Comments on: Supermarket Bans Jedi Knight

By: camkevbell

camkevbell — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 13:50:25 +0000

If you’re going to invent a Star Wars religion, at least make sure it’s based on canon. Jedi frequently go without hoods.

By: MJfan

MJfan — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 13:05:28 +0000

i agree with Darth Dianthus, all religions are made up, people have to accept them, thats what freedom of religion is about.

My mates and i have considered telling the census that our religion is jedi, just for a laugh.

By: Darth Dianthus

Darth Dianthus — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 03:38:12 +0000

There are no objective distinctions between what you think of as “religions” and what you think of as “fandom”. The idea that anyone could call one religion a “real” religion and another a “made up” religion worries me – on what possible objective basis are you making that distinction?

ALL religions are “made up” – they all consist of fairytales and imaginary characters meant to impart a particular moral outlook, which believers may or may not consider to be literal truth.

If you think that history is what makes a religion “real” then you would be surprised at the youth of a few recognised religions, some of which are twentieth-century creations (like Jedi).

If you think that number of believers makes a religion “real” then Jedi is a real religion since it can count more supporters than many recognised religions (at least in the UK).

If you think that you yourself get to decide what other people consider a religion, then you don’t understand the word “objective”, you certainly don’t understand the concept of “freedom of religion”, and you have failed a pretty basic intelligence test.

If you are someone who belittles and insults other people on the basis of their religion, then you must have some serious issues, both mental and personal, like the Captain above.

It is not hard to realise the essential truth of this story – the store is saying that some people can wear head-coverings inside the store, and that some can’t, and the decision about who can and who cannot is based on religion.

That is religious discrimination, simple as that! Religious discrimination includes discrimination based on not holding a particular religion, as well as on holding a particular religion. People should not be given less rights because they are not Muslim, should they?

It seems pretty simple to me – either everyone can, or everyone cannot, wear head coverings inside the store. Just choose one. No need to reference religions generally or specifically, and therefore no possible discrimination. Problem solved.

By: barry

barry — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 23:23:02 +0000

technically, islam is a religion someone just made up, just like christianity and pastafarianism. if you’re going to make exceptions for muslims, you have to make exceptions for jedi. who are any of us to tell a jedi that his religion is BS? all religion is BS.

By: Rabbler78

Rabbler78 — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 21:41:11 +0000

while I whole heartedly agree with you Captain Yossarian, about jedis not needing to wear their hoods all the time, I must stop you and the other posters making fun of his choice in religious practice.
If you go down that train of thought that his religion is crap, and made up, I would point out that any of the 3 major religions ( along with any of their off shoots or minor religions) are pretty much all made up. I don’t think I need to give any examples, I think/hope you understand. All religions are based mainly on faith, so if he chooses to believe the Force is real, who are we to judge him really?

By: DS-JEDI-NIC

DS-JEDI-NIC — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 02:26:08 +0000

I agree with ED JARA and Captain Yoss.

A “Jedi Church” is very far out from reality and I would hate to see what they would be doing in a “Sith Church”.

I can only recall the Jedi wearing their hoods up in the movies a few times and usually it was because of the weather, like Obi-Wan wearing his hood up on Kamino because it was raining and he pulled it down once he was inside anyway.

I wonder if Obama is a member of the Jedi Church…

By: ED JARA

ED JARA — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 21:02:16 +0000

C’mon…. one thing is FANDOM, one thing is SICKNESS!

And you what the Silly “Jedi Church” is SICKNESS! He really needs a good Reallity Check.

He got out, because of his bad attitude towards security rules.

By: Sonny f/ New Orleans

Sonny f/ New Orleans — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 17:06:30 +0000

I couldn’t have said it better m’self, Cap’n Yoss!

Let’s hope Robbie Williams does NOT find out about the Jedi church…

By: L.J. Nordvik

L.J. Nordvik — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 13:15:13 +0000

I’d found the church of “Space” Ace Frehley myself and try walking into a grocery store with a smoke-emitting guitar and scream “discrimination” when they toss me out,only I’m useless in plattform boots…

By: Captain Yossarian

Captain Yossarian — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 23:03:48 +0000

Seriously though, anyone who would claim religious discrimination over a religion that they made up and then appointed themselves the leader of deserves to be mocked thoroughly and consistently until the end of time.

Lots of places have rules about covering your face and head for security reasons since it prevents the cameras getting a clear view of people. People like Muslims are excepted because they actually belong to a real religion where covering your face may be a genuine requirement. They’re not just living their lives like it’s some bizarre extended game of fancy-dress. And even if shops wanted to ban everyone from covering their heads, the current law would prevent them, which is why they don’t and instead enforce the rule where it does apply, such as in this case.

And when you’ve got Tesco making sarcastic comments about you (and apparently with a better knowledge of Star Wars than you), I think it’s time to just accept you’re a living joke and move on. The frightening thing is that people like this utter div come to represent SW fans in the public’s mind and we’re all somewhat tarred with the same idiot-brush.

It’s also worth pointing out that Jedi aren’t required to always wear robes, as seen in the prequels – some hardly ever do. They’re also not required to wear their hoods up in public, and if you think about it they probably wouldn’t want to do that anyway given that they’re keepers of the peace. They want to look good, open and honest, not shifty. They may or may not wear hoods in public, and if they’re indoors then they may well not. And if it was the custom of the establishment to request hoods not be worn, I think a real Jedi would respect that as a mark of civility/common courtesy, instead of being a belligerent jackass.

In short, if you’re a member of the ‘Jedi Church’ and it’s not just for a laugh and it’s something you take seriously then you must have some serious issues, both mental and personal.