There's a great religious debate program on uk tv, called "The Big Questions". This was on recently:
What makes a religion a religion? Daniel Jones, who is the founder of the Jedi faith, was ordered to leave Tesco's (the largest retailer and supermarket chain tin the UK) for wearing his Jedi hood. He said on TV that he was standing next to Islamic women wearing full face and head veils at the time. He states that his religion has over 500,000 followers and does follow a written doctrine.
He also went on to say that the UK Racial Discrimination bill (2003?) specifically had Jedis excluded as a religion protected by the act.
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.
If Jedi walk around our stores with their hoods on, they'll miss lots of special offers."
Another chap, representing Raliens was there too, along with a Moonie. The Ralien seemed quite nice! Establishment faiths that were well represented on the show, tended to the view that their religion was true and these others were not actual religions. Are these people religious, should they be re-branded as cultists, or are all major religions the result of successful cults? Should new religions/cults be banned?
Should these philosophies be accorded the same status and taken as seriously as serious religions? Should they be taught in schools as alternative beliefs alongside the old favourites?
(EDIT links fixed!)
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