"What is this Jediism? Isn`t it all star wars rubbish based on science fiction?" are common questions illustrating the experience of religious questioning and doubt. And even if these are often taken in the wrong way is questioning a part of faith? Are questions, even the very pointed ones which dangerously precipitate on doubt, not important to a dialogue that is actually a part of the act of believing? Doubt isn’t the opposite of faith, but rather an element of faith. It is necessary for us to grow and determine what we really believe. "If you don’t have any doubts, you are either kidding yourself or asleep... Doubts are the ants in the pants of faith." - Buechner 

On the other hand if you have no questions this is not a sign of faith, but a definite lack of depth. So ask the hard questions! Doubts are indeed the ants in the pants of faith! But while you`re at it please consider three important things first:

Bring an honest readiness to learn. Push and probe, object perhaps to the precipice of doubt – but as you ask, be open to answers. The fact is that answers only come when you entertain the possibility of actually learning something.

Bring the awareness that human understanding has its limits, and the deepest kind of knowing may be beyond its long arms. You must accept the limits of your understanding. By its very nature, faith is another way of knowing. It honors the mind, it’s reasonable, yet it’s a way of knowing that pushes deeper….

And finally remember you that learn through the doing. You grow in faith by living in faith. You learn to swim by jumping into the water. 

Let me tell you a story: there were three people in a small plane: the pilot, a Boy Scout, and the world’s smartest man. Everything is going well until the plane’s engine fails and the plane starts spiraling slowly down to earth. If that were not bad enough the pilot shares even more terrible news – there are only two parachutes on board.

The world’s smartest man quickly grabs one and says as he is jumping out of the plane, "I am sorry about this, but I am the world’s smartest man and I have a responsibility to the planet." The pilot then turns to the Boy Scout and in an act of unbelievable compassion and generosity speaks about how he has lived a long and wonderful life, that it was really his fault for not having the right number of parachutes on board, and that the Boy Scout is so young and has a whole lifetime in front of him. So he insists that the Boy Scout takes the last chute and live.

"Relax, Captain," the Boy Scout replies. "The world’s smartest man just jumped out of the plane with my backpack."

The world is full of  intelligent people who think they know everything but are making mistakes. We see this every day when we read or listen to the press where intelligent people make bad choices when it comes down to their faith in themselves or others or in whatever. One of the strangest paradoxes about faith is that it is often those who are learned by worldly standards who often treat faith as foolish and those who don’t have a top education or impressive references who seem more readily to grasp the kernel of spiritual life.

One thing we all share in common is that we are in a journey and like the pilot, smart guy, and Boy Scout, that journey no matter how splendid and long it is will eventually to come to an end. Not only do we have to figure out how we are going to live together on the plane but also we have to figure out how we want the journey will end. Are we going to reach for a parachute? If so, do we know which parachute will save us? How are we going to be absolutely sure? Or are we going to forego the parachute and believe we can make it on our own?

3rd Sunday of January (1950)- WORLD RELIGION DAY/JEDI RITE DAY

"The National Spiritual Assembly (of the Baha'is of the United States of America) has instituted an annual World Religion Day to be observed publicly by the Baha'i Communities wherever possible throughout the United States. The Third Sunday of January each year has been designated for this celebration."

"Main focus...the “Manifesto for peaceful, active inter-action among the religions...”. It had already been signed by 23 religious communities in Stuttgart. In the manifesto, the communities commit themselves to making every effort to ensure that religion will never be misused for political purposes nor to excuse violence by anything they say or do. It emphasizes the communities’ active support for the democratic state in which neither extremism nor fundamentalism is to be given an opportunity to take root. The main aim of the manifesto is the meeting and cooperation of religious communities and the promotion of their mutual understanding."

These facts speak for themselves as to why Jedi identify with this Day and why it is included in the Jediism list of feast days.

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