Darth Vader Attacks Jedi!

[Haljackey 17,398]

So... I was reading the newspaper this morning, when I read an article about a drunk guy dressed as Darth Vader attacking a group of Jedi. 

Sound crazy?  It is.  Here is a link to a short article about it:

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5guuJSJjnKnziggp5XSMeRWMTpzggD90L3MLG0

I never knew that Jedi was a religion.  0.7% of the UK population is classified Jedi, along with 0.2% of the Canadian population. 

Thoughts?  Was it right that he was spared jail time, or should he be behind bars?

Best,

-Haljackey

[Meg 368]

Jedi 'religion' grows in Australia

Jedi is the faith espoused in the Star Wars films

More than 70,000 people in Australia have declared that they are followers of the Jedi faith, the religion created by the Star Wars films.

A recent census found that one in 270 respondents - or 0.37% of the population - say they believe in "the force", an energy field that gives Jedi Knights like Luke Skywalker their power in the films.

Most of the 70,509 people who wrote Jedi on their census forms were suspected to have done so in response to an e-mail encouraging all Star Wars fans to get it recognised as an official religion.

Jedi Master Yoda: "You must feel the force around you"

But the majority do not seriously tell each other: "May the force be with you", according to Australian Star Wars Appreciation Society president Chris Brennan.

"When you look at it you probably have got about 5,000 people in that 70,000 that were true hard-core people that would believe the Jedi religion carte blanche," he told ABC Radio.

"Then you would have 50,000 fans that said 'oh yeah we'll just put down Jedi for fun, we don't actually have a religion of our own'.

"Then you probably have 15,000 people who did it just to give the government a bit of curry," he said.

'Not defined'

An e-mail was sent around the world in 2001 saying that if 10,000 people declared they were Jedi, it would be recognised as an official religion.

But the Australian Bureau of Statistics said it would be categorised as "not defined".

Thousands of people in New Zealand and the UK also followed the advice of the e-mail - with Jedi Knight even being included on the list of religions by UK census authorities. quote>

quote>

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/2218456.stm

I like this idea.  It's none of the government's business what my religious beliefs are.  I usually put "other" when asked.  But I think I'll put Jedi next time.  After all, I do want to be a Jedi Knight when I grow up.  

[saltandsauce 0]

again this is not a real religion or claimed real religion.

its not a real religion in the same way computing studies and hairdressing are not real university degrees

[Meg 368]

The problem here is what it's always been:

How do you define "real religion"?    What are the qualifications for a religion to be "real" versus being, for instance, a "cult".

Define certain religions as government sanctioned?

Edit:  and since when is Computer Science not a "real" university degree?   or am I misunderstanding you there?

[TRNSTN 0]

What's the difference really? The mainstream religions follow some of the same things that cults do based on the definition. It's all the same to me. CUlts just seem to carry more negative conotations because of the things taht cults have done (i.e mass suicides). However, extremists in any religion or sect can also be considered religious cults of that religion, so I'd say it's pretty much the same.

[Odainsaker 2,137]

I wonder how many respondants put down "Sith." Isn't there only supposed to be just a Master and an Apprentice?

For Frank Herbert's Dune fans, try putting "Zensunni," "Buddhislamic," or "Shiite Catholicism."

[Easy Bakes 253]

Sounds more plausable then Scientology.

I mean thats only ONE book. Star Wars has 6 Movies and hundreds of books.

BTW: When are we going to ge Dianetics:The Movie?

Would have a an all star cast

Tom Cruise

John Travolta

Issac Hayes

Katie Holms

just to name  few.

[Odainsaker 2,137]

But Star Wars isn't bizarre enough to form a cult or religion. The Jedi were so stilted and boring and conventional. Meanwhile, poor Katie Holmes, seeing her child held hostage in the grip of madman, faces special rendition to the secret castle in Germany where she will be fully brainwashed and prepared by High Inculcator Tommy Cruise to become the inseminated host vessel to birth the L. Ron Hubbard clone, who will marry Baby Shuri in accordance with the alien's plans for colonization though selective breeding. It's better than the Lifetime Channel's not-without-my-daughter movies!

[toxicpiano 125]

Originally posted by: saltandsauce again this is not a real religion or claimed real religion.

its not a real religion in the same way computing studies and hairdressing are not real university degreesquote>

Great argument, thanks.

[patriots_1228 51]

Wow. Is it just a coincedence that in a related survey, 99% percent of Jedi followers live in their mothers basements?

[Voar Tok 4]

Originally posted by: SkiGeek

Edit:  and since when is Computer Science not a "real" university degree?   or am I misunderstanding you there?quote>

It'd better be!  That's my minor!

[SimRabbit 48]

how nerdy is that? seriously

and besides the majority of them live on their parents basement like patriots said.

[krbe 193]

Originally posted by: SkiGeek What are the qualifications for a religion to be "real" versus being, for instance, a "cult".quote>

If I remember my religion teacher's definition correctly, it's something "set apart from your percieved reality". Any way you try to define religion, you'll run into problems. He also told us about the Jedi relgion, which for the guy in question meant adhering to some very specific "Jedi" rules (which I think served as a substitute for a master). Cults, on he other hand, are somewhat easier to spot: Exclusive groups with monopoly on the truth.

And lastly you have the elaborate pranks, with business believing that "followers" generate more money than "customers", including leaving more money in the till where the businesses may be tax-exempt. Their Christmas story begin like this:

And it came to pass in those days that there went out a decree from the Internal Revenue Service that all the businesses in the land should be taxed.

(And this taxing was first made when the British held possesions in the land.)

And all managers went to be taxed, every one into his own city.

And Hubbard also went up from Nebraska, out of the county of Tilden, into the District of Columbia, unto the city of the Internal Revenue Service, which is called Washington: (because he wanted to argue his case;)

To not be taxed as a business, an entity he believed was a religion.

Touching story. Just think of how the world would have been if Jesus had been tried for tax evading, Muhammed did not rise through the seven heavens but rather sent through seven different departments at the tax office, Buddha had known that suffering stems from the IRS, Confucius had been a tax lawyer and Tao Te Ching had been an Asian tax code. A very different world indeed.

[Meg 368]

Originally posted by: Voar Tok

Originally posted by: SkiGeek

Edit:  and since when is Computer Science not a "real" university degree?   or am I misunderstanding you there?quote>

It'd better be!  That's my minor! quote>

Well, he did say "computer studies" not "computer science" so I figured maybe this was a new one that has cropped up since I graduated (there are a lot of those ).   So I googled and found this.  It looks like a "real" curriculum to me.

[Yoman3 5]

Hey, if belonging to the Jedi Religion would give me the power to crush cars with my hand, or not having the reach to pick something up, then I'd join

[Meg 368]

Originally posted by: krbe

Any way you try to define religion, you'll run into problems. quote>

Agreed.

Cults, on he other hand, are somewhat easier to spot: Exclusive groups with monopoly on the truth. quote>

Don't all religions claim a monopoly on the truth?  Or did you mean groups with exclusive membership?

[krbe 193]

Originally posted by: SkiGeek Don't all religions claim a monopoly on the truth?  Or did you mean groups with exclusive membership?quote>

"Groups" is the keyword. Christianity is a nice religion to look upon this problems, with a myriad of different groups. Though all groups believe they're the "right" group, most of them are very inclusive. As a Protestant, you believe that Catholics are missing out on something, and doing (and especially did) some things wrong. Ditto with Catholics v. Protestants, but that doesn't mean that they believe that the others are condemned to hell for that. There's also few (if any being enforced by the group) restrictions on their members. At the end of the day, it's difficult to see if any of them could claim the exlusive truth: Catholisism as the original religion, with God's man on Earth personified by the pope, and Protestants which believe continued the religious practices as the Church became more of a business later. Contra the Witnesses of Jehova, which has a far more exlusive view of both the truth and members.

[Explodingsims 3]

Huh, that's not something you see every day...or should ever have to see...

This seems to taking movie fandom a bit too far...

[hym 358]

Originally posted by: SkiGeek

Originally posted by: krbe

Any way you try to define religion, you'll run into problems. quote>

Agreed.

Cults, on he other hand, are somewhat easier to spot: Exclusive groups with monopoly on the truth. quote>

Don't all religions claim a monopoly on the truth?  Or did you mean groups with exclusive membership?quote>

That depends on how you want to define "monopoly on the truth."  There is a distinction that, as I understand it, excludes a lot of the mainstream religions from qualifying for cult status on that ground, but some might argue it's a meaningless distinction.

[Smarty218 2]

O...M....G.....

I WANNA BE A JEDI!!!

How do you convert?!

[Meg 368]

Originally posted by: hym

That depends on how you want to define "monopoly on the truth."  There is a distinction that, as I understand it, excludes a lot of the mainstream religions from qualifying for cult status on that ground, but some might argue it's a meaningless distinction.quote>

What is this (possibly meaningless) distinction?

Originally posted by: Smarty218

O...M....G.....

I WANNA BE A JEDI!!!

How do you convert?!quote>

 

You must be a padawan first, youngling.  

[Jasoncw 11,949]

You're definitely too old, though I'm sure the sith will still take you.

[panthersimcity4 162]

oh, Jedi-ism? I totally heard about that. The only problem with those Jedi-ist people is that they ring your doorbell continuously until you answer. Then after giving you a pamphlet about their religion, they ask their moms to drive them home.

[Rymac91 15]

Originally posted by: Smarty218 O...M....G.....

I WANNA BE A JEDI!!!

How do you convert?!quote>

I find your excess of faith disturbing.

[Smarty218 2]

Originally posted by: Rymac91

Originally posted by: Smarty218 O...M....G.....

I WANNA BE A JEDI!!!

How do you convert?!quote>

I find your excess of faith disturbing.quote>

You underestimate the power of the dark side.

[Palpatine001 57]

Ok, seems a lot of banter going on here about Darth Vader attacking jedi, then some errr nonsense on scientology so I better release an official statement

Per Order 66, Vader along with the 501st are to use what ever means neccessary to eliminate the Jedi, so therefore the attack by Vader on the Jedi is of nothing to be alarmed of

Peace, Security, Stability that is the moto of the Empire.

As for scientology:

[orders Tarkin]

You may fire when ready...

[sithlrd98 66]

Yes, my master, The sith will one day rule the galaxy as it was , as it should be!

[Meg 368]

As far as I can tell, the difference between a "religion" and "cult" is duration of existence. 

"Cults" are new; "religions" have been around for a while.  

and most (if not all) religions started out as "cults" (at least in some people's eyes).

[Duke87 1,070]

Originally posted by: Rymac91

Originally posted by: Smarty218 O...M....G.....

I WANNA BE A JEDI!!!

How do you convert?!quote>

I find your excess of faith disturbing.quote>

That comment wins several internets.

---

Anyways, um, aren't there Trekkies who have Klingon weddings and whatnot? Seems only fair that the Star Wars side gets its fair share of nerdy insanity.

Actually, I shouldn't talk. I did go to see Episode III dressed in a Jedi costume. For the hell of it. Because I could. And because plenty of other people have been known to do such things so it didn't feel so outlandish. Wearing it in day to day life, however, would be.

And, well, for less mainstream nerdiness, there is also that petition declaring Megaman as God. Was intended as a joke, but 489 people have signed it as of this writing....

(and no, I am not one of them)

Fight, Megaman, for Everlasting Peace!

....of your soul.

[rodrigogua 1]

that's kinda funny. poor guys though