Back in 2001, the UK census revealed that 390,127 people in England and Wales and 14,052 in Scotland identified themselves as Jedi Knights. More people in the UK saw themselves as Jedi than the 392,819 population of Manchester.
What was it about the allure of the Jedi that made so many people list that as their religion? Back in 2001, this writer was interviewed by The Face and flippantly said that people would have to be ‘one Ewok short of a picnic’ to do such a thing. Clearly, it resonated with a great number of people, one of those was Daniel M Jones, the founder of the Church of Jediism.
Structured around a series of interviews conducted by Theresa Cheung, Become the Force: 9 Lessons on How to Live as a Jediist Master is far more than an expression of fandom. The book delves into a philosophy that supports the idea that ‘one all-powerful Force that connects all living things’ can bring enlightenment and meaning as believers are interconnected with a universal life force. Sound familiar?
The comparisons to L. Ron Hubbard and Scientology are all too easy. Both based on 20th-century works of fiction, they take the cornerstones of fictional tales and structure a system of faith and belief around them. However, the lessons of the Force are far more passive and uplifting than those of the Battlefield. George Lucas took cues from the major world religions, filtering them down into what would become the Force.
Jones embarked on a journey of self-discovery, battling his own demons and obstacles until he reached a point where the Church of Jediism was founded in 2007. The book takes us through 9 ‘lessons’ which can teach a student how to empower mind, body, and soul. It doesn’t claim to be a religion, despite offering us these ‘scriptures’. On the face of it, it offers the reader waypoints to meaning, purpose, happiness, and fulfilment but as with anything, the onus is on the reader to take those lessons and apply them to their own lives.
Inspired by the Star Wars saga but in no way endorsed by Lucasfilm, it would be easy to look at the upward and ever-expanding popularity of Star Wars and see this as a cynical attempt to cash in and ride the Ronto to infamy. Jones and Cheung are well-versed in spiritual matters and present the Church as yet another option for people looking for answers to chose, built around the galaxy far, far away.
A brisk and interesting read for fans of Star Wars and those interested in more spiritual pursuits.
BECOME THE FORCE: 9 LESSONS ON HOW TO LIVE AS A JEDIIST MASTER / AUTHOR: DANIEL M JONES / PUBLISHER: WATKINS / RELEASE DATE: NOVEMBER 16TH
