What would help the Temple Be A Better Place? Suggestions please...

I cannot delete this post I meant to make a reply to arisag. I apologize

I apologise I meant to put not to restrict or cause the temple to have that sort of powe and yes I see that no one has the true duty to say what is right and what is wrong, and by all means I'm not saying "LETS GET RID OF THE NON JEDIS" that its self is very non jedi way. all I suggest is a new ip. and yes people can lie and say what ever just to beome a jedi but it will alwaysbe there and even if it helps just one person that should be enough. but aye we shouldn't have the right to chose just a spit ball. but the ip itself would and possibly make a huge difference.
but
withing the memebership application
it does state that they will monitor the application
and chose to accept it or not. so isn't that the same thing to be honest?
whats an extra step?
the ip if done correctly wouldn't take more than 3 days to learn and to wright about, so itll fit perfectly within the 7 day peramiter.
I do believe we should give everyone a chance that's why I suggest it, so those who are coming in just for laughs will see something other than and quote (from what my grandpa told me " people who worship fiction" and I have seen people who treat this as the fictional starwars jedi order. and it does sadden me a bit to see that and that they are memebers of the order
and as a memever
they now represent the order itself.
I have hope and faith in the temple
and I know a lot of us do to.
its a matter of personal view.
but the ip would help solve issues. even if its small and takes along time.

thank you .

I sorry if this won't be popular, I really don't see how a Star Wars category adds to the credibility of the Temple as a religious organization. I think if there were less movie/fantasy/images posted and in discussions the Temple would be looked as more of a cultivator of the living force and personal development.

The IP is not designed to be completed that quickly, Bradly. It's not something you can just go through and check mark boxes in. Currently the IP has a 60 minimum requirement from start to the earliest point you can become an initiate. This is to force you to slow down, think, and actually digest the material that's there and learn from it.

Further, the IP is also designed to be the first step on the training process if you want to gain a rank at TOTJO, nothing more. TOTJO has never required her members to seek rank in order to be a member. In fact, there are plenty of people here who are strong, contributing members of TOTJO that have never even begun the IP. Neither is meant to be a prerequisite for the other.

As for the actual content of the IP, in my almost five years here, that has evolved and changed multiple times. I'm sure it will again. And I don't think the knights are above fielding suggestions if you have specific ones in mind.

Arisaig wrote: But then there are others that call me an excellent example of what it is to be a Jedi. Who is right, who is wrong?

I am right. Confusion cleared. You are welcome. :laugh:

Rickie wrote: I sorry if this won't be popular, I really don't see how a Star Wars category adds to the credibility of the Temple as a religious organization. I think if there were less movie/fantasy/images posted and in discussions the Temple would be looked as more of a cultivator of the living force and personal development.

In other words: Let the geek die. Kill it if you have to.

I disagree. I think the fantasy adds to our particular flavor of life. A good example of geekiness used for the power of good can be found here (not a Jediism site): https://www.nerdfitness.com/

hmm. thank toy araisag and Avalon, you are both correct.
but like the thread states sugggestions.
I apologize for making it seem that if I tried to filter the jedi temple that was not my initiative.
and yes, I read your post 4 times Avalon and thought
you make a very valid point
and I retract my initial statement but add a new one
to add some sort of video or anything for those who just wis to know about jediism and the temple without being a member or asking every individual what they personaly view and think.
as in a introduction video.

Manu wrote to reply with rickie: In other words: Let the geek die. Kill it if you have to.

I disagree. I think the fantasy adds to our particular flavor of life. A good example of geekiness used for the power of good can be found here (not a Jediism site): www.nerdfitness.com/

---

I disagree but agree as well. what rickie said is a little of how you put it " let the geek die" but rickie has a point in some ways. yes a lot of religion has posts of many thins. Christianity angels and such budhism the diagram of the chakra points. and us. jedi from starwars. all religion started from a single point not all from the same point but they branch off to a new height leaving the fiction and becoming the enlightened
and we are doing the same
yes I have a jedi robe andlove starwars but I also know that there is a point for everything. suh as quotes from the movie " do or do not there is no try" speak very profoundly. and 90% of the "Geek " photo are us posing for our profile. and that is it
but with all that. I see where rickie is coming from and how to some all they will see is starwars and not the force.
but as jedi it is our duty to show the will of the force
and not gorge lucas.

Bradly wrote: but as jedi it is our duty to show the will of the force
and not gorge lucas.

Does the Force tell you these things? What if it tells me the opposite? That the fiction is helpful? What if the Force is bored and is telling us different things to watch us lash it out in a forum, for its entertainment?

I am being silly, of course.

I see where you and Rickie are coming from. I personally do not own a robe, or a saber, nor do I publicly call myself a Jedi.

They are all props. Similar to a cup and athame for Pagans, Cross and Wine for Christians, we have our own symbols that can aid as a tool to focus the mind.

So, while I understand your point, I would postulate that forcing anyone to remove the props for the sole purpose of "looking more serious" to outsiders would be a misstep.

I completely agree, and I never once said to kill the geek. to be honest my reply was my best attempt at a common ground. as you can see I have a robe as my picture and I love it. but like I stated the will of the force can be from the movie or something completely different entirely.

Bradly wrote: ...but like I stated the will of the force can be from the movie or something completely different entirely.

The Force (and most of the Jedi "religion") in the movies is a bit of a Rorschach test: it is vague, incomplete, and people project their own mind onto the imagery and fill in the blanks with their own bias.

As I see not one person here who believes the Star Wars films to be fact, or divinely inspired, or George Lucas as a prophet of sorts, I must ask: what makes you think we are trying to fit into the movie concepts, rather than adopt those concepts to arrive at a firmer grasp of the "real thing"?

i apologize but yo must be mistaken I never once stated that the movie is fact or anything of the sort. I apologize if my wording made you think I was. but that is not the case.
the closest to my statement to what you could be meaning is as I said. some things from the movies could be profound as in some quotes but never did I say we are trying to be the movie. at all.

but I must attend different matters. I apologize if I came off rude, I was just giving an opinion and agreeing with both sides. thank you for listiening and taking time to convere with me. may the force be with you.

Bradly wrote: but I must attend different matters. I apologize if I came off rude, I was just giving an opinion and agreeing with both sides. thank you for listiening and taking time to convere with me. may the force be with you.

No need to apologize. At no time were you rude, and my questioning is aimed more at an attempt to understand your view more (which I believe I failed on this occasion). Have a great day, and see you soon.

Manu wrote: The Force (and most of the Jedi "religion") in the movies is a bit of a Rorschach test: it is vague, incomplete, and people project their own mind onto the imagery and fill in the blanks with their own bias.

How much of this could also be said to be true of religion and philosophy as well - including here.

"In other words: Let the geek die. Kill it if you have to."

No not at all! I said nothing about geeks and consider that statement nothing but a diversion from the point I was making.

To help illustrate my point try this little experiment. Tell people you know and don't know that you are a Jedi studying Jedism as a Religion for spiritual development and and to cultivate the living force in your life. Observe their reaction and statements. Many will snicker, think you're joking and a role player.

You will say they don't know what Jedism is all about and they are confusing it with the movie. Now we'e getting close to my point. What happens here to dispel or confirm their observation. The opinions of others may mean nothing or something. Listen to them and think about them before you so easily dismiss them.

That is a struggle we all will face. And must stay. True to the force. We do not recruit into our religion if they laugh they laugh but there will be someone that will think hey this might work.

Rickie wrote: No not at all! I said nothing about geeks and consider that statement nothing but a diversion from the point I was making.

I was not intending to divert from your point, simply playing it out. I did try to address it later in my post.

To help illustrate my point try this little experiment. Tell people you know and don't know that you are a Jedi studying Jedism as a Religion for spiritual development and and to cultivate the living force in your life. Observe their reaction and statements. Many will snicker, think you're joking and a role player.

You will say they don't know what Jedism is all about and they are confusing it with the movie. Now we'e getting close to my point. What happens here to dispel or confirm their observation. The opinions of others may mean nothing or something. Listen to them and think about them before you so easily dismiss them.

I am all for improving the quality of the explorations that go on here, if that is what you are gettting at. Personally, I feel the politics and arguments that pop up from time to time are a much better disuader for newcomers than the goofiness of StarWars fandom.

"I feel the politics and arguments that pop up from time to time are a much better disuader for newcomers"

Agreed!! Those are moderator's challenges. I feel they are too tolerant with the intention of hopefully helping and guiding the offenders. They are guilty of kindheartedness.

Rickie wrote: "I feel the politics and arguments that pop up from time to time are a much better disuader for newcomers"

Agreed!! Those are moderator's challenges. I feel they are too tolerant with the intention of hopefully helping and guiding the offenders. They are guilty of kindheartedness.

I can assure you that it isn't "kindheartedness" that is keeping us from dealing with "offenders". It is an effort to remain objective and realize that one who you call an "offender" may not be offensive to others. We are human beings first, Jedi second. We are not perfect. Humans argue about politics and get emotional. Sometimes these conversations go off the rails and become personal. This is when I will step in and ask people to follow the rules or suffer the consequences. Prior to anyone breaking the rules of the forum, I won't step in and subjectively discipline someone just because another got their feelings hurt. That is part of learning and growing. We face the challenge or we learn to avoid it, but it is a part of life we all have to deal with. It is also a huge part of training to be a Jedi, and I think newcomers benefit from seeing how we act and react to these situations.

For those more Doctrine oriented, these are the two Maxims I lean on most as a Security Officer:

Discretion: To become invisible.
A Jedi knows there is a time and place for all things. They do not actively interfere in worldly affairs and refrain from overtly supporting or opposing other individuals or organizations.

Intervention: To know when not to act.
A Jedi knows how inaction can have as great an impact as action and how some of the greatest lessons are self-taught. To be a victor is also taking that victory from those you protect. A Jedi intervenes only when a Jedi's intervention is required.