May the Force be with you, amen
20,000 Canadians claim to be followers of Jedi religion
Lorrayne Anthony
The Canadian Press
Wednesday, May 14, 2003
OTTAWA - May the Force be with you. And also with you. Amen.
An astonishing 20,000 Canadians declared themselves to be followers of the religion of Jedi, the guardians of peace and justice in the Star Wars flicks, Statistics Canada reported Tuesday in the latest, and final, data to come from the 2001 census.
Will the holy trinity one day be replaced with "in the name of Yoda, Obi-Wan Kenobi and Luke Skywalker?"
Not likely, says Denis Dion, a 44-year-old produce manager from just outside Vancouver who circulated an e-mail urging anyone who wanted to have fun with Canada's census to identify themselves as Jedi when asked about their religion.
In the blockbuster George Lucas sci-fi films, Jedis are depicted as holy warriors who use the powerful strength of "the Force" to overcome sinister elements.
Unfortunately some Jedis use the Force for evil instead of good, but ultimately the virtuous Jedis prevail.
When asked if he was a practising Jedi knight, Dion replied: "Well some people claim I am."
He and some friends who volunteer at the Canadian Ski Patrol in Vancouver had been talking about their love of all things Jedi when they came up with the idea to see how many Canadians would be willing to tell Statistics Canada they too were followers.
"We all get along very well ... and it's strange but we all watch Star Trek and Star Wars," said Dion, who had thought only he and his free-thinking ski-patrol buddies would agree to poke fun at the census.
The Jedi membership drive was his way of thumbing his nose at the government for asking what he feels is an inappropriate question.
"My religion is my issue, not the government's," Dion said.
The Jedi gag is the latest in a global census trend that has left some statisticians red-faced as the number of Jedis has eclipsed some centuries-old religions.
In the U.K., for example, there are more Jedis than Jews.
Nearly 400,000 people identified themselves as Jedi in the 2001 census. Only 260,000 said they were Jewish.
The Jedis seemed to be concentrated in England and Wales.
Just last year, the Australian Bureau of Statistics reported that more than 70,000 people named Jedi as their faith.
The high response rate can be traced to an e-mail that told people the government would be forced to recognize Jedi as an official religion if enough people identified themselves as followers.
OTTAWA - May the Force be with you. And also with you. Amen.
An astonishing 20,000 Canadians declared themselves to be followers of the religion of Jedi, the guardians of peace and justice in the Star Wars flicks, Statistics Canada reported Tuesday in the latest, and final, data to come from the 2001 census.
Will the holy trinity one day be replaced with "in the name of Yoda, Obi-Wan Kenobi and Luke Skywalker?"
Not likely, says Denis Dion, a 44-year-old produce manager from just outside Vancouver who circulated an e-mail urging anyone who wanted to have fun with Canada's census to identify themselves as Jedi when asked about their religion.
In the blockbuster George Lucas sci-fi films, Jedis are depicted as holy warriors who use the powerful strength of "the Force" to overcome sinister elements.
Unfortunately some Jedis use the Force for evil instead of good, but ultimately the virtuous Jedis prevail.
When asked if he was a practising Jedi knight, Dion replied: "Well some people claim I am."
He and some friends who volunteer at the Canadian Ski Patrol in Vancouver had been talking about their love of all things Jedi when they came up with the idea to see how many Canadians would be willing to tell Statistics Canada they too were followers.
"We all get along very well ... and it's strange but we all watch Star Trek and Star Wars," said Dion, who had thought only he and his free-thinking ski-patrol buddies would agree to poke fun at the census.
The Jedi membership drive was his way of thumbing his nose at the government for asking what he feels is an inappropriate question.
"My religion is my issue, not the government's," Dion said.
The Jedi gag is the latest in a global census trend that has left some statisticians red-faced as the number of Jedis has eclipsed some centuries-old religions.
In the U.K., for example, there are more Jedis than Jews.
Nearly 400,000 people identified themselves as Jedi in the 2001 census. Only 260,000 said they were Jewish.
The Jedis seemed to be concentrated in England and Wales.
Just last year, the Australian Bureau of Statistics reported that more than 70,000 people named Jedi as their faith.
The high response rate can be traced to an e-mail that told people the government would be forced to recognize Jedi as an official religion if enough people identified themselves as followers.
© Copyright 2003 Edmonton Journal
Good Greif
May the Force be with you, amen
May the Force be with you, amen
Professional Canadian.
I heard about when they did the last census because people were filling in their religion as jedi and if they could get enough people then it would be a recognized religion
I can't wait until the day schools are over-funded and the military is forced to hold bake sales to buy planes.
"It's a great thing when you realize you still have the ability to surprise yourself. Makes you wonder what else you can do that you've forgotten about"
"It's a great thing when you realize you still have the ability to surprise yourself. Makes you wonder what else you can do that you've forgotten about"
godamn star wars freaks! go out and get a real religion, something that your stupid god doesn't tell you to go around killing folk....damn i hate star wars! 
Whenever death may surprise us,
let it be welcome
if our battle cry has reached even one receptive ear
and another hand reaches out to take up our arms.
Nobody's gonna miss me, no tears will fall, no ones gonna weap, when i hit that road.
my boots are broken my brain is sore, fer keepin' up with thier little world, i got a heavy load.
gonna leave 'em all just like before, i'm big city bound, your always 17 in your hometown
let it be welcome
if our battle cry has reached even one receptive ear
and another hand reaches out to take up our arms.
Nobody's gonna miss me, no tears will fall, no ones gonna weap, when i hit that road.
my boots are broken my brain is sore, fer keepin' up with thier little world, i got a heavy load.
gonna leave 'em all just like before, i'm big city bound, your always 17 in your hometown
-
happening fish
- Posts: 17934
- Joined: 3/17/2002, 11:22 am
-
areusad831
- Posts: 5427
- Joined: 4/14/2002, 9:40 pm
- Location: Palmerton, PA
what? no way! my brother likes that kind of stuff, but not me. it's all crap to me my friends. 
Whenever death may surprise us,
let it be welcome
if our battle cry has reached even one receptive ear
and another hand reaches out to take up our arms.
Nobody's gonna miss me, no tears will fall, no ones gonna weap, when i hit that road.
my boots are broken my brain is sore, fer keepin' up with thier little world, i got a heavy load.
gonna leave 'em all just like before, i'm big city bound, your always 17 in your hometown
let it be welcome
if our battle cry has reached even one receptive ear
and another hand reaches out to take up our arms.
Nobody's gonna miss me, no tears will fall, no ones gonna weap, when i hit that road.
my boots are broken my brain is sore, fer keepin' up with thier little world, i got a heavy load.
gonna leave 'em all just like before, i'm big city bound, your always 17 in your hometown
What's the difference between that and christianity? One was developped as a story for a movie, the other a story for a book.
I can't wait until the day schools are over-funded and the military is forced to hold bake sales to buy planes.
"It's a great thing when you realize you still have the ability to surprise yourself. Makes you wonder what else you can do that you've forgotten about"
"It's a great thing when you realize you still have the ability to surprise yourself. Makes you wonder what else you can do that you've forgotten about"
easy, the bible is for inspiration and other crap like that. Star wars is a brain child of some shmo looking to make money.
Whenever death may surprise us,
let it be welcome
if our battle cry has reached even one receptive ear
and another hand reaches out to take up our arms.
Nobody's gonna miss me, no tears will fall, no ones gonna weap, when i hit that road.
my boots are broken my brain is sore, fer keepin' up with thier little world, i got a heavy load.
gonna leave 'em all just like before, i'm big city bound, your always 17 in your hometown
let it be welcome
if our battle cry has reached even one receptive ear
and another hand reaches out to take up our arms.
Nobody's gonna miss me, no tears will fall, no ones gonna weap, when i hit that road.
my boots are broken my brain is sore, fer keepin' up with thier little world, i got a heavy load.
gonna leave 'em all just like before, i'm big city bound, your always 17 in your hometown
Campeón De Mexico wrote:easy, the bible is for inspiration and other crap like that. Star wars is a brain child of some shmo looking to make money.
Star Wars must be giving these people inspiration. And isn't the bible the number 1 selling all-time book?
I can't wait until the day schools are over-funded and the military is forced to hold bake sales to buy planes.
"It's a great thing when you realize you still have the ability to surprise yourself. Makes you wonder what else you can do that you've forgotten about"
"It's a great thing when you realize you still have the ability to surprise yourself. Makes you wonder what else you can do that you've forgotten about"
I know, I agree that people should not be worshipping a movie and saying it is a religion, but on the other hand, who are we to say that they can't worship whatever or whoever they please? That's the only point I wanted to make
I can't wait until the day schools are over-funded and the military is forced to hold bake sales to buy planes.
"It's a great thing when you realize you still have the ability to surprise yourself. Makes you wonder what else you can do that you've forgotten about"
"It's a great thing when you realize you still have the ability to surprise yourself. Makes you wonder what else you can do that you've forgotten about"
-
areusad831
- Posts: 5427
- Joined: 4/14/2002, 9:40 pm
- Location: Palmerton, PA
J-Neli wrote:Campeón De Mexico wrote:easy, the bible is for inspiration and other crap like that. Star wars is a brain child of some shmo looking to make money.
Star Wars must be giving these people inspiration. And isn't the bible the number 1 selling all-time book?
it's often given away for free. now a days all religion is a bad idea, and i just pointed out one bad quality of this one. (since i'm not well educated on this "religion") i could go on for days about christianity, or other religions and their flaws. i don't have a problem with this Jedi thing. just as long as i don't get hit with an imaginary light thingy. In fact i want no interaction with these people, seeing how they are probably nerds. if they come near me then it's jedi nerd ass kicking time!
Whenever death may surprise us,
let it be welcome
if our battle cry has reached even one receptive ear
and another hand reaches out to take up our arms.
Nobody's gonna miss me, no tears will fall, no ones gonna weap, when i hit that road.
my boots are broken my brain is sore, fer keepin' up with thier little world, i got a heavy load.
gonna leave 'em all just like before, i'm big city bound, your always 17 in your hometown
let it be welcome
if our battle cry has reached even one receptive ear
and another hand reaches out to take up our arms.
Nobody's gonna miss me, no tears will fall, no ones gonna weap, when i hit that road.
my boots are broken my brain is sore, fer keepin' up with thier little world, i got a heavy load.
gonna leave 'em all just like before, i'm big city bound, your always 17 in your hometown
-
happening fish
- Posts: 17934
- Joined: 3/17/2002, 11:22 am
-
Furious George
- Posts: 891
- Joined: 3/16/2002, 4:04 pm
- Location: Toronto
Un Puño De Tierra wrote:godamn star wars freaks! go out and get a real religion, something that your stupid god doesn't tell you to go around killing folk....damn i hate star wars!
Umm, you should do your research before you start discriminating. First of all, you need to stop treating "Jedi" as a real religion because NO ONE does, it's just a big joke for enthusiasts wanting to put something out of the ordinary. Second, there is no "god" in "Jedi" it's techinically not even a religion! It' s a philosophy, a WAY OF LIFE, its just an asumption that its a religion. And also when the hell does this "religion" stress the taking of human life?? It's a frickin action movie, of course there's gonna be cool swordfights and all, and the only time jedi take life is against dark warlords of evil that rule that galaxy!!!
It's just so sad that your taking a simple joke in this way, and with such ignorance too.