I am a Gnostic Jedi, what are you?

[Laurie Barnes]

So I was watching "The Big Picture", and it revealed to me something that I didn't already know. Either through jaded humor, or genuine virtue, the biggest unrecognized religion in New Zealand is, JEDI!

You see, I think we can learn a lot from the Star Wars series, as in the end it is just a prettied up analysis of the human condition, and the way people choose to amass power in our world. I learned many things from Star Wars, such as,

-Respect the elders, because they have the experience to know your mistakes before you make them.
-Be willing to evolve, because stagnation leaves you out of touch and vulnerable.
-Might is not right. Victory through violence cannot last, and subjugation through fear ensures your demise.
-Rage and Anger are powerful weapons in the short term, but will make you into a monster if you succumb to their influence.
-Just because you have the ability to change someone's mind doesn't mean you should, it is better to have them choose to change.

Does the fact that Star Wars is fiction make these lessons any less profound, no I don't think so. To the point do I think this in fact that I actually went out and found the official guide to being a Jedi, and study it whenever I feel doubt. I do not do it to learn telekinesis, or wield a laser sword, I do it to be a better person, and because while the lessons are the same, the Jedi are more relevant to me than Jesus Christ. TK and Lightsabers would be nice though.

http://newilluminatiprotocols.com/media/TheBookOfJedi-np.php?RSID=1134&r=jedi2 Jedi Manual.
http://www.escapistmagazine.com/videos/view/the-big-picture/2601-Nerd-Gods
What is your beliefs? What strange lessons have you learned from an something other than an official religion.

 

[ultrachicken]

That last thing you listed is entirely irrelevant in the real world, as mind control does not exist (yet).

Anyways, I thought you should know that the Jedi creed was based largely on Taoism.

 

[Laurie Barnes]

That last thing you listed is entirely irrelevant in the real world, as mind control does not exist (yet).

Anyways, I thought you should know that the Jedi creed was based largely on Taoism.

Oh Yeah. Let me put it to you a different way. I have a gun to your head. All you need to do to prevent my spackling of the walls with your gray matter is to tell me you agree with me. Just because I can't reach into your head and manipulate your thoughts does not mean I can't change your mind with force.

 

[Stickwell]

I am Sparticus.

 

[Jelly ^.^]

I am an aspiritual humanist.

 

[ultrachicken]

That last thing you listed is entirely irrelevant in the real world, as mind control does not exist (yet).

Anyways, I thought you should know that the Jedi creed was based largely on Taoism.

Oh Yeah. Let me put it to you a different way. I have a gun to your head. All you need to do to prevent my spackling of the walls with your gray matter is to tell me you agree with me. Just because I can't reach into your head and manipulate your thoughts does not mean I can't change your mind with force.

But that's not changing my mind, that's me telling you a lie. I wouldn't actually believe what I said.

 

[FalloutJack]

I am Sparticus.

I'm Sparticus!

 

[LogieBear]

Hold up . . . .I stopped at New Zealand
IM FROM THERE TOO! =P

OT:You are definatly right about Lightsabers heh
and the point about Might is not Right stands out very clear in the film

 

[Laurie Barnes]

That last thing you listed is entirely irrelevant in the real world, as mind control does not exist (yet).

Anyways, I thought you should know that the Jedi creed was based largely on Taoism.

Oh Yeah. Let me put it to you a different way. I have a gun to your head. All you need to do to prevent my spackling of the walls with your gray matter is to tell me you agree with me. Just because I can't reach into your head and manipulate your thoughts does not mean I can't change your mind with force.

But that's not changing my mind, that's me telling you a lie. I wouldn't actually believe what I said.

I can still dissuade you from a certain action by threatening you with force. If you honestly can't see where I am going with this you need to leave.

 

[ultrachicken]

That last thing you listed is entirely irrelevant in the real world, as mind control does not exist (yet).

Anyways, I thought you should know that the Jedi creed was based largely on Taoism.

Oh Yeah. Let me put it to you a different way. I have a gun to your head. All you need to do to prevent my spackling of the walls with your gray matter is to tell me you agree with me. Just because I can't reach into your head and manipulate your thoughts does not mean I can't change your mind with force.

But that's not changing my mind, that's me telling you a lie. I wouldn't actually believe what I said.

I can still dissuade you from a certain action by threatening you with force. If you honestly can't see where I am going with this you need to leave.

I don't appreciate that hostility.

So, you're saying that you're against extortion? That should really go without saying. You might as well add that you aren't a fan of killing, rape, and all sorts of crime while you're at it.

 

[guntotingtomcat]

I'm a determinist skeptic, which doesn't receive much representation.
I am open to being convinced, however, if presented with a more convincing philosophy.

 

[Blow_Pop]

Mormon-Taoist-Pagan-Jedi/Sith(I switch back and forth hard to pick just one)

Please don't ask how its possible just know it is. Main religion is Mormon though.


And cause I know someone will ask, Mormon who picks up things out of said other religions and incorporates into her own beliefs.

 

[Osaka117]

I'm a Haruhi-ist, but being a Jedi sounds pretty badass too. Well, there's no real strict rules to being a Haruhi-ist, so there's no reason why I can't be a Jedi too. Other than not being able to use the force that is.

 

[Benjamin Moore]

You are a Gnostic Jedi? That's interesting. Gnostic refers to a belief system of with a supreme being and all that; Christianity is sometimes seen as being gnostic. The main thing; however, is the concept of gnosis a Greek term meaning first-hand knowledge, for want of a better translation. In effect, the Gnostics believed that there existed a set of knowledge that would describe the entire universe, and that they could obtain this knowledge as a divine gift, a spiritual connection to the universe... OK, I think I see where the Jedi bit comes in. Hah, I had never noticed that!

Any way, I consider myself an Agnostic Theist. In the true sense: I explicitly believe there exists unknowable unknowns, basically due to the measurement problem and the Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle. I also consider this Theologically, and do not rule out the possibility of a higher power. Remember, Ockham's Razor is only a rule of thumb, and not a method of determining truth. It is basically a way of removing potential possibilities that are effectively similar with respect to measurements and decisions based on them, i.e. a way of simplifying the equations.

However, I consider the theological implications of this, and thus do not consider myself as an agnostic as usually considered by people (Don't believe in a specific God, but I want to believe in a higher power.)
I am a Catholic for this reason. While I disagree with some of the Catechism, Catholics base their beliefs on this text, rather than the bible directly. This means we have the ability to modify our belief system if the Pope deems it necessary. Case point was the recent back down on the use of condoms within a married couple where one of the partners has AIDS. It may seem like a small thing, but it means that although slow, the Church can evolve. Whereas an order based on a specific interpretation of the Bible cannot.

To me, much of what was in the Bible is extremely interesting, at least from an historic point of view. But the New Testament, and the story of Jesus, is still relevant today, and most objection with the Bible has little to do with these stories.

Finally, I came to the conclusion that whether or not there is a God is actually irrelevant; it is one of those unknowable unknowns. We cannot calculate probabilities on His existence, and so even Pascal's Wager doesn't really apply. What matters is how we live our life and treat those around us, a view I'm sure all people, atheists and religious alike would agree on. And to that point, we can look at Jesus again. Whether or not He was the Son of God is irrelevant again; the Bible indicates that He at least believed He was, and the actions He made on that belief is laudable and worthy of respect.

One final point: my own personal philosophy allows me an escape route here. I consider this to be my reality, but it is by no means immovable. Just because I haven't seen the face of God or whatever, doesn't mean that no-one can. If a direct observation on God is possible, and I mean possible, not scientifically proven (...cannot reproduce results, reject hypothesis...) someone else's reality could include God. To this end, I cannot state that my world view is correct, and their's is incorrect.

 

[StarStruckStrumpets]

That last thing you listed is entirely irrelevant in the real world, as mind control does not exist (yet).

Anyways, I thought you should know that the Jedi creed was based largely on Taoism.

Mind control doesn't exist?

I wonder what propaganda is used for then, to look pretty on walls?

 

[Xenetethrae]

I am Sparticus.

I am Sparticus.

I'm Sparticus!

Will the real Sparticus please step forth?


Oh, right...

I'm a Hoers!

 

[Mnemophage]

I'm one of those agnostic skeptic jerkheads, uncomfortably observing other peoples' religious bliss. I also have an interest in mythology (as a side-effect of my burning lifelong passion for literature! it's an important element of storytelling and to ignore its effects on the artform would hinder my development as a writer! rargh and even blargh!), so I'm going to sound like a blithering idiot to pretty much every permutation of faith or antifaith. People of faith take a hard opinion of my ambivalence towards the issue, while atheists and even fellow agnostics look distastefully on my admiration for the art of belief. One day I'm going to go to Rome, and despite all my pride and self-assurance, I just know I'm going to try to wheedle my way into the Vatican Archives solely on the argument of "come on, it'd be really cool".

I would convert in an instant if it got me lightning bolt, however. That's a third-level spell!

 

[Naheal]

Gnostic here.

 

[The Afrodactyl]

I am Sparticus.

I am Sparticus.

I'm Sparticus!

No, I'm Sparticus!

OT: Agnostic, although if forced to make a choice, I rock with the Pastafarians.