[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote
OK, in any discussion about "things of faith", it is important to
define the basic terms clearly. I suspect that based on Daniel's
definition of "religion", he's correct. Based on mine, he's incorrect:
The Official Short Definition of "Religion" According to Gregory J.
Neumann:
"Any organized system of beliefs used to explain the world 'as it is'
and provide a framework for ethical behaviors."
By my definition, Jedi qualifies within the context of the movies.
Outside of that, with Voodoo, Wiccan, etc. Most of the world's
religions actually do state that you can control events, things,
outcomes, etc. through ritual, "magic", "prayer", "novena", etc. In
all of these systems the "magic" only "works" because of the
underlying power and/or framework. The New Testament parable of the
corrupt judge and the widow is attributed to Christ as providing
encouragement that praying to the Father actually can and does
accomplish something.
So, Daniel, what's your "Official Short Definition"?
Don't ask me to define "ethical'''! ;-)
-Greg
I had a long email written, (or at least half written) but decided not
to send it in lue of patience. I'm glad I did. Greg said it better.
Definitions require context, and within the context of the movies (and
especially when you include the "Expanded Universe" of books, video
games, TV shows, cartoons, non-Episodal movies, etc.), Jedism or
Force-worship meets the requirements for my definition of a religion.
Here are some of the things that point to it being a religion. There
is a belief system, a set of rituals or practices, a set of rules and
teaching, meditation, Temple, supernatural forces (no pun intended),
leaders and followers, good and bad, right and wrong, prophecies, virgin
births, promised ones, an all permeating thing that acts on the universe
and responses to it. Remember, Daniel, the Force controls people as
much, if not more than, the people control the Force (the convo between
practitioner Obiwan and student Luke on the Millennium Falcon while he
was fighting the remote).
It all comes down to how an individual defines "religion" - for me, it
qualifies, for you it doesn't. Words do have definitions, but those
definitions need a context.
-Chad
