You know, we need to address the whole JEDI thing.

Are these people like Buddhist monks, Franciscan monks, the Holy Roman Empire (warlord) pope and cardinals, Templar knights... a mix of all of the above?

I think that the tattered brown robes need to be replaced by something more ornate and colorful. They could wear color coded robes to signify their ranking (ala colored belts in Martial arts), with the masters wearing robes of their own design to signify their mastery in their particular field of the Force (like Tai Chi, Wing Chun, Karate, Kempo, etc). In fact, if we could see a blend of different religious appearances (one Jedi master looks like Pai Mei, another has the orange robes with some ornate designs to distinguish it from straight Buddhist robes, another wears monochromatic hues and maybe even armor ala a Templar - minus the red cross on the chest, while another hides his face with his/her robes and hood so only the eyes can be seen - like a burkha, etc) that would be quite interesting.

The idea that, like the Holy Roman Empire and what the Church had become due to its power and wealth, that power and wealth corrupted the Jedi and is what led to the Republic's fall. It would also contrast with the poor living conditions that both Kenobi and Yoda are living in when we see them in A NEW HOPE and EMPIRE. Also keep in mind that even if the PHILOSOPHY is one of charity and giving, that still doesn't mean that the INSTITUTION of the Jedi couldn't be corrupted as so many of our own have been by such things.