Jediism is a post-modern religious movement based upon the philosophical and spiritual ideas of the Jedi as depicted in Star Wars media.[1][2]
Media coverage
- In 2008, co-founder of the Church of Jediism Barney Jones and his cousin Michael were attacked as they were playing with lightsabers by drunken Arwel Wynne Hughes. He was dressed in a black bin bag and beat the two cousins with a metal crutch, resulting in a headache and bruising for the two victims.[3][4]
- On September 5, 2008 the first wedding ceremony by an ordained Jediism Minister was conducted in the State of Utah.[5]
- On March 15, 2009 Qsaltlake Magazine interviewed Jediism Minister Rev. Steve Ford of Temple of the Jedi Order about the Church's non discrimination policy concerning age, race, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability or national origin.[6]
- On December 8, 2009 Australian Jedi activist and founder of the Jedi Faith in Australia, Peter Lee, was interviewed by Marc Fennell of the TV program "Hungry Beast" in a piece called "Embedded with the Jedi". The interview did not make it to air on the programs Australian broadcast but was posted on the Hungry Beast website [7]
In politics
- In the drafting of the UK Racial and Religious Hatred Act, an amendment was proposed which specifically excluded Jedi Knights from any protection, alongside Satanists, Scientologists, sexists, racists, and believers in animal or human sacrifice.[8]
- On September 17, 2009, Church of Jediism founder, Daniel Jones, was banned from a Tesco Supermarket in Bangor, North Wales for refusing to remove his hood on a religious basis.[9]
- On March 7, 2010, Jediism was excluded in a U.K. act protecting organizations such as the Church of Scientology from discrimination. A Times report referring to the decision said "beliefs had to be heartfelt".[10]
- On March 17, 2010, Chris Jarvis, a member of the Church of Jediism was thrown out of a Jobcentre in Southend, Essex for refusing to remove his hood. He later received a formal apology from the Jobcentre.[11]
See also
References
- ^ Peter Bernard Clarke - New Religions in Global Perspective. Google Books. ISBN 9780415257480. - Accessed 1 June 2010
- ^ Lynne Hume, Kathleen McPhillips - Popular Spiritualities. Google Books. ISBN 9780754639992. - Accessed 1 June 2010
- ^ BBC News - Accessed 1 June 2010
- ^ Fox News - Accessed 1 June 2010
- ^ ksl.com news - Accessed 22 October 2010
- ^ qsaltlake.com magazine - Accessed 28 January 2011
- ^ http://hungrybeast.abc.net.au/stories/embedded-jedi
- ^ House of commons -- Racial and religious hatred bill Accessed 1 June 2010
- ^ Guardian.co.uk -- Daniel M. Jones evicted from Tesco. Accessed 23 January 2011
- ^ Times Online -- Jediism excluded from discrimination rights. Accessed 1 June 2010
- ^ Daily Mail -- Chris Jarvis thrown out of Jobcentre for wearing his hood. Accessed 1 June 2010
External links
- Church of Jediism - The Church of Jediism
- Temple of the Jedi Order - Temple of the Jedi Order