15,000 Czechs Declare “Jedi” as Their Faith, in Census

[progressoid]

A half century under Soviet occupation and politically correct anti-religious indoctrination in its schools has left one of the most historically Christian nations in Europe divided — with half of the population claiming to be atheists or unsure what they believe.

And 15,070 claim “the Force” is with them — they are practicing Jedi knights.

In the March 2011 census of the Czech Republic’s 10 million citizens, 15,070 clicked off a box on the form claiming to be the fictional mystic warriors of filmmaker George Lucas’ six-film series Star Wars. Another 707,649 said they believe in God but do not belong to any church.

However, it’s the Jedi knights that have officials scratching their heads.

“Fifteen thousand adherents, which is the size of a small town, is not a negligible social phenomenon,” Stanislav Drapal, deputy head of the statistical office, told reporters. In Prague, 3,977 — or 0.31 per cent of the capital’s population — said they follow the faith taught in the film by the Sesame Street-inspired puppet, Yoda, who teaches Luke Skywalker to levitate his space craft.

Read more: http://blog.beliefnet.com/news/2011/12/15000-czechs-tell-census-theyre-jedi-knights.php#ixzz1rN1zgjqc








Sorry if this has been posted already. I just ran across it.

[pipoman]

1. Really? There was such a box?

"15,070 clicked off a box on the form claiming to be the fictional mystic warriors of filmmaker George Lucas’ six-film series Star Wars"

I'm thinking 15k out of the masses polled have a sense of humor and a disregard/reluctance for government requests for personal information which only a short time ago would get them thrown into a dungeon or worse if they happen not to answer 'correctly'..

[Enrique]

2. i can only think of one reason they would include that as a choice

to reduce the number showing up as athiests.

[eqfan592]

3. You're intolerance of the Jedi and their faith is noted.

[mr blur]

4. Same thing happened here in the UK -

there was an "Other" option under religion and thousands of people wrote "Jedi".

[SteveABG]

5. Holy crap!

The Czech Republic is stockpiling Jedis. They are preparing to kick our asses.

We must get Jedi as an option on the next census, to verify that our Jedis outnumber theirs.

[progressoid]

6. As long as they don't stray to the dark side.

Vigilant we must stay Obi Wan.

[provis99]

7. Jedi is a crappy, immoral religion too.

Last edited Sat Apr 7, 2012, 02:47 PM - Edit history (1)

They all are.

[saras]

8. So much for "people getting less religious"...I just wish all the Discordians would admit it...

...c'mon, face it. What you really believe runs things is irrational, capricious chance. Chaos. Physical laws fighting to sustain order and barely holding up against the universe's inexorable desire to fuck things up. That chaos, that seething mess of disorder, has a name, and Her name is Eris.

[edhopper]

9. Not to be flip

but the idea that there is a life force in the Universe that imbues all things with energy is not far from what I have seen espoused here a few times.

[cbayer]

10. Yes, it's the Religion group and people do espouse that belief.

So what?

[edhopper]

11. This article was meant to be humorous

and we aren't suppose to believe that these Czechs actually think they are Jedis.
But I was commenting that some people's beliefs are surprising close to that of The Force.
Other than that, I am not sure what I was trying to say.

[progressoid]

12. Makes sense. According to George Lucas:

"The Force evolved out of various developments of character and plot. I wanted a concept of religion based on the premise that there is a God and there is good and evil. I began to distill the essence of all religions into what I thought was a basic idea common to all religions and common to primitive thinking. I wanted to develop something that was nondenominational but still had a kind of religious reality. I believe in God and I believe in right and wrong. I also believe that there are basic tenets which through history have developed into certainties, such as 'thou shalt not kill.' I don't want to hurt other people. 'Do unto others...' is the philosophy that permeates my work."

Source: Ryder Windham. Star Wars Episode 1: The Phantom Menace Scrapbook. Random House (1999), pg. 11.