We did it!

October 9, 2001 4:23 AM

We did it! Jedi Knights achieve official recognition as a religion. OK, it's code is 896 with none coming in at 899, but still... be interesting to see how many of us there are out there
posted by twistedonion (20 comments total)

I chickened out in the face of gov't threats in the Australia census, even though I was leaving the country the next week, and went with 'Pantheist'. I suck.
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 4:34 AM on October 9, 2001

I suck too ... I put "agnostic apatheist". Think I can change it?
posted by walrus at 4:35 AM on October 9, 2001

Come on, since when is 'charismatic' a religion? And 'believe in god?'. Some of those religions listed are a touch, erm, not really religions..

I think the way of the Jedi has all the major hallmarks of a worldwide religion and will grow rapidly - look! It even has that bad fringe (the minority Sith who give the good guy Jedi Knights a bad name :).

Who understands the way of the force? Those little Midichloreans, thats who...
posted by Mossy at 4:42 AM on October 9, 2001

"Charismatic Christians" are believers in a particularly demonstrative branch of Protestantism. They're the ones who get "Filled with the Spirit", and fall on the ground in spasms. Some have an affinity for taunting rattlesnakes as a demonstration of "God's Protection". Judging by the numbers of them who get snakebit, God's finds this practice as funny as I do.
posted by Optamystic at 4:54 AM on October 9, 2001

"God", that is...
posted by Optamystic at 4:56 AM on October 9, 2001

nice work. i also chickened out in the UK census.
posted by Frasermoo at 4:58 AM on October 9, 2001

really?? There's actually a charismatic religion?? Well, you learn something new every day, don't you? :)
posted by Mossy at 5:35 AM on October 9, 2001

Sad to see Scientology coming in at three hundred something...
posted by kerplunk at 6:14 AM on October 9, 2001

As a real Star Wars fan, I find this whole thing ridiculous. First of all, the religion ISN'T "Jedi Knight." That'd be analogous to saying "Catholic Bishop". And all fans know that you can't be a Knight just by ticking a box; you've got to be trained for years and move up from being a Padawan. If you're gonna be irreverent people, at least be correct when you do it.
posted by web-goddess at 6:51 AM on October 9, 2001

but that's the wonderful thing about religions
- no entrance exam
- no degree required
- if you say you are a [pick a religion] then you are
- you can change it any time you want

tomorrow is a good day to be pantheist, but I'm planning on worshipping Om on friday

heh, heh, "slain by the spirit" heh, heh
posted by yesster at 8:05 AM on October 9, 2001

Here's to the Sun God!
The only Number One God!
RA! RA! RA!

oh, sorry.
posted by tj at 10:44 AM on October 9, 2001

In fact, if you go back to the link above, it's been updated to show that Jedi Knight has not "gained official status" - it merely ranks 896 in a chart of people's responses to the census...
posted by benzo8 at 11:17 AM on October 9, 2001

In fact, if you go back to the link above, it's been updated to show that Jedi Knight has not "gained official status" - it merely ranks 896 in a chart of people's responses to the census... That list has no official status.
posted by benzo8 at 11:17 AM on October 9, 2001

Apologies for the double post, but the system did come back with a "posting failed" page the first time...
posted by benzo8 at 11:18 AM on October 9, 2001

Godling, that was nice.

i think its all pretty funny, though considering the evil that has come into the world in the form of joke, sci-fi religions...i'm not sure if its a good idea. What? no, wasn't mentioning any specific science-named religion.

that concern aside....

Calling yourself a Jedi as a religious affiliation isn't much different than calling yourself anything else. I would take a self-proclaimed Jedi more serious than someone who calls themself a Druid.
posted by th3ph17 at 11:42 AM on October 9, 2001

Ah infidels. Know the one truth:

The invisible Pink Unicorns are the true masters and creators of the universe. They existed before anything existed. They even existed before they existed. There is no possible way for me to explain how this is possible. We just have to be content with the knowlege that Invisible Pink Unicorns exist, and they are beyond our ability to comprehend.
posted by signal at 11:52 AM on October 9, 2001

Perhaps you'd all like to become Camologists. Camology would benefit you all since we all know that religious organizations and their members benefit tremendously from tax breaks from the U.S. government. Why else do you think all those rich movie stars are burying their assets into the Scientology religion? Join Camology today! First 100 members get to be High Commanders.
posted by camworld at 5:00 PM on October 9, 2001

Errr, wouldn't that be Cammanders?

tj, you funny...
posted by fooljay at 6:37 PM on October 9, 2001

If your religion really WERE jedi, do you think you could become a "minister" ie knight, and then get a tax break?

Also, maybe religious days off? Like when the new movies premiere.
posted by marcuswebb at 8:49 PM on October 10, 2001