Injustice or silliness? You decide

There are all sorts of religions to fit the faiths and beliefs of all sorts of people. We all know religions are fakery and silliness incarnate, but some of them just make you shake your head despondently. For example, did you know that Jedi is an actual religion?

George Lucas must be so proud. (Either that, or he’s facepalming every time he hears about these weirdos.)

Now, religious discrimination is just as unfair and unacceptable as any other sort of discrimination, of course, but this story here will probably leave you wondering … was any harm really committed, or is this just one case that’s too silly to be taken seriously? You be the judge:

The founder of the Jedi religion inspired by the Star Wars films was thrown out of a Tesco supermarket for wearing his distinctive brown hood.

Daniel Jones, 23, who has 500,000 followers worldwide, was told the hood flouted store rules and was ordered to remove it or leave the supermarket.

As a result Jones, who also goes by the Jedi name Morda Hehol, claims he has been 'victimised over his beliefs' and left 'emotionally humiliated' by the supermarket in Bangor, North Wales.

[…]

A Tesco spokesperson 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.

'If Jedi walk around our stores with their hoods on, they'll miss lots of special offers.'

The worst thing in reading this is learning that there are 500,000 who actually adhere to this stuff. *sighs*

As laughable as this incident is, it does raise some questions. First of all, yes, Jediism is about as fringe a beliefs system as they get, but then, who gets to decide which religions should have their traditions respected or not? Should there be a Religious Customs Allowance parliament or something?

And then, which religions would deserve to have their customs be allowed and respected? All of them? Or only those of a select few, “major” faiths, like Christianity or Islam? If adherents to small-time faiths like Jediism don’t have the right to cover their heads in public, then should it be tolerated that a Muslim woman hide her head and face behind a burqa? Same basic principal, no?

So why is that permitted?

Food for thought.

(via Friendly Atheist)
Technorati tags: Jedi · Jediism · Star Wars · Daniel Jones · Tesco · discrimination · silliness