Althouse: Anti-Jediism.

September 19, 2009

Anti-Jediism.

"Daniel Jones, founder of the religion inspired by the Star Wars films, says he was humiliated and victimised for his beliefs following the incident at a Tesco store in Bangor [Wales].... Jones, from Holyhead, who is known by the Jedi name Morda Hehol, said his religion dictated that he should wear the hood in public places and is considering legal action against the chain.... Tesco said: 'He hasn't been banned. Jedis are very welcome to shop in our stores although we would ask them to remove their hoods. Obi-Wan Kenobi, Yoda and Luke Skywalker all appeared hoodless without ever going over to the Dark Side and we are only aware of the Emperor as one who never removed his hood.'"

The store is going to debate religious doctrine with the founder of a religion? I guess that seems okay because it feels like a pop culture trivia contest. But either it's a religion or it's not, and if it is, it's not up to Tesco to say what the religion requires.

24 comments:

chuck b. said...: You're assuming a lot about Tesco.

Does any religion get to be what just one person says it is?; 9/19/09, 9:17 PM
MadisonMan said...: Why do I get the feeling that Daniel Jones doesn't use deodorant and has greasy hair?; 9/19/09, 9:57 PM
Freddy Hill said...: A corporation with a sense a humor! When was the last time you saw this? I say this is wonderful, and damn the philosophers, the theologians, and the lawyers.; 9/19/09, 10:00 PM
rcocean said...: Jedi's, remove your hoods - you must.; 9/19/09, 10:32 PM
Lem Vibe Bandit said...: Tesco has gone over to the dark side.

wv - domence; 9/19/09, 10:47 PM
Wince said...: Sounds a little contrived to me.

Makes me wonder whether the British courts have a doctrine of collusive lawsuits like the US?

Is justiciability preserved, even in artificial controversies, as here, so long as the parties seek ostensibly different outcomes?; 9/19/09, 10:53 PM
Anonymous said...: But either it's a religion or it's not, and if it is, it's not up to Tesco to say what the religion requires.

Disagree, the movies are out there for anyone to watch & interpret. The Jedis clearly remove their hoods indoors during the movie, so obviously this is not a strict requirement of the Jedi religion.

Where's Martin Luther when you need him most?; 9/19/09, 10:55 PM
Tibore said...: As many jokes as can be made about this - and believe me, this topic is ripe for humor - all I can think is that too many in modern society are bending over backwards to find ways to trivialize the concept of religion. Far, far over backwards.; 9/19/09, 11:19 PM
Clyde said...: So does Daniel Jones pay a tithe to George Lucas?

"This is not the creed you are looking for... He can go about his business... Move along!"; 9/20/09, 12:16 AM
jeff said...: Hi, I'm batshit crazy. Stop oppressing me.; 9/20/09, 12:48 AM
Wince said...: Hi, Jeff!

Welcome.

wv - "wardsy" = possessing the attributes of the Beaver's father; 9/20/09, 1:21 AM
rhhardin said...: A Jedi moment on Imus, Nov 10, 2005, real audio.; 9/20/09, 2:16 AM
blake said...: The Death Star 9/11 was an inside job!; 9/20/09, 2:35 AM
Starless said...: Morda Hehol?

"No, man, really, that's cool. I'm open for pretty much anything just as long as you don't go near my he-hole."; 9/20/09, 4:59 AM
Roger Sweeny said...: I assume Morda Hehol (Daniel Jones) purports to be following the religion of the Jedi in the Star Wars movies. That doesn't make him a founder. At most, he's a prophet.

The movies thus provide the holy scriptures for his religion.

But perhaps he can provide us with a seventh movie, given to him by the angel Moroni, that requires Jedi to keep their hoods on.; 9/20/09, 7:06 AM
bearbee said...: From Wiki:

Politics
In 2005, a draft of the "racial and religious hatred bill" in the UK specifically excluded Jedi Knights from any protection, alongside Satanists, Scientologists, sexists, racists, and believers in animal or human sacrifice.[18]

In November of 2006, two self-proclaimed Jedi wearing Star Wars robes and a third person disguised as a Wookiee demanded that the UN change the "International Day of Tolerance" to "Interstellar Day of Tolerance".[19]

On September 18, 2009 a Jedi Knight in the UK was asked to leave a grocery store for wearing his Jedi robes in violation of the store's "no hoodie" policy. [20]

UK acknowledging it was considered a religion by excluding it.

I think the following is the final language:

The bill contains wording to amend the Public Order Act 1986:

Section 29A
Meaning of "religious hatred"
In this Part "religious hatred" means hatred against a group of persons defined by reference to religious belief or lack of religious belief.; 9/20/09, 7:46 AM
traditionalguy said...: A Religion is a group with beliefs held in common and organised for protection from opposition groups and extension of those beliefs to others. The Environmental Religion is a perfect example. The joke here is that a Jedi believer is noted as having a religion , but a Global Warming True Believer is hooded under the false claim that he is a "Scientist" while being directly funded by the Government.; 9/20/09, 8:06 AM
Bissage said...: This Morda Hehol fellow can't be much of a Jedi if he's afraid to fight three retail security dudes.; 9/20/09, 8:08 AM
Paddy O said...: All founders of a religion were questioned about the religion.

That's like religion test #1. If they can't stand up to that and keep a religion going for a long while after, then they're pretty sad religious founders.

Founders of real religions are never humiliated and victimized. Proper, real religion, lingo would make sure to say, "I was persecuted and martyred."; 9/20/09, 9:05 AM
Methadras said...: I wonder what George Lucas has to say about being displaced as the creator of said religion. Also, I wonder what this Jedi's Midiclorian count is? Sounds pretty low to me.

wv = dumdum. Really?; 9/20/09, 12:15 PM
kentuckyliz said...: Can burqa'd Muslims shop covered at Tesco?

If yes, let the guy play dress-up.; 9/20/09, 12:35 PM
A.W. said...: when i first heard that people were claiming to be jedis as their religion, i thought, "this is a joke right?" i still think that for many it literally is.

But if there is a jedi faith, um, isn't george lucas the founder of it?

Anyway, all of this is showing how poorly thought out freedom of religion ultimately is. it is filled with so many contradictions its a royal pain. I think at the very least, there should a little asterisk to all freedom of religion laws that say "unless your religion is retarded."; 9/21/09, 8:26 AM
Laika's Last Woof said...: "But either it's a religion or it's not, and if it is, it's not up to Tesco to say what the religion requires."
Obviously it's not, but I don't think you're appreciating the ironic genius of Tesco.
By debating whether Jedi hoodies lead to the Dark Side they're both showing their hipness, their ironic sense of humor, AND their marketing savvy at keeping themselves in the news.
It's pure genius to pretend to argue the doctrine of a work of pulp fiction. And not a single cent paid to George Lucas.
One boggles at the amazing good luck to be landed in the middle of this eyeball-grabbing "controversy".; 9/23/09, 12:05 AM
Seven said...: He most certainly did not found the Jedi Religion, that's silly - and the Jedi religion does not require anyone to wear a hood. At most Jediism is about inner peace, personal character development and chivalry. Seven for -- Jedisanctuary.org; 2/18/10, 3:54 PM