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Canadian Census: 20,000 Jedi Worshippers

Lev13than writes "Canada.com is reporting that some 20,000 Canadians listed "Jedi" as their religion in the last national census (2001). Apparently this is the offshoot of an Internet joke which originated in Australia a few years back. The results are interesting on a couple of levels. While it show that some people may have too much time on their hands, it also raises questions of privacy rights, Internet activism and data integrity. Although it's not statistically significant given Canada's population of 31.5 million, 20,000 lightsabre-wielding census-takers is nothing to sneeze at. StatsCan's full report (with no mention of Jedis) can be found here."

13 of 455 comments (clear)

  1. In other news.... by Gortbusters.org · · Score: 5, Funny

    There are about 20,000 single guys who enjoy D&D and star wars in Canada!

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    Free your mind.
  2. They might just as well have put by Faust7 · · Score: 5, Funny

    "Virgin (Y/N)?"

  3. Census takers by worst_name_ever · · Score: 5, Funny
    20,000 lightsabre-wielding census-takers is nothing to sneeze at.

    I think you mean census respondents... census-takers are the people who come to your door asking you to fill out the census form. If one of those folks whipped out a lightsaber on me I think I'd try to do an extra-good job of filling in the little bubbles...

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    In Soviet Rush, today's Tom Sawyer gets high on you.
  4. Use the Force eh? by oogoliegoogolie · · Score: 5, Funny

    The force will be with you, always, you hoser!

  5. OSQ by Cyno01 · · Score: 5, Funny

    Homer: "Marge, anyone could miss Canada. All tucked away down there."

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    "Sic Semper Tyrannosaurus Rex."
  6. Re:Significant sosiology phenomena by anagama · · Score: 5, Funny

    Hell - people believe in a lot of religions. At least this one has special effects you can actually see ... something other religions fail at miserably. I mean it's all fiction, might as well pick one that comes with a movie.

    If I was gonna pick though, I'd want something Romulan. Romulan chicks are hot!

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    What changed under Obama? Nothing Good
  7. Obvious...? by DirtyJ · · Score: 5, Funny
    From the report: Prior to 1971, fewer than 1% of the Canadian population reported having no religion. In 2001, that percentage increased to 16% of the population.

    I find their lack of faith disturbing.

    [ducks]

  8. Re:hmmm... by Greyhand · · Score: 5, Funny
    If someone set up an "official" jedi religion, George Lucas would sue the hell out of them. This in turn would set a precident allowing religions to be sued.
    1. Someone creates the official jedi religion
    2. George Lucas sues them
    3. Precident set : religions can be sued
    4. I sue the major world religions for upsetting world peace
    5. PROFIT!!!!
  9. But because its Canada.. by marcushnk · · Score: 5, Funny

    That would make them Sith, eh? :-P

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    "Consider how lucky you are that life has been good to you so far. Alternatively, if life hasn't been good to you so far
  10. Overall Religious stats are quite telling by Hamster+Lover · · Score: 5, Funny

    16% of Canadians have "no religion", from 12% in the 1991 census. That's nearly 5 million people in a country of 30 million. Europe and the U.K. have similar makeups. B.C. leads Canada in the "no religion" category at 35% and it is also the largest religious group in the Province.

    Also quite interesting was the shift from mainstream Protestantism to groups such as "born again" and "evangelical christian" (121% increase)and perhaps "no religion" (43% increase) or the eastern religions (roughly 85% increase). Not sure if that indicates an ideological shift or one of identity with respect to "christian". Certainly the rise in Muslin, Sikh, etc. practice can be traced to immigration, Canada has experienced enourmous diversity since the 1991 census.

    I tried to find similar information on the U.S. Census website, but was unable.

    Now, we get to the bottom of a comment where Slashdotters rarely spend time. This is where the real meat and potatoes of many comments are made. Not is this case. I am taking this space to talk of my collection of women's undergarments. Why was this not included on the census form? Surely there are large numbers of lingerie collecting atheist computer geeks out there, how could this be overlooked?

  11. Words of Wisdome to Canadian Jedi by Jedi+Holocron · · Score: 5, Funny

    Do or do not, eh.

  12. Re:Religion Question? by dillon_rinker · · Score: 5, Funny

    Gnostics believe that you can know. Agnostics believe you can't know. Diagnostics believe in a deeper knowledge of the divine through a better understanding of diesel mechanics.

  13. Re:Religion Question? by daveo0331 · · Score: 5, Funny

    Excerpt from Census form:

    9. Describe your religious beliefs:

    a. Christian conservative
    b. Other Christian
    c. Please add my name to John Ashcroft's list of "suspicious persons"

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    Remember the days when Republicans were the party of fiscal responsibility?