Why is it necessary for the Jedi church people to wear hoods? Seriously.

*sigh* The more important question is (to me anyways), "Why is there even a Jedi church to begin with?" Seriously.

Some people take things too far. I mean, cmon. A Jedi Church? RLY!?!? O_o

Maybe Morda Heehaw should've used his Jedi powaz to influence the Tesco staff. -_-

His Jedi name oughta be Needsa Lyfe

LOVE the Tesco spokesman's brilliant response!

It seems to me that the point that everyone is missing. The is in England. The English do not have a bill of rights, or freedom of religion. Her Majesty the Queen is the head of the Church of England.

The quesion of was it fair of the store to ask him to remove his hood when others were not asked to do the same? Not a question, it was not fair.

And for all who might want to laugh or look down at him for his faith. I can only say to you. Cut it out. You are the one's who need to grow up and learn how to not pick on some one for their life choices.

You know if this guy paid any attention to the Star Wars movies, he would know that all Jedi pull there hoods off when they walk into a building.

And the funny. I'm a Christian and I know how the Jedi work better than he does.

To be fair... it's no more ridiculous than any other religion.
I do agree with bookwy12m about this Jedi not distracting the clerk with a small little wave of the hand.
True, not all Christians can part a sea or walk on water. And by "not all" I mean "none." But at least Christianity doesn't lead people to believe that many can. If I'm not mistaken (and I am a huge fan of the Jedi) but not just anyone can be a Jedi. Aren't Jedi suppose to be Force sensitive and then be trained to control and master their abilities? It seems kinda wrong that someone who displays no Force abilities would declare himself the head of a Jedi order. Sounds like a rogue. Maybe someone, who if they did have Force abilities, would be heading down the path to the Dark Side! Just sayin'...

It should be noted that this is not the only Jedi church. There are numerous other organizations associated with Jediism. This appears to be one of the fundamentalist ones....I doubt the other groups have this rule, and even the Star Wars Jedi did not.

He needs to remove his hood not. Hmmmmmm.

The real question isn't whether the Jedi is a nut, it's a question of whether it's fair to discriminate against one religious nut vs. another. Would Tesco have made the Pope take off his funny hat in their store? Or an Anglican bishop? Hmmmm... everyone has a right to believe in their own invisible friend, so lets just be consistent about the headgear rules.

The Jedi religion is just as valid (and accurate) as all other religions. This person is completely correct to sue for discrimination. As for the Jedi removing their hoods in the movies, do you really expect to get accurate information about religions from sci-fi movies?

Any religion is based on faith in something that doesnt exist. These guys base it on a movie, christians base it on a book, seriously, one is just as "valid" as the other.

There's already a religion based on contemporary science fiction, one which demands relentlessly to be respected (though more often on the web through copyright lawyers than in supermarkets), but I guess that one's okay because it involves a lot of rich Hollywood types.

whether its based on a movie like these jedi or on a book like christianity, since they are both faith based, it seems one is just as "valid" as the other to me.

where is a scientologists when you need one?

The Jedi religion was invented out of thin air just like all other religions and they're all equally ridiculous. Early Christians were simply fanboys but they didn't have computers to bitch about movies and TV shows.

Geekindallas, please do some research before making disparaging comments about another country. The UK has anti-discrimination legislation which protects people from discrimination on the basis of religion. Individual liberties are protected by centuries of precedent in the common law which is flexible enough to deal with novel and unique circumstances. Many people in common law countries argue that bills of rights distort freedoms rather than protecting them. Frankly, I suspect exactly the same thing would have happened if he pulled this stunt in the US. And imagine what would happened if he had walked into an American bank with his hood up? I suspect his widow would be suing instead.

Wow really a Jedi religion? Its a freaking movie! But to answer the question of wether or not they were discriminating against him?No. This was a security concern, he was just being obstinate and trying to make a scene by not lowering his hood, if he really cared about his religion then he should have some respect for authority and as some one said earlier in the movie Jedis lower there hoods in buildings.
One last thing being a Jedi is way dumber than being a christian, jew, muslim, or virtually every other religion..

Just goes to prove: A religious freak is a religious freak, no matter the religion.

Wait. Wait. Let me get this straight. So if I create my own religion with it's own rules,like I'm allowed to steal anything from anyone or any store, then the government HAS to recognize that right?!?
Sorry, but that just doesn't make it a religion, nor does it make it right.
Anyone who thinks otherwise, just line up, because I'm going to start my own religion soon. It costs only $100 to join.

Wait. Wait. Let me get this straight. So if I create my own religion with it's own rules,like I'm allowed to steal anything from anyone or any store, then the government HAS to recognize that right?!?
Sorry, but that just doesn't make it a religion, nor does it make it right.
Anyone who thinks otherwise, just line up, because I'm going to start my own religion soon. It costs only $100 to join.

I think Scientology just found it's competition. If Lucas really wants to fist the fist the fans some more he should start bringing this under Lucas Arts and get some cash.

Seriously, no wonder I look forward to the end of time when I read crap like this (and I LOVE Star Wars before the prequels and all the CGI re-touching of the originals). Believe what you want, but come on you're just really prolonging your childhood and proving why you're parents should have went to a clinic while doing it.

Nobody kicked him out - the sales clerk just said: "These aren't the bargains you're looking for."

"It seems to me that the point that everyone is missing. The is in England. The English do not have a bill of rights, or freedom of religion. Her Majesty the Queen is the head of the Church of England."

geekindallas,

Okay. maybe you missed a day of World History or something, but the English had a bill of rights long before we did. And they are very tolerant of other religions, even though the official religion is the Church of England. Read some history before making such a stupid remark, that's the reason the rest of the world think Americans are ignorant people.

Basically, it comes down to security. Anything that covers the face, makes the store security suspicious. If there was a robbery, they prefer to get a good description with the cameras, and such... Nothing really against any religion.

I'm surprised he didn't refer to Tesco's as a "wretched hive of scum and villainy."

Just Sayin', add frequent uses of an "E . . err . . . F-meter" to measure your medichlorean count changes!! $100 every visit.

Maybe we can find another with a medichlorean level close to Master Hubb- err Yoda.

(Just so those who didn't get it can . . I was making light of scientology and the parallels between scientology being started by a scifi writer and Jedi-ism(??) springing from the ideas of a scifi writer.)

I wonder if this would have happened if a Muslim woman went into the store wearing a Burkha.

This guy needs counseling, not religious freedom, because his religion isn't a religion. It's therapeudic deism. It fails the religion test on several levels, the most important of which is in its origins.

The man they credit with giving them knowledge of the Force--George Lucas--says it doesn't exist.

It lacks any kind of explanatory power and any demonstrable reasons for its existence. It is, as they say, a fanciful cult (in the theological sense, not the pejorative sense) of Hinduism, created by people with a need to belong.

"When men stop believing in God they don't believe in nothing; they believe in anything." -G. K. Chesterton

Actually, not all "religions" are the same. According to most philosophical/logical views, being a Christian or Muslim is much more logical than being an Jedi or a preslyterian(Church of Elvis) the latter two are considered cults.

Blobbity,
Unlike Obi Wan,Jesus actually existed. And those original "Fanboys", most ended up being killed for it.

and Landshark, The Soviet Union had a great Constitution, It just wasn't enforced. In many ways the British have abandoned their Bill of Rights. To bad for the land of the Magna Carta.

Faith in something that doesn't exist? Definitively stating that God doesn't exist is just as stupid as definitively stating he does. There is no way to prove it either way. You either have faith or you don't. Those of us that have faith don't need proof of a higher being, we believe. It's as simple as that. You will never convince us that God doesn't exist because you can't prove it any more than we can prove that he does.

LOSER!

In reply to many of the comments, he says in the original article that he passed "a Muslim lady in a veil" and she was not required to remove her burkha. Jedi has been recognised legally as a religion, in the same way that Islam has. In light of this, Tesco is in breach of religious discrimination laws, as they should either have a rule about hoods and veils, regardless of religion, or not have said rule, but buy singling him out, he is in the right

there are a lot of "nutters"(people who're fanatiacal about 1-thing or another) in todays society! Most others just look at them as strange - but don't give 'em a 2nd thought! Why him?

I read this story a day or so ago on http://www.ananova.com/News/story/sm_3488295.html. THe thing is in England, they ask people not to wear 'hoodies' because people were doing that and ROBBING stores. Does he wear his Jedi cloak 24/7? Tesco also has a right to make their stores a place where patrons can safely shop. Jedi is a r'eligion' based on a *fictional* movie. He should get a reality check.

Moktar Jones: Xenu is quite perturbed over your comments!!

I think the last line of the Tesco response should be in the new jedi "Bible" whenever they get around to writing it!! It's good advice for anyone at anytime!!

I can die now. I've seen everything there is to see.

I forgot to mention - - I sometimes have a hard time finding a place to park my TARDIS.

He is obviously deluded.

Firstly: If he was a true Jedi, the force would have revealed his presence to me.

Secondly: True Jedi don't shop at Tesco.

Let's keep religion off the message boards. It is FICTION, not SCIENCE FICTION.

Some religions are indeed science fiction. Scientology leaps to mind. Others are closer to horror. I know people who ritually cannibalize the flesh and blood of their undead master on his holy days. This undead master promises to someday return and slaughter billions of people. Nasty stuff.

FASCINATING!!! May he live long and prosper!

Looking at nothing but the legality of the situation, the man is correct. If they had a rule forbidding any and all facial obscuring clothing, which would include burka's and their various modifications and enforced it, that would be one thing. To let a muslim woman retai her veil/burkha is discrimination. Rules are for one and all, not just whoever the security staff thinks is a potential problem. Here in the US muslim women are being told in some places that the practice of wearing a burkha on fficial ID is no longer allowed. Kind of hard to say otherwise, imho.

That's funny, it is a tenant of my religion to kick losers who think they are Jedi in the crotch.

the force is not with you kicked in the crotch you will be humm

like my pastor peter griffin of the church of the fonz has said.just kidding.i'm a christian and a huge fanboy.and even though there are things in my faith that don't make sense to me.this just shows people with believe in anything.frank Herbert was accused of trying to start a religion with his dune books.the sad part is this stuff just makes those of us who pratice the traditional faiths look like nuts.

WTF! What would obi-wan or any of the other jedis we have seen or read about do in that situation? I am alsmost sure they would have put their hood down. rememmber obi=wan actually trying to calm everyone down in the cantina on tattooine "come - let me get you something"; he only used violence when one of the assailants had already fired a blaster at him...so the jedi (from lucas stories) believe in peaceful solutions - and i just think there is no way one of them would every react the way this guy did; he probably would not have gotten past the first round of eliminations when they were picking jedi candidates; even if he was strong in the force - they probably would kick him out for his attitude

Lol.. I love SW.. but that's too far..

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHH man, come on people this is the funiest thing I have heard all day if it were so sad, there really is a place for these lunies and it isn't called a church, they shouldn't even call that place a church, a luniebin mabey and that is genrous. calling this a religon is like saying shit doens't smell, that is no region, that is crazy talk someone needs to get him to a shrink fast.

the Jedi philosophy is interesting and actually a good outlook on life. Basically it mirrors most of the fundamental aspects of Christianity. To believe in a higher power I.E. the Force, as opposed to a three in one God as in christian belief. There really is no difference. and that isn't the point here. the point is if he were a Muslin Lady, he would not be required to remove his hood. This IS a case of discrimination

When are we going to start worshipping Crom?

Thraken-sal, I agree the Jedi religion does mirror Christianity. They are both based in pure fiction.

Come on, Jedis. The world won't come to an end if you give a little in the name of public safety.

MAY THE FORCE BE WITH YOU!!!

Lets be honest and not PC. This guy is a jerk, this is far stupider than other religions, the guy doesn't need counseling, he needs a slap.

IMHO all religions are just as goofy, they are just older and richer. Calling old cults "religions" is the real PC problem

Mykl, the Jediists would probably say that Lucas was just a vessel for divine inspiration and thus doesn't have the authority to fleece them. The leader of a local cult might have better luck with that, depending on their powers of charisma and intimidation.

Wow, there's actually no Wikipedia entry for Fleecing.

You'd think we'd seen everything, but the Jedi Church aren't the only group out there that began in the modern era and believe bizzare things related to fiction. For example, otherkin, who believe themselves to be elves or dragons or so in human bodies, and people who consider themselves "soul-bonded" lifemates to literary and TV characters.

Agreeing with the philosophy is one thing, but making it an organized church with an official dress code - I have to wonder what feelings of loneliness and emptiness prompted this. I guess I could be wrong and there aren't any - but then, why?

Wake up people. If you have a deep need to bash God and religion,I think you have issues of your own. Get over yourselves.

Wow. That's all I can say.

The Farce is strong in this one.

Religion consists of your personal belief in a being(s) that created or shaped the universe, a code of moral ethics you are to follow, and what happens after you die. Jedi are from a movie; they are make-believe and to claim it as a religion is ridiculous. At most he has a philosophy, nothing more. It sounds like he pitched a fit when someone asked him to do something. Just like a spoiled little kid would.

You guys just don't get it. The clerk needed to know whether he was TRULY a Jedi or a Sith Lord. The Jedi pay for their goods. The Sith Lords blow up the cash register.

Is this Jedi religion any more silly than Scientology? Not really. It was based on the beliefs of a very disturbed man, and it is only because its followers have a lot of power and money that anyone calling it a cult or speaking out about it publically is shut down. Imagine for a moment if some of the same people followed the Church of Jedi, it would be a very different story. Also, it wasn't created by a mentally unstable oddball like Hubbard.

Should the guy have taken off his hood? Yes. It wouldn't really have hurt him to do so. Bikers have to take off their helmets when going into banks and shops etc. Women in niqabs etc, well that's another story and I'm not touching it with a barge pole. The debate continues to rage as to whether or not that is obligatory or recommended.

England is rich with history, but they do not learn from it. Religious persecution has not exactly gone well for them in the past, yet they keep repeating the practice. Maybe it's time to let people worship what they want, as long as they do not threaten society with it or because of it. Do they really want a war with Jedi's like they did with the colonist that started America?

In the future, there will only be the Church of Skaro.

Until lots of Daleks show up, it will be enough to just color your case differently from every other Dalek (How about a worldwide registry of Dalek case colors - or a license plate if too many Daleks start to show up?)

Daleks don't have religion unless they are mad

jon, if you actually believe in any kind of 'god' then YOU are the one with issues. Go back under your rock and let the intelligent people discuss this.

Is Morda gonna have to force choke a beotch?

EXTERMINATE...EXTERMINATE...LONELY JEDI MALE. EXTERMINATE...EXTERMINATE .

The Farce is strong in this one.

I find your lack of faith . . . disturbing.