Stars Wars Religion?

Whydoe

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Being that there are so many other wonderful faiths out there. Why would it be weird to have a religion based on Star Wars? It's fictional. It happened a long time ago. And there are also a lot of plot holes. Where did the force come from. Yoda; needs a crutch but can kick butt with a light saber. So many close references to the bible, I can't even start!
Or maybe Lord of Rings? Second best seller next to the bible anyway. The only difference is that is was written by just one person. And he's dead. So, hey, it's open to interpritation. I bet you can start about 5 or 6 different beliefs from just these 2 stories.
What else could there be? Neverending Story? I would guess Part 1 only. :rolleyes:
 
Whydoe said:
Being that there are so many other wonderful faiths out there. Why would it be weird to have a religion based on Star Wars? It's fictional. It happened a long time ago. And there are also a lot of plot holes. Where did the force come from. Yoda; needs a crutch but can kick butt with a light saber. So many close references to the bible, I can't even start!
Or maybe Lord of Rings? Second best seller next to the bible anyway. The only difference is that is was written by just one person. And he's dead. So, hey, it's open to interpritation. I bet you can start about 5 or 6 different beliefs from just these 2 stories.
What else could there be? Neverending Story? I would guess Part 1 only. :rolleyes:
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I think you are on to something, but at the same time in this day and age why bother starting a religion unless you have some means of making money from it?

Star Wars, Stargate (SG-1 or Atlantis), Star Trek or anything else beginning with Star* is rich for developing a religion after, but why bother if it isn't going to make you rich?
 
Whydoe said:
Being that there are so many other wonderful faiths out there. Why would it be weird to have a religion based on Star Wars?
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You're a few years too late, I'm afraid, as far as considering such a religion.
At census time, there was some story about an email (supposedly) circulated in Australia and England which encouraged people to put "Jedi" in the box for religion. It may have been or started out as a hoax, but by the time the media spread the story, it became a limited reality. I remember reading about people who actually did write "Jedi" in the blank.

"Calling All Jedis, Census Night Awaits." Evening Post (Wellington, NZ), 5 March 2001.
"The Gospel According to Luke (Skywalker)." BBC News, 6 March 2001.
"Australian 'Jedi' Warned of Census Fines." Ananova, 18 April 2001.
"Jedi Email Revealed as Hoax." BBC News, 11 April 2001.
"Jedi Knights Put Faith in Census." Sunday Times, 15 April 2001.
"The Theology of Star Wars." Time, 26 April 1999.

It's fictional. It happened a long time ago. And there are also a lot of plot holes. Where did the force come from.
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Mitochondrions and chloroplasts:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Midi-chlorians

So many close references to the bible, I can't even start!
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Don't limit yourself to just the bible. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Force_(Star_Wars):

"Although fictional, the Force does contain many similarities to existing philosophical and religious principles. The concept may be indebted to the Odic force of Baron Carl Reichenbach. Many have related it to the concepts of Qi (also "chi" or "ki"; China, Japan, and Korea), Prana (India), Mana (Polynesia) and other similar traditions focused around the idea of a spiritual energy that exist within the universe.

With Taoism, the primary focus for Star Wars originates in the idea of Yin and Yang—the two diametrically opposed Forces of the universe. Everything from good and evil (as metaphysical concepts) to hot and cold temperatures are considered as being part of this, and it is from here we see the most prominent comparison to the light and dark sides of the Force in Star Wars. But, it must also be noted that it is even more similar to Taoist philosophy with less of a dichotomy and more of a necessary balance (seen in the philosophy of the balancing of the Force).

The Jedi way of serenity and peace is very much like the virtues preached in the five pillars of Islam. This is also reflected in the Jedi Temple which consists of five spires, or pillars."

George Lucas also talks about the religion in and of Star Wars:

http://sw-anthropo.ibelgique.com/txt/religiontxtangl.html

And don't forget that he deliberately based the story on Campbell's Hero with a Thousand Faces, in collaboration with Campbell.
 
It ended well. I was very impressed--the second thread was begun because Cleo was reconsidering her position in the first thread. The second thread is one of my favorites here.
 
Wow. There really is way too much info here to post anything new. I was just being funny anyway. Force be with you, amen.
 
Mercutio said:
It ended well. I was very impressed--the second thread was begun because Cleo was reconsidering her position in the first thread. The second thread is one of my favorites here.
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Ah; I didn't read it last night, because I thought it was just a continuation of the first. I haven't read it all, even now, 'cuz it's long, but that's the sort of discussion I like to read, and take part in. I can see why it's one of your favorites!

If I read all the way through, I'll probably see this mentioned, but what was interesting to me was the number of comments which said (and I'm paraphrasing, perhaps badly): "a Jedi religion would be made up, based on a movie, a work of fiction, so it wouldn't really be a religion."

But all religion, IMO, is "made up" by someone, at some point. Is it just more disturbing to us to see religion being born? (Hey, lots of folks don't like actually being in the delivery room; even the laboring mom.)

I'll finish it later today, but thanks for pointing to it; it's a really good read!
 
Thank you Slingblade for the link to the religion of "Star Wars." It too was a good read as was your commentary on SW being like Taoism and Yin Yang theory--very accurate!
 
I think I placed my quote-marks badly; that was all from the Wiki article. But I'm glad you enjoyed it! :)
 
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