011:
Australia - 65,000
Canada - 9,000
Czech Republic - 15,070
England and Wales - 176,632
To find out about this philosophy/religion the place to go is the Temple of the Jedi Order. It is HERE. The introduction:
We are a Jedi church and international ministry of the religion Jediism and the Jedi way of life. Jedi at this site are not the same as those portrayed within the Star Wars franchise. Star Wars Jedi are fictional characters that exist within a literary and cinematic universe. We are a recognized International Ministry and Public Charity; a tax exempt (donations are US income tax deductible) 501(c)3 non-profit organization founded in 2005.
George Lucas says that Joseph Campbell's book The Hero With a Thousand Faces was a major influence behind the Force's creation. In it Campbell draws parallels between the world's myths, arguing that they are all part of one "monomyth".
In an interview with Bill Moyers, in 1999, published in Time magazine, Lucas said he created the Force as a device to awaken spirituality in young people. "Not having enough interest in the mysteries of life to ask the question, 'Is there a God or is there not a God?' – that is for me the worst thing that can happen." However, he said he never intended Star Wars to have a religious following. "I hope that doesn't end up being the course this whole thing takes," he told Moyers, adding that he would hate living in a secular world where entertainment passed for people's religious experience.
He seems to have accomplished his task of awakening spirituality and needn't worry as the Jedi religion is not following Star Wars..
I found this abandoned farm house last year when I was on the greenhouse tour - the new greenhouses are in the background. I drove by it last week. It still stands, with more greenhouses around it. It still stands starkly alone on a bare field.
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