User:PaulS99/sandbox

Paul - Editing Origin of Beliefs
PaulS99 (talk) 18:10, 22 March 2012 (UTC) Hey Guys, I will expand upon the origins and inspiration behind Jediism and will add an additional section on further reading suggestions.

Original Version
Origin of Beliefs

George Lucas has cited history as his inspiration for creating the Force, saying in a Wired interview:

Similar phrases have been used extensively by many different people for the last 13,000 years to describe the 'life force'."[8]

He also stated during a 1999 interview with journalist Bill Moyers that while he hesitated to call the Force "God", that his aim was in fact to evoke a spiritual awakening in young people.[9]

Discussion/Thoughts on Edit
PaulS99 (talk) 18:22, 22 March 2012 (UTC) I will focus on the inspiration Lucas received behind The Conception of the "Force" and possibly include more interviews explaining what Lucas meant when he wanted to "evoke a spiritual awakening" in young people.

PaulS99 (talk) 18:34, 22 March 2012 (UTC) Lucas was born and raised in a strong Methodist family.

PaulS99 (talk) 18:38, 22 March 2012 (UTC) So why did Lucas want to add a spiritual/religious element to Star Wars? According to an interview conducted by PBS, Lucas said, “There was no modern mythology to give kids a sense of values, to give them a strong mythological fantasy life. Westerns were the last of that genre for Americans. Nothing was being done for young people with real psychological underpinnings.

PaulS99 (talk) 19:09, 23 March 2012 (UTC) The Force may be equated to other religions' and cultures' beliefs such as the Indian prana, the Chinese qi, the Daoist dao, and the Christian Holy Spirit.

PaulS99 (talk) 19:11, 23 March 2012 (UTC) The family name of Skywalker is highly religious – shamanic: a walker of the sky. It links perfectly with the Jedi – an order of warrior knights, apparently based on the Knights Templar, in which both father Anakin and son Luke are being trained

PaulS99 (talk) 19:11, 23 March 2012 (UTC) Their mastery of the Force is to nurture it for good – for a higher purpose, not just for material – worldly – gains. Their techniques are the use of the Force for knowledge and defence, their final goal is the ascent of the soul, to “the Otherworld”

PaulS99 (talk) 19:14, 23 March 2012 (UTC) Jedi had come to the understanding that the true power of the Force lay not through contemplation and passivity but true potential could be gained by tapping its dark side. The Jedi Council rejected this interpretation. An interesting aspect of the dark side of the force is that there can only be two – no more, no less: a master and an apprentice.

PaulS99 (talk) 18:33, 25 March 2012 (UTC) Now That I have discussed what inspired Lucas to conceive of the Force, I shall document the main inspirations behind the beliefs of the "Order Of The Jedi" and the founding of the Jedi Church.

PaulS99 (talk) 20:57, 25 March 2012 (UTC) Should I compare the parallels of Jediism with each religion?

PaulS99 (talk) 21:09, 25 March 2012 (UTC) The Origins section will provide a paragraph on Lucas's inspiration and the remaining paragraphs will focus on the inspirations/origins of the Jediism religion.

Zac NY (talk) 03:58, 28 March 2012 (UTC) Your sections are really well written. Nice...

Tomcopter (talk) 04:51, 28 March 2012 (UTC) Indeed, nice job Paul. Very nicely written.

PaulS99 (talk) 14:17, 28 March 2012 (UTC) Thanks guys!

Revised/Expanded Section on Origins/Inspiration
PaulS99 (talk) 19:24, 23 March 2012 (UTC) Here are two paragraphs I plan to add to the Origins Section

Lucas learned about the myths that pervade many disparate cultures from the writing of anthropologist Joseph Campbell. He adapted much of Campbell’s mythology to fit into the spirit of his space opera. He was particularly inspired by Masks of God and The Hero with a Thousand Faces (citation to http://www.philipcoppens.com/starwars.html)

Lucas has been questioned many times on his motivation to add a spiritual and religious element to his acclaimed science fiction space opera. He responds by saying “There was no modern mythology to give kids a sense of values, to give them a strong mythological fantasy life. Westerns were the last of that genre for Americans. Nothing was being done for young people with real psychological underpinnings.” (citation to http://www.pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters/episodes/george-lucas/about-george-lucas/649/)

PaulS99 (talk) 21:03, 23 March 2012 (UTC) Here are more substantive edits to my two original paragraphs with appropriate citations.

Lucas learned about the myths that pervade many disparate cultures from the writing of Joseph Campbell, an anthropologist, mythologist and comparative theologian. He adapted much of Campbell’s mythology to fit into the spirit of his space opera. He was particularly inspired by Campbell's Masks of God and The Hero with a Thousand Faces. . Lucas had already written two drafts of Star Wars when he rediscovered The Hero with a Thousand Faces in 1975. This text gave Lucas the focus he needed to flesh out his sprawling imaginary universe, complete with its spiritual elements, into a single story.

Lucas has been questioned many times on his motivation to add a spiritual and religious element to his highly acclaimed science fiction space opera. He responded by saying that “There was no modern mythology to give kids a sense of values, to give them a strong mythological fantasy life. Westerns were the last of that genre for Americans. Nothing was being done for young people with real psychological underpinnings.”

PaulS99 (talk) 19:04, 25 March 2012 (UTC) Here is my latest additions regarding the inspiration behind the interpretation of the force in Jediism.

Organized Jedi institutions, acknowledge that their beliefs are not purely inspired or based around the force as portrayed in the Star Wars Movies. They are also inspired by ancient philosophies such as Taoism, Buddhism, Hinduism, Christianity, Kabbalah, amongst others. Historically, the term “Force” was used as early as 3000 years ago, by adherents of the Taoist belief. It was popularized in a Chinese text written in the 6th century BC, entitled “Tao-tê-king” or “The Way of the Force”. Additionally, Jediism draws inspiration from the Buddhist idea of Ch'i, the living force. .

PaulS99 (talk) 20:55, 25 March 2012 (UTC) I might add this paragraph which attests to the establishment of official Jediism religious organizations.

The International Church of Jediism was founded by Daniel Jones, and has 500,000 members worldwide. . On January 12th 2009, The Government of Canada granted Order of the Jedi Inc. The world’s first Federally Incorporated Non-Profit Religious Entity. It is imperative to note that while followers of Jediism acknowledge the research and inspiration of George Lucas in outlining their belief system, they do not view him as a God or a supreme being. .

PaulS99 (talk) 01:42, 28 March 2012 (UTC) '''Here is my final edit. I will be adding an additional section on further reading and adding a section giving a very basic introduction to Jediism, to differentiate it from the section on the origin of its beliefs'''

Origins Of Beliefs(Edited Section)

George Lucas has cited history as his inspiration for creating the Force, saying in a Wired magazine interview:

Similar phrases have been used extensively by many different people for the last 13,000 years to describe the 'life force'."

Lucas learned about the myths that pervade many disparate cultures from the writing of Joseph Campbell, an anthropologist, mythologist and comparative theologian. He adapted much of Campbell’s mythology to fit into the spirit of his space opera. He was particularly inspired by Campbell's Masks of God and The Hero with a Thousand Faces. Lucas had already written two drafts of Star Wars when he rediscovered The Hero with a Thousand Faces in 1975. This text gave Lucas the focus he needed to flesh out his sprawling imaginary universe, complete with its spiritual elements, into a single story.

Lucas was inspired by an abstract film produced in 1963 called 21-87, which featured a debate between Warren McCulloch (an artificial intelligence pioneer) and Roman Kroiter (the developer of IMAX). This stimulating exchange prompted him to conceive of The Force, along with the diverse spiritual elements of Star Wars, and meld it into a highly technological and futuristic setting.

Lucas has been questioned many times on his motivation to add a spiritual and religious element to his acclaimed science fiction space opera. He responded by saying that “There was no modern mythology to give kids a sense of values, to give them a strong mythological fantasy life. Westerns were the last of that genre for Americans. Nothing was being done for young people with real psychological underpinnings.”

Lucas stated during a 1999 interview with journalist Bill Moyers that while he hesitated to call the Force "God", his aim was to evoke a spiritual awakening in young people.

Beliefs of Jediism (Additional Section)

There is no official consensus as to the origins or definition of the word "Jedi", and George Lucas has remained tight-lipped about its actual origin. It has been linked to various Japanese and Chinese dialects and it roughly translates to "beloved By God" in Hebrew.

Organized Jedi institutions state that their beliefs are not purely inspired or based around the Force, as portrayed in the Star Wars Movies. Jediism is also inspired by ancient philosophies and religions such as Taoism, Buddhism, Hinduism, Christianity and Kabbalah, amongst others.

Historically, the term “Force” was used as early as 3000 years ago, by adherents of the Taoist belief. It was popularized in a Chinese text written in the 6th century BC, entitled “Tao-tê-king” or “The Way of the Force”. Additionally, Jediism draws inspiration from the Buddhist idea of Ch'i, “The Living Force”. It is imperative to note that while followers of Jediism acknowledge the research and inspiration of George Lucas in creating an essential tenet of their belief system, they do not view him as a God or a supreme being. .

Further Reading Suggestions
- Phelan, John Henry. Barwell, Mark. Finch, Hans Thomas (2010) The Way of Jediism

This book introduces the general reader to the philosophies and practices of Jediism. It outlines the 16 basic teachings of the Jedi and discusses its importance and relevance in the 21st century. This text describes the procedures of conducting various formal events in the Jedi tradition.

- Vossler, Matthew Todd (2009) Jedi Manual Basic - Introduction to Jedi Knighthood

Jedi Manual Basic by Matthew Vossler introduces the requirements of becoming a Jedi Knight. There are assigned projects that can be considered basic "tests" to become a Jedi Knight. The book also covers all aspects of Jedi philosophy and acknowledges its diverse sources of inspiration. In this regard, the book acts as a starter to other resources for further investigation and study.

- Jones, Daniel M. (2005) Book of Jediism Volume 1

Daniel M. Jones is the founder of the International Church of Jediism. This book explains the belief system of Jediism in great detail and provides readers with a personal study guide. This is the earliest known book on the tenets of Jediism, structured in the context of an organized belief system.

- http://www.churchofjediism.org.uk/Home.html The International Church of Jediism

The International Church of Jediism, based in the United Kingdom, has the largest media presence. It has its own Facebook, Twitter and YouTube channels/groups. Here, the doctrine of Jediism is outlined and potential members can join the official mailing list.

- http://www.jedichurch.org/ The Jedi Church

The Jedi Church based in New Zealand. It is regularly updated with the latest news and videos about Jediism. It has a Jedi Store containing Jediism texts and other fictional novels based on the Star Wars Universe.

- Cusack, Carole M. (2010) Invented Religions: Imagination, Fiction and Faith

Carole M. Cusack (PhD Religious Studies) studies the rise of invented religions, particularly Jediism. Cusack identifies how Jediism became a topic of controversy in statistical analysis of religions, particularly in the United Kingdom and Australia. She also notes several criticism of the religion.

Original Version
Practitioners identify themselves with the Jedi Knights in Star Wars, believe in the existence of the Force and that interaction with the Force is possible.[2] Believers align themselves with the moral code demonstrated by the fictional Jedi.[3] One Jedi church described the religion as syncretistic, incorporating beliefs from various religious philosophies including Christianity, Stoicism, Buddhism, Taoism and Shintoism.[4]

A common belief among Jedi is the Jedi Code, sometimes referred to as the Orthodox Jedi Code. This is used as a guiding principle.[5]

The code reads

There is no emotion, there is peace. There is no ignorance, there is knowledge. There is no passion, there is serenity. There is no death, there is the Force.[6]

Sometimes another line is added between the third and fourth lines of the above version of the code, making the code read

There is no emotion, there is peace. There is no ignorance, there is knowledge. There is no passion, there is serenity. There is no chaos, there is harmony. There is no death, there is the Force.[7]

Expanded/Revised Version
Practitioners identify themselves with the Jedi Knights in Star Wars, believe in the existence of the Force and that interaction with the Force is possible. Believers align themselves with the moral code similar to that demonstrated by the fictional Jedi.Although there are different sects of Jediism, there is a central belief system set in place, with its own tenets, creed and moral inhibitions that go past the Lucas films.

One of the core teachings of Jediism is the idea of "spiritual commonality," as stated so by the central church of Jediism, the Temple of the Jedi Order. Spiritual commonality is the belief that all religions, share a simularity among them. The core ideal teaches the followers of Jediism to embrace this similarity and to respect every religion whilst celebrating individuality. Jediism allows for other religious beliefs to be incorporated into the Jedi doctrine, such as the wearing of hoods in public.

The basis of the religion revolves around The Force. The Force is believed to be the entity from which everything comes. It is a place where everything exists and where everything returns to after existing, giving the religion very comparable roots to some interpretations of Abrahamic religions, as well as some simularities to eastern religions. The Force can also be classified as energy, either good or bad. It is believed that those who follow the Jedi path are attuned to sense The Force, and experience the constant shifting of it.

While the belief in The Force is the soul of the religion, it is not worshiped. The Temple of the Jedi Order calls the religion it promotes syncretistic. The religion is made up of myths and beliefs of two or more already existing religions. It is possible for some to identify as Jedi whilst being of traditional faith such as Christianity or Judaism. While there are those that identify themselves as pure followers of Jedi (Pure Land following), these distinctions exist because The Temple does not ground it's teachings in the fiction, but instead uses the base of the fiction and the myths that come from it to better explain what their belief in The Force.

Even though there are many churches and sects of Jediism, there is a centralized belief in the form of the Orthodox Jedi Code. Most sects of the religion fllow this code, although some sects bring in a separate code and laws within their separate chapter.:

There is no Emotion; there is Peace

There is no Ignorance; There is Knowledge

There is no Passion; There is Serenity

There is no Chaos; There is Harmony

There is no Death; There is the Force

The Orthodox Jedi Code follows with three Tenets. These three tenets are Focus, Knowledge and Wisdom. When used in unison, they illuminate the journey of life for the follower of the Jedi Order

Jediism also has a day to day code that all followers of the Jedi path should believe in and try to uphold. This code states that the beliefs of every Jedi should be:

- In the inherent worth of every person. People are worthy of respect, support and caring simply because they are human.

- In working towards a culture that is relatively free of discrimination on the basis of gender, race, sexual orientation, national origin, degree of ability, etc.

- In the sanctity of the human person. The Order opposes the use of torture and cruel pr unusual punishment, including the death penalty.

- In the importance of democracy withing religious, political and other structures.

- In the separation of church and state; and the freedoms of speech, association, and expression.

- That the systems of truth in the field of morals, ethics and religious belief that we have studied are not absolute; they vary by culture, religion and over time.

- In the generally positive influence that most religions have had on their followers and society.

- In the importance of individual believers determining evil influences and policies within their chosen faith group, and advocate their correction.

- In the importance of education. The Order believes that people are not truly educated unless they have studied at least the world's major religions and ethical systems. They need to learn the good and the bad impacts they have had on society.

In addition to these rules which govern the central beliefs of Jediism, there are also the 21 Maxims. The 21 Maxims are a way for the betterment of a Jedi and serve as a guideline for upholding the beliefs of the Jedi Order. The Maxims are a larger versions of the 12 Vows that a Jedi takes, and expand on information stored in the Vows.

I. Prowess

A Jedi must seek to be exceptional in many fields. These include physical and mental, as well as emotional and spiritual. To do this, a Jedi must be patient and learned in discipline.

II. Justice

A Jedi should always follow the right path. A Jedi must not get swayed by dark intent.

III. Loyalty

A Jedi must be loyal to those that matter to him. These include family, important family persons and the Order.

IV. Defense

The ideal Jedi Knight is sworn by oath to defend the Light. This includes the defense of your nation, family and your name.

V. Courage

A Jedi must be willing to be courageous and show their brevity when no one will. It is in situations where courage needs to be shown where a Jedi finds his inner self.

VI. Faith

A Jedi's strength comes from The Force. The Force guides the path that is laid out for the Jedi to walk on, but The Force has no power if the Jedi is not faithful to The Force.

VII. Humility

Value the contributions of others to the cause. DO not seek to impose your contributions as dominant over others. Be humble in what you are given, and what you give.

VIII. Fearlessness

Fear leads to the Dark side. Fear leads to anger, anger leads to hate, and hate leads to suffering.

IX. Nobility

Seek to do your righteous duty as a Jedi Knight. Walk on the right path, and do so while helping those around you.

X. Franchise

Seek to do everything in a way that is most sincere. Usage of The Force for personal gain, however small could be disastrous and lead to the Dark Side.

XI. Pure Motive

It is true that actions speak louder than words. The purpose behind each action that you do should be accompanied by the purest motive possible.

XII. Discipline

A Jedi's mind should be clear. The clarity of the mind provides discipline. Discipline allows the Jedi to make informed choices when making a decision.

XIII. Focus

A Jedi must realize that while history is important, it is also in the making, and the Jedi should focus on the moment.

XIV. Discretion

It is sometimes necessary for a Jedi to practice discretion. A Jedi should strive to create a aura of justice, not just for themselves, but for everyone around them. Even though a Jedi might not agree with some beliefs, they must be ready to lay their lives down for people to make their own choice.

XV. Meditation

Meditation is a important part of communicating with The Force. Meditation allows for a clear mind and informed decisions.

XVI. Training

A Jedi's training in the Force never ends. A Jedi should always remember that they do not know everything, and that there is always something new to learn. A Jedi's training is never done.

XVII. Integrity

A Jedi's responsibility to the Force is to be honest with himself. As long as the Jedi is not acting for his own self-interest and observes the Code, he is obeying the will of the Force.

XVIII. Morality

A Jedi does not judge. A Jedi is a defender of choice, and must defend all choice, whether or not they agree with them.

XIX. Engaging in Conflict

Conflict is a normal part of life. A Jedi must always try and avoid conflict, and if engaged in a conflict, resolve the conflict with as much humility as possible.

XX. Intervention

A Jedi must interfere with evil if they know of it, in any possible way.

XXI. Harmonizing

A Jedi should know that the way of The Force is for the purpose of harmonization. A Jedi should be in balance with everything, be it living, or not, for without balance, a Jedi can fall into the wrong path.

Becoming a Jedi
There are two ways to become a Jedi. The first way is to petition the higher council of the Jedi Order to administer a test consisting of approximately five essay questions. The council determines the the potential Jedi's motives, faith and purpose by reviewing the test. The second way to join the Jedi Order is to receive nomination by a higher ranked Jedi. A recommendation from one who has attained at least the rank of Jedi Scholar or Knight Commander is required before the decision is reviewed by the council.

Once the potential Jedi either passes the test or is nominated, they must recite an oath. There are two types of oaths: the Solemn Oath, reserved exclusively for Jedi Knights and the Simplified Oath, for pledges. The Oaths both require the potential follower to recite their name and birth date, as well as to announce their decision to join the Order is of free will. The potential Jedi must also pledge to uphold the code and beliefs of the religion. While the potential Jedi is restricted to the Simplified Oath, those who have achieved the rank of Jedi Knight recite the Solemn Oath.

A Jedi must also follow the 12 vows presented to them. These include:

The Vow of Respect: Respect for all things, living and inanimate, including the Jedi themselves.

The Vow of Humility: A Jedi is not above anyone or anything else and must be humble for what they have and who they are.

The Vow of Contemplation: To keep a clear mind and follow an objective perspective in all situations.

The Vow of Moderation: A Jedi must survive with balance. Either too little or a thing, or too much can cause distress.

The Vow of Attachment: Jedi are encouraged to love, and build a strong foundation on it.

The Vow of Industry: A Jedi should not be lazy. A Jedi should use the talents they have for good.

The Vow of Restraint: A Jedi must show restraint and respect when handling matters with others. A Jedi must minimize conflict with the greatest amount of restraint.

The Vow of Defense: To defend those that need defending and to not stand idle while others suffer.

The Vow of Chastity: A Jedi must keep base human desires at bay.

The Vow of Obedience: A Jedi must be obedient to the laws placed under them. A Jedi must also use their instinct and the conscience when making decisions.

The Vow of Cleanliness: A Jedi must be clean in both their body, and their mind.

The Vow of Charity: A Jedi must be giving, and must be willing to share what they have with those who do not.

Along with the 12 Vows, a Jedi must recite the Creed for the Path of the Jedi:

I believe in the living force of creation;

I am a Jedi; an instrument of peace;

Where there is hatred; I shall bring love;

Where there is injury; pardon;

Where there is doubt; faith;

Where there is despair; hope;

Where there is darkness; light;

Where there is sadness; joy;

I am a Jedi;

I shall never see so much to be consoled, as to console;

To understand as to understand;

To be loved as to love;

For it is in giving that we receive;

In pardoning that we are pardoned;

And in dying that we are born to eternal life.

The Living Force of Creation is always with me; I am a Jedi

Religious Hierarchy
The Jedi Order is arranged in a hierarchy. Several requirements need to be met to reach a subsequent rank.

The Ranks are:

Jedi Knight Novice: A novice that must complete a curriculum of study based on the religion in order to advance.

Jedi Knight Initiate: A initiate who has completed the basic curriculum presented to the novice level. A initiate must complete a subsequent, advanced version of study to advance.

Jedi Knight Apprentice: A apprentice who has completed the advanced version of the curriculum, and must now be instructed by a mentor of the Jedi Knight level or higher.

Jedi Knight: A Jedi Knight takes the Solemn Oath. They must also have completed the training given to them by their mentor, and must now take a mentor of their own to advance.

Senior Jedi Knight: A Jedi Knight who has taken an apprentice, and is mentoring the apprentice to the satisfaction of the council.

Jedi Grand Master Knight: A Jedi Knight whose mentor has reached the Jedi Knight level.

Jedi Scholar: A book keeper for the religion. A person who has shown a great deal of commitment to the religion.

Jedi Priest: The highest rank of the Jedi Hierarchy. A member of the council. An individual who has accepted the code and is living it to their highest capability.

Above the Jedi ranks, there is another clerical aspect to the hierarchy. In the hierarchy above the Jedi ranks lie the cleric ranks, very similar to that of Christianity. Ranks include Licensed Ministers, Deacons, Priests, Bishops, Auxiliary, Arch-Bishops, Cardinal Bishops, and the Patriarch or Matriarch.

Zac - Editing Reactions
Zac NY (talk) 02:30, 27 March 2012 (UTC) Hey, I will be adding to the public (and probably political) reactions to Jediism.

PaulS99 (talk) 01:10, 28 March 2012 (UTC) Hey, Were you able to find any political reactions to Jediism?

PaulS99 (talk) 01:11, 28 March 2012 (UTC) Great addition by the way! I feel that the atheists do make a strong argument in this case.

Zac NY (talk) 03:58, 28 March 2012 (UTC) Thanks! I found that the political reactions were largest and most documented by Australian and UK governments. They were mostly in response to the large campaigns encouraging citizens to declare themselves Jedi and the Atheist complaints against misrepresentation.

Original Version
Reaction

During the drafting of the UK Racial and Religious Hatred Act, as a tool for debate, an amendment was proposed that excluded Jedi Knights from any protection. The amendment was subsequently withdrawn, the proposer having made his point that defining religious belief in legislation is difficult.

In 2009, a Jedi was removed from a Tesco Supermarket in Bangor, North Wales, for refusing to remove his hood on a religious basis; the owner justified the boot by saying, "He hasn't been banned. Jedis are very welcome to shop in our stores although we would ask them to remove their hoods. Obi-Wan Kenobi, Yoda and Luke Skywalker all appeared hoodless without ever going over to the Dark Side and we are only aware of the Emperor as one who never removed his hood." The following year, a Jedi was thrown out of a Jobcentre in Southend, Essex, for refusing to remove his hood; he later received an apology.

Revised/Expanded Version
The rise of Jediism has sparked controversy among atheist groups primarily in Australia and the United Kingdom. Before a 2001 census, chain e-mails and internet campaigns suggested that census takers declare themselves Jedi on official documentation. The e-mails claimed that if over 10, 000 citizens declared themselves Jedi, the state would have to recognize Jediism as a fully legal religion. Other online campaigns reasoned census takers to "do it because you love Star Wars... or just to annoy people." In response to the online campaigns, atheist groups launched websites such as "Yourenotajedi.com" to inform census takers that declaring themselves as Jedi would inflate the number of religious groups and misguide government funding.

In preparation for the 2011 Australian census, the Atheist Foundation of Australia, Inc. urged Australian citizens to not identify themselves as Jedi Knights as over 70, 000 citizens did in the 2001 census. As the census sorts Jedi into a "not defined" category rather than "no religion," atheist groups argue that citizens should "make sure [their] interests are met in decision making and funding, and that views [they] don't hold are not over-represented"

Shortly after multiple campaigns supporting Jediism were launched in Australia, rumors circulated that the Australian Bureau of Statistics would issue $1000 (USD) fines to census takers making "false religious claims" by declaring Jediism as their religion. Despite threats made by the bureau, over 55, 000 citizens declared themselves as Jedi in a 2006 online census. Census takers often pointed to the Census and Statistics Act of 1905 that ensured personal location information would be kept separate from other information such as religious beliefs.

A similar situation occurred in United Kingdom. In a previous census, over 390, 000 citizens declared their official religion as Jediism. Atheists in the UK argued against the prank's more serious consequences, as declaring one's religion as Jediism detracts from the number of nonreligious citizens. As a result, religious groups would become over-represented and nonreligious groups would become under-represented and funds would be allocated improperly.

During the drafting of the UK Racial and Religious Hatred Act, as a tool for debate, an amendment was proposed that excluded Jedi Knights from any protection. The amendment was subsequently withdrawn, the proposer having made his point that defining religious belief in legislation is difficult.

In 2009, a Jedi was removed from a Tesco Supermarket in Bangor, North Wales, for refusing to remove his hood on a religious basis; the owner justified the boot by saying, "He hasn't been banned. Jedis are very welcome to shop in our stores although we would ask them to remove their hoods. Obi-Wan Kenobi, Yoda and Luke Skywalker all appeared hoodless without ever going over to the Dark Side and we are only aware of the Emperor as one who never removed his hood." The following year, a Jedi was thrown out of a Jobcentre in Southend, Essex, for refusing to remove his hood; he later received an apology.

Late in 2006, two Jedi Knights from the UK, John Wilkinson and Charlotte Law, petitioned the United Nations to alter the name of the "International Day for Tolerance" to the "Interstellar Day for Tolerance." The two Jedi believed the name changed reflected the religious make-up of twenty-first century civilization. Despite receiving media attention, no action has been taken to alter the name of annual International Day for Tolerance.