Jedi are peacemaker's, protectors, and respecters of life in the world/universe. We strive to serve rather than rule. Self and societal improvement are our cause. We recognize and accept that people have different views of life, faith, and meaning.

The Force:

"There is one all powerful force that binds the entire universe together. It is an energy field created by all living things. It surrounds us, penetrates us, and binds the galaxy together" --George Lucas.  It is the eternal, un- manifested life that animates all manifested forms.

The Force is an impersonal energy source. It is also the intelligence that set all things in place and motion along with the natural and spiritual laws. It is in us, of us, and through us, as well as all things in the Universe. It is energy, it is intelligence, it is love, it is eternal.

I believe Nostradamus spoke of the Jedi Force Religion around 1550 ACE, in one of his prophetic quatrains when he wrote, "The Religion of the name of the seas will win out"

A Jedi Religion?

Jediism has something for everyone. If you are not particularly religious, but spiritually minded, there are many Jedi groups like this one, that focus on the practical, hands on aspects to the ideas, such as martial arts and energy work. If you don't call yourself spiritual, the overlaps between Jediism and science can be interesting. If you are religious in nature, there are groups that focus on Jediism as a religion. See: http://www.orderofthejedi.ca/

All religions have at their core, a body of literature; stories told either by oral tradition or through the written word. Jediism is not different in this respect. Like the Sun, which existed before people gave it a name, Jedi see their beliefs grounded in truths that were here before the popular movies put a name to them. It is only natural that many spiritually minded people would resonate with and follow the notions put forth in the works of George Lucas.

The Jedi Code as was rewritten by Grand Master Luke Skywalker upon reestablishing the Jedi Order in the Galaxy:

Some further thoughts on Jediism:

By Master Zindel

The Force

I believe that the Force is known by other names, such as the Source or Source of Life, The Light, God, Chi, Kundalini, Zeus, Ra, and many others. The Force allows us to make choices and make mistakes. It does not interfere, but lets us find out for ourselves what is right or wrong based on the natural order of things including negative or positive consequences to our individual and collective actions.

There is a dark side of the Force. This is reflected in the dark side of our nature. To act on this part of one's nature is an individual choice.

I believe that we are all destined to return to the Force at the end of our journey and that it sometimes takes many life times for this to occur. When we return, we are whole and in a state of bliss. This is known as eternal consciousness.

Jedi as Knights

A Jedi or Jedi Knight is an ideal that one can strive for. A Jedi always wants to become better or improve him or her self. To me being a Jedi Master means that I am committed to improving myself, the conditions around me, and passing on what wisdom I can to those who are agreeable to learning.

A Jedi is someone who always strives for more but is not overly attached to outcomes. At the idealistic level, a Jedi has no attachments in this world, and in that respect, the Jedi faith is similar to the Buddhist philosophy and goal. In practicality, a Jedi lives according to the middle way, by embracing both the physical/material world and the spiritual nature of reality.

Also to be a Jedi is to have a reverence for and devotion to an aspect of reality that requires a leap of faith. For I do not believe that science has proved or disproved the existence of an all pervasive, intelligent, life-energy within the fabric of reality. A Force that binds the Universe and all things together; one that guides and teaches, nurtures and honors, loves and sustains. One that surrounds us, comes from us, flows through us and is our true selves. But a Jedi, by faith and experience, knows these things to be true!

A Jedi strives to come from a place of detachment and because of love, will take actions to defend, protect, and help. A Jedi can be detached ultimately because she or he knows that death is not really death, but an opportunity to transform into the Living Force at a higher level. To be detached is to be aware that all is interconnected and whole at the basic level. Love is the realization of this; to feel the presence of the one life beneath all life. Without detachment there is no awareness of true love, and it is out of love that a Jedi finds their purpose.

A Jedi in my view has a seriousness of mind that comes with wisdom. He or she has a respect for all life. Out of this respect and love for life, a Jedi has the disposition to protect and help others.

A Jedi believes that she or he can ask or draw upon the Living Force at any time and what a person does with the power is a matter of choice. In this respect the Force can be understood as an impersonal energy source. But I believe that it is more than that.

The faith itself can be a source of comfort and can help a person to hold him or herself to a high standard. Such a standard is somewhat subjective, as is much in this world. But we believe that every person has a knowledge of ultimate right and wrong written on their heart. In this respect, we are not moral relativists.

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These are current understandings. As my faith and the faith of the Jedi evolve, these beliefs can change. This is a normal part of the evolution of the human soul and psyche. An example is that at one time, it was doctrine of the Catholic Church that the World was flat, and that belief has been replaced by what we now know as truth.

On the Consciousness of Matter:

Where Einstein was concerned with the without of things, like time and space, Teilhard de Chardin was concerned with the within of things. 

Teilhard used the term within to denote the psychic face or consciousness of matter ~ since the beginning of time ~ which reveals itself in its innate urge to unite. 

Teilhard defines this innate urge to unite as an energy force in his famous Law of Complexity - Consciousness. The law states two principles: 

1. Throughout all time there has been an evolutionary tendency for all matter to unite and become increasingly complex in nature. 

2. With each increase in material complexity, there is a related rise in the consciousness of matter and an even greater urge to unite. 

Teilhard divided this fundamental energy into two distinct components ~ a Tangential energy which linked the element with all others of the same order and a Radial energy which represented the innate urge toward union and greater complexity as well as a leap in consciousness. 

Teilhard foresaw in the 1950's the eventual emergence of the NOOSPHERE where all minds would be connected and all information would be instantly available to anyone on the planet. 

As such, he has often been called the true spiritual father of the Internet where all of this is currently taking place. But very few people are aware that Teilhard also saw the emergence of the NOOSPHERE as a prelude to the SOULOSPHERE ~ where all hearts would be connected through social cooperation and altruism.

-Allen Roland 

© 2009 by the Maryland Jedi Order