{"id":19047,"date":"2013-11-11T10:31:20","date_gmt":"2013-11-11T15:31:20","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/religionprof\/?p=19047"},"modified":"2013-11-11T10:31:20","modified_gmt":"2013-11-11T15:31:20","slug":"growth-of-the-jedi","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/religionprof\/2013\/11\/growth-of-the-jedi.html","title":{"rendered":"Growth of the Jedi"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

Tomorrow in my class on religion and science fiction, we\u2019ll be talking about non-theistic religion depicted in science fiction, in movies like Star Wars and Avatar.<\/p>\n

Today Religion Nerd<\/a> brought two links to my attention. One is a Fox News interview about Jediism<\/a>. The second is Benjamin Svetkey\u2019s article \u201cChurch of the Jedi\u201d<\/a> about spending time with a group of practicing Jedi. Here\u2019s a quote:<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, we don\u2019t worship Yoda,\u201d says Tennessee-born Ally Thompson, a pretty, chatty 28-year-old Padawan (and Iraq-war vet) who is to be knighted at the ceremony. \u201cAnd telekinesis is not something that we necessarily do\u2014at least not like in the movies. But I won\u2019t deny that the Force is very present in our teachings. Some people call it magic. Some call it Ashe. The scientific community calls it energy. But it\u2019s everywhere. You can find it in the Bible. When Moses parted the Red Sea\u2014how did he do that? With energy. With the Force.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Click through<\/a> to read more of its discussion of both Jediism on its own terms and in comparison with Christianity.<\/p>\n

Of related interest, American Jesus shared a painting<\/a> of Darth Vader carrying Jesus through the rubble of 9\/11. Any attempt to explain why someone made such a painting would be welcome!<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Finally, here is how you can identify if your child will grow up to be a Jedi<\/a>, even if they are too young to speak:<\/p>\nhttp:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=IgDrOI78ru8<\/a>\n

UPDATE: There is more about the painting by Cedric Chambers, the title of which is \u201cThe Prophet,\u201d at Matthew Paul Turner\u2019s blog<\/a> and The Huffington Post<\/em><\/a>. And let me add Jeff Carter\u2019s strangest nativity set ever<\/a>:<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Tomorrow in my class on religion and science fiction, we\u2019ll be talking about non-theistic religion depicted in science fiction, in movies like Star Wars and Avatar. Today Religion Nerd brought two links to my attention. One is a Fox News interview about Jediism. 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