So, just to get some of these questions out of the way, I will do an FAQ of those that I hear the most often.
Q: So do you guys dress up and go hit each other with plastic toys?
A: NO. That is something else entirely. We are not some kind of escapist role playing group.
Q: Do you worship George Lucas?
A: NO. George Lucas is a story teller. All he did was put forth the archetype of the knight in a form of modern mythology. If you strip away all the light sabers, flying cars, spaceships and other such science fiction what are you left with? A bunch of people trying their hardest to serve in a positive way.
George did not even create the archetype of the Jedi Knight. All he did was take it and wrap it in a scifi hard candy shell. If you look at the writings of Joseph Campbell, you can see the origins of the concept of the jedi.
Q: Do I need to give up my current religion and start following the force?
A: That is up to you. The form of Knighthood offered here can be a supplement to an already developed religious faith. “Force” is a pretty broad word. If the force is god to you, that is fine. If you do not believe in god, and you have a belief in Chi or Tao, also good. I have yet to find an atheist jedi, becasue the very nature of the word implies that there is SOMETHING out there bigger than ourselves. The fiction does give a frame work for a pretty satisfying religious following, but that is not necessary to follow the tenants of the jedi.
Q: The bible says that I can have no other gods, but if I become jedi I have to believe in the force; How is this not taking other gods?
A: You can still be a full time christian, worship god the way you all ways have and still be able to serve your community, practice martial arts, be physically fit and further your education. I see no conflict.
Even so, everytime one speaks of the will of the force, they may as well be saying the will of god.
Q: What does the Kentucky Jedi Order actually do?
A: The kentucky jedi Order is a lot like a support group. It provides a community to help people serve. If there is a resource that a person needs to further their training, they need only ask, and the others will do their best to find it for them. Sometimes there are jobs that need more than two hands, that is what the order is here for.
On an individual level, a knight is a highly trained individual that is able to respond to any number of events. If they need to step in and physically defend someone who is being attacked, they are trained to do so. If they need to preform a marriage, they are trained to do so. They are only a stand in for a specialist though. A jedi is trained in first aid and cpr, but will always allow an EMT or rescue person to take the lead.
I am sure there are more, but they escape me right now, so as i think of them or receive them, i will post them here.
