Was Jediism shown to be a religion in Episodes I-VI?
Star Wars: Rogue One introduced the character Chirrut Imwe who is described as:
a spiritual warrior-monk
He and his friend Baze Malbus were guardians of a Jedi temple on Jedha:
a world of worship for those who believed in the Force, and a holy site for pilgrims who sought spiritual guidance
A couple of times we hear Chirrut chant something that's sounds like a prayer,
I am with the Force and the Force is with me
e.g. when they are imprisoned by Saw Gerrera. Baze jokes that Chirrut is praying for the cell door to just open, to which he replies that Baze was once the most devoted guardian of them all and knows that it's possible.
But the Force isn't something magical (cough ... Midi-chlorians ... cough), although that knowledge may not be universially known.
Watching the previous movies I didn't get the impression that the Jedi and the Force were considered "holy" or that they were worshipped in such a "religous" way (e.g. prayers and pilgrimages), but it's been a while since I watched those movies and it's totally possible I missed certain references.
My Question:
- Have the previous movies shown people praying to the Force and worshipping the Jedi as "holy" figures?
Best Answer
At least in episode 4 we get the impression that OTHERS thought of it as a religion.
VADER
Don't be too proud of this technological terror you have created.
The ability to destroy a planet, or whole system is insignificant next to the power of the Force.MOTTI
Don't try to frighten us with your sorcerer's ways, Lord Vader. Your sad devotion to that ancient religion has not helped you conjure up those stolen data tapes... or given you clairvoyance enough to find the rebel's hidden fortress. I have to laugh .. ah ...
Suddenly Motti chokes and starts to turn blue under Vader's spell.
VADER
I find your lack of faith disturbing.
TARKIN
Enough of this!
Watching episode 1-3 the Jedi do at least have a mystical element to them, and they themselves meditate alot. But other then the "prayers" in Rogue One as far as I remember we never see any overt or "traditional" practicing of a religion. At most hero worship, and fear by those fighting a Jedi.
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Can Jediism be classed as a religion?
Jediism, the worship of the mythology of Star Wars, is not a religion, the Charity Commission has ruled. The commission rejected an application to grant charitable status to The Temple of the Jedi Order.Is Jedi a religion in Star Wars?
As religions dedicated to the Force formed, various linguistics formed with it. Religions of the Force are dogmas that are devoted to the Force. The most common examples of Force religions are the Jedi and the Sith, where the Jedi follow the light side of the Force and the Sith follow the dark side.What religion is Jediism based on?
Jediism is inspired by certain elements of Star Wars, namely the fictional religion of the Jedi. Early websites dedicated to bringing up a belief system from the Star Wars films were "The Jedi Religion and regulations" and "Jediism".Is Jedi an official religion in the US?
There are now Jedi churches in New Zealand and the United Kingdom (177,000 people registered as Jedi in the UK in 2011). More than 15,000 people have also registered as Jedi in the Czech Republic. Jediism may not be recognized as an official religion in the United States.Can Jediism be classed as a religion?
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Answer 2
A slight correction which may provide insight towards an answer;
The temple Chirrut and Beze protect was not a Jedi Temple, it was a Kyber Temple.
These were force attuned artifacts that the Jedi believed to 'border on sentience', and as such were revered by both Jedi and Sith alike.
Baze and Chirrut were guardians of the temple, but clearly the depiction of Baze as an agnostic or even atheist would seek to demonstrate that to acquire this profession, one does not necessarily even have to believe in the spirituality of Kyber crystals. It would seem that whilst Chirrut is a monastic figure who sees his role as an vocation, Baze saw it simply as an occupation.
Whilst Chirrut's belief in the force would be similar to a Museum guardsman being an active historian, it does not necessitate a worship of the Jedi; merely a belief in the power of the force. A belief shared by the Jedi.
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