Fans say Jedi Knights a religion

Sat., Nov. 25, 2006

Religion News Service The Spokesman-Review

A pair of London science fiction enthusiasts are petitioning the United Nations to formally recognize the Jedi Knights of “Star Wars” fame as a legitimate religion.

Umada and Yunyun – known in real life as John Wilkinson and Charlotte Law – base their case on the results of Britain’s 2001 census, in which some 395,000 “Star Wars” followers recorded their faith as “Jedi.”

That, they say, makes the Jedi Knights Britain’s fourth-largest religious group, ahead even of Judaism, Sikhism and Buddhism.

Umada and Yunyun also asked that the United Nations change its annual International Day of Tolerance to the Interstellar Day of Tolerance.

“Tolerance is about respecting difference wherever it lies, including other galaxies,” they wrote.

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