"Jedi" Religion Most Popular Alternative Faith In England

Census numbers show that 176,632 people in England and Wales ask themselves, "What would Yoda do?" Although the number of people who list their religion as "Jedi" has dropped by more than 50% in the past 10 years, It remains the most popular "alternative" faith in England. From the article: "The new figures reveal that the lightsabre-wielding disciples are only behind Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Sikhism, Judaism and Buddhism in the popularity stakes, excluding non-religious people and people who did not answer."

Comments

Survey with "Jedi" option available

[Artea]

Regardless of your actual faith, why wouldn't you choose this option?

Re:Survey with "Jedi" option available

[Phrogman]

As someone who has been at least nominally Wiccan for the past 30 years, I suspect your only exposure to Wiccans has been the teenage angst-filled dressed like a goth crowd. There are others out there who don't fill the stereotype who are otherwise normal people. We blend in.

Just sayin'

Re:Survey with "Jedi" option available

[Sir_Sri]

Because getting rid of the state religion, and the state relationship with the church of england would be problematic. It's not that it can't or won't be done, but there's quite a lot of legal effort involved in the powers of parliament vs the sovereign vs the church as an independent entity.

In some respects it's the same reason why none of the countries have actually settled the legal inheritance issue of if the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have a daughter and then a son (just a daughter, or multiple daughters doesn't require any rewrite), because it's not that we can't sort this out. But it's a lot of legal paperwork that can be deferred 50 or 60 years if they never have a son after a daughter.

Re:Survey with "Jedi" option available

[Anonymous Coward]

it is an entirely fictional belief system.

So
Like all the other belief systems then.

Re:Survey with "Jedi" option available

[Thiez]

> The census is supposed to be an accurate snapshot of the state of Britain, if people lie on it, they should be prosecuted.

For what crime? Governments have no business demanding to know a persons religion, and people have no obligation to report their religion to their government. Besides, the 'jedi' option is counted as 'no religion' by the ONS, which is probably accurate in the vast majority of cases, so the statistics are not meaningfully affected.

> You cannot be a Jedi as it is an entirely fictional belief system.

As opposed to other religions? Let's not go there (but if you do, please start with scientology).

Re:Survey with "Jedi" option available

[FatLittleMonkey]

Your comment implies that you think you've set some kind of clever rhetorical trap. I'm mildly curious what the punchline is, so...

A-theist: Not religious.
A-gnostic: Lacking knowledge of god(s).

Okay, trap sprung, ow m' leg. Now what?

Re:Survey with "Jedi" option available

[Duds]

Because census results are aggregated and by putting ANY region you're increasing government funding for pro-religion programs.

You might think it's a joke but you're basically voting for your taxes to be used for brainwashing kids.

Re:So it's the number one "Made Up" religion

[agm]

No, the number one "made up" religion is Christianity.

Re:Although amusing

[r33per]

if they get control of the republican Senate, then there might be a problem...

Thank heavens we're still a constitutional monarchy!

Re:Soooo...

[SirGarlon]

How many pretend to be Christian, I wonder? Probably more than pretend to be Jedi.