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(#1) The Government Officially Recognizes Some Jedi Churches
A staple since the '90s, Jediism finally received official government recognition in 2015. In fact, the Temple of the Jedi Order is the first Jedi organization to be recognized by the US government. Church founder John Phelan's group has earned the status of an "International Ministry and Public Charity," making the Temple a nonprofit that is primarily founded with donations.
Additionally, donations made to the Temple are tax deductible.
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(#2) Real Jedi Do Not Worship 'Star Wars' Or George Lucas
While their religion might be associated with Star Wars, the real Jedi don't actually worship the franchise or franchise creator George Lucas. Jediism's followers don't consider Lucas a god, and the religion is separate from the stories in the movies. Indeed, the movies may be used to teach lessons within the faith. However, the Temple of the Jedi Order believes:
"Jediism is not based in fiction, but we accept myth as a sometimes more practical mean of conveying philosophies applicable to real life."
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(#3) Followers Of Jediism Are Often Discriminated Against
Some people don't take very kindly to real Jedi. In 2009, founder of the Church of Jediism Daniel Jones was even thrown out of a Tesco store in the UK. He refused to remove his religious hood while shopping, much to the chagrin of employees. Jones reported that he felt humiliated and claimed:
"It states in our Jedi doctrination that I can wear headwear. It just covers the back of my head... You have a choice of wearing headwear in your home or at work but you have to wear a cover for your head when you are in public."
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(#4) Real Jedi Follow A Moral Code
The followers of Jediism are often called real Jedi. While they might not be able to use the Force to accomplish incredible, physic-defying feats, the real Jedi do follow the same code as the Jedi in the movies. In George Lucas's fictional universe, the code helps light Knights remain pure and resist the angry urges of the dark side.
The code reminds Jediism converts to abandon ignorance and recklessness in favor of knowledge and harmony.
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(#5) Jediism Has A Long History
While there's a chance you might not have heard of it, Jediism has been around for more than twenty years. It seems to have really gained a following after Return of the Jedi hit theaters in 1983. No one was entirely sure how long the Star Wars franchise would last; the Expanded Universe hadn't quite kicked off and the Prequel Trilogy was still just a dream. Many fans sought the Jedi religion as a way to remain connected to their favorite characters.
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(#6) Jediism Resonates With People All Over The World
The 2001 census reported that thousands of people claimed Jediism as their official religion. Many of those converts wanted the Force-led faith to become a legally recognized religion in England, Wales, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, and several other countries around the world.
In England and Wales, 390,127 people described themselves as Jedi; that's 0.3% of the population. Jediism was the seventh largest reported religion there. In New Zealand, more than 50,000 people reported Jediism as their faith, and over 70,000 people claimed it in Australia.
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(#7) Jediism Combines Tenets Of Other Religions
Jediism does not solely use the fictional Jedi Order's faith to substantiate its religion. In fact, certain elements of Zen Buddhism, Taoism, and Christianity are all present in the new faith. The Temple of the Jedi has 16 teachings and 21 maxims that rely on facets from the three aforementioned religions.
One teaching, for example, is derived from the Zen Buddhist emphasis on meditation and self-control. The real Jedi belief states that:
"Jedi maintain a clear mind, which can be achieved through meditation and contemplation. Our minds can become unduly troubled and concerned with the happenings of the world. We must work on overcoming our individual issues through training and diligence."
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(#8) Jediism Is More Accepting Than Other Traditional Faiths
While there are multiple sects of Jediism around the world, the Temple of the Jedi Order is one of the most well-known. Former Catholic John Phelan founded the temple in 2005.
Phelan left Catholicism because he couldn't agree with the Church's stances on gay marriages, reproductive rights, and female priests. Phelan wanted to commit to a religion that wasn't as rigid. In fact, Jediism converts don't have to renounce other religions in order to live as real Jedi and study the philosophy. The founder noted that:
"[Religion] is not a closed book... There's things people believe that turn out to be false. We're open to change, we question."
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(#9) The Temple Of The Jedi Order Has Three Basic Tenets
The Temple of the Jedi Order revolves around three basic tenets: focus, knowledge, and wisdom. The official doctrine states:
"When used correctly, the Jedi Tenets allow us to better ourselves and overcome any obstacle... They help us improve the world around us and fulfill our purpose in life as a Jedi."
The site also offers a brief explanation of each tenet:
"Wisdom is the sound application of accrued knowledge and experience through patient, good judgment. Knowledge can be acquired by focusing on the task at hand. Focus is the art of pruning the irrelevant and pouring the best of your mind into what you are doing."
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(#10) The Temple Of The Jedi Order's Creed Is Derived From A Catholic Prayer
Founder of the Church of Jediism Daniel Jones described the Temple of the Jedi Order as a "fundamentally Christian organization." Jones's church has been around since 2008, but it does not wholly align with the Temple's principles.
The Temple's Christian roots are, perhaps, most apparent because the organization's creed is derived from the Prayer of Saint Francis of Assisi. Like the familiar Catholic devotion, the creed suggests that real Jedi must value love, forgiveness, and peace more than anything else.
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(#11) There's A Documentary About The Real Jedi Faith
Eye-opening documentary American Jedi explores many facets of the real Jedi faith. The process of being knighted into the religion is particularly interesting. American Jedi follows three apprentices as they go through Jedi trials and learn the ways of the Force.
Laurent Malaquais directed the documentary, and he's also responsible for gem BRONIES: The Extremely Unexpected Adult Fans of My Little Pony.
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About This Tool
Jediism is still an incredibly fragmented belief. Although there are still differences between individual Jedi and multiple Jedi organizations. The doctrine of Jediism is generally considered to be advice and guidance, not rules, and this often leads to different teaching methods in various groups. How did Jediism begin? Its source is entirely fictional Star Wars movies.
The Internet has allowed Jediism to develop and spread rapidly in the past decades. Followers of Jediism admit that these movies are fictitious, but agree on the truth of Jediism throughout the movies. The random tool explained 11 things about Jediism you did not know.
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