May 4th 2023 - Jedi - A Secular Celebration?

 

It is May the 4th be with you day and bars will be celebrating all over the world.  There's a Star Wars Roast at the Comedy Bar tonight.  "The Force is a mysterious energy field created by life that binds the galaxy together.  Harnessing the power of the Force gives the Jedi, the Sith, and others sensitive to this spiritual energy extraordinary abilities, such as levitating objects, tricking minds, and seeing things before they happen. While the Force can grant users powerful abilities, it also directs their actions. And it has a will of its own, which both scholars and mystics have spent millennia seeking to understand." The Force and the Jedi religion, Lucas stated, were thus based on all religions in the real-world, as he constructed Star Wars mainly from Methodism—or Christianity, Islam, and Judaism—and Buddhism. There is much discussion on which religion is it most based on.  Quora's headline says Taoism is the closest real world religion. All the news sites have their own headline on this.  CNN's is this:  "The spiritual message hidden in 'Star Wars'.  I can't imagine there's anything "hidden" - but then this is a headline to get your attention.  And the article is also fun - here's a quote: "At the turn of the millennium, “Star Wars” caught the McMindfulness craze. “The Phantom Menace” opens with two Jedi talking about the benefits of meditation. Riveting, it was not." Here's a joke or two: Where did Luke get his cybernetic hand? The second hand store. How does Darth Vader like his toast? On the dark side. What do you call a droid that takes the long way around? R2 Detour. Which program do Jedi use to open PDF files? Adobe Wan Kenobi. What did Obi-Wan tell Luke when his young apprentice was having a difficult time using chopsticks at the Chinese restaurant? “Use the forks, Luke.” I found a paint recycling facility in 2012 and they let me take pictures of the paint - which was everywhere.  Too bad about the lighting in there, but it was so much fun.  It was gone the next time I was there, so this was a one time experience.   I named this one the Painter's Song - they look like quarter notes to me. Read more daily posts here: marilyncornwellblogspot.com Purchase works here: Fine Art America- marilyncornwell.com Redbubble - marilyncornwellart.ca

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.

Read past POTD's at my Blog: http://www.blog.marilyncornwell.com Purchase at: FAA - marilyncornwellart.com Redbubble - marilyncornwellart.ca