Is it any different, or worse, to base a 'faith' on the writings of GLucas than LRHubbard?

Well, the distinction in my head is that LR Hubbard came up with a complete set of religious teachings (or at least tried to). It seems to me the biggest problem with creating a religion out of Jedi stuff would be the paucity of source material.

creating a religion out of Jedi stuff would be the paucity of source material.

Good point by you. But, in some ways, I'm wondering if simplicity isn't adherents' friend.

I think I'll start my own religion. Bartlism! The tenants are these: Be nice, cover your mouth when you sneeze/cough, think a grateful thought several times a day and the only true evil is okra.

Apologies to okra lovers but you just aren't following 'the way.'

eta: Another tenant...'someways' is not actually a word, no matter what the misleading spell-checkers might say.

It seems to me the biggest problem with creating a religion out of Jedi stuff would be the paucity of source material.

The Church of All Worlds has done pretty well with much less (Heinlein's Stranger In A Strange Land).

The major difference between Scientology and other hard-core fundie religions (and what makes Scientology a cult and not a religion) is it doesn't cost hundreds of thousands of dollars to become a born-again Christian. And if you decide later in life that you don't believe after all and stop going to church, Mike Huckabee won't break into your house and steal all your computers.

the only true evil is okra.

::high-fives bonny and then goes back to ritualistically slapping head on desk::

I wonder how John Travolta and Nancy Cartwright are weathering the Cruise publicity storm. Probably a healthy dose of 'phew, glad it's not me!'

The Church of All Worlds has done pretty well with much less (Heinlein's Stranger In A Strange Land).

But see, that doesn't count, because... I hadn't heard of that.

I dunno - maybe it's just the mental image of these guys playing Jedi knight that irks me. Something about what kinds of robes the Masters and congregation would wear during the services....

If I ever start my own Jedi church, services will be "come as you are."

ritualistically slapping head on desk

No. No. Self flagellation is not acceptable in the church of Bartlism!

Draw near and be comforted, sister Sox.

It seems to me the biggest problem with creating a religion out of Jedi stuff would be the paucity of source material.

I'm gonna do my best to view it as another flying spaghetti monster/invisible pink unicorn/celestial teapot. Only signficantly less entertaining.

...Actually, I could view Scientology (and, well, everything else) that way, too. Which means that Tom Cruise is some kind of Andy Kaufman-esque satirist. Hm.

If I ever start my own Jedi church, services will be "come as you are."

In a way, I want to think that would be more in line with the way of the Jedi, but I think Yoda's bootcamp behavior painted a more rigorously structured doctrine.

And with that tragically geeky self-exposure, I'll withdraw to design Bartleby' vestments.

Draw near and be comforted, sister Sox.

do we get a place to stuff the self obsessed, obviously crazy people? Then I will truly be comforted.

Dear People:

There is, just as there was last week, no need to rebuild Flickr as an in-house app customized for our organization. Besides, your photos really aren't that good, or clear, or in focus. Calm the hell down. I will not say it again.

KTHANXBYE