‘Jedi’ most popular alternative faith in UK – Census

Published time: December 12, 2012 09:11
Edited time: December 12, 2012 13:16
(Reuters / Mario Anzuoni)

‘Jedi’ is now the most popular faith in the 'Other Religions' category in England and Wales. Those identifying with the Star Wars creed outnumber atheists, taking seventh place among all the major world religions, the 2011 census revealed.

2011 census

- Census was held on Sunday 27 March 2011.

- It is based on data from 26 million households.

- Census is held every ten years since 1801.

- In England and Wales it is carried out by the Office for National Statistics

The number of Jedi Knights have in fact nearly halved in the last decade, declining from 390,127 followers in 2001 to 176,632 in 2011.

Despite the drop in numbers ,‘Jedi’ still remains the top alternative faith and ranks seventh overall after Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Sikhism, Judaism and Buddhism.

Adherents to "the Force" represents 0.31% of all people in England and Wales.

Another big shift revealed by the 2011 census is that people are moving away from religion all-together. 13.8 million of respondents refused to identify with any faith at all, selecting the “No religion” box and 29,267 said they were atheists.

Also, the census showed that 6,242 people subscribe to the Heavy Metal religion, which was set up in 2010 by the Metal Hammer magazine.

The eastern city of Norwich is the epicenter of the non-religious population, with just over 40% of residents choosing not to identify with any religion. As well, the city has the highest percentage ofHeavy Metal acolytes and third highest concentration of Jedi Knights.

Overall, more than 4 million decided not to state any religion at all.

Other non-mainstream faiths included: 56,620 Pagans, 39,061 Spiritualists, 2,418 Scientologists and 20,288 Jainists (an Indian religion that teaches non-violence towards all living beings).

The census figures also showed that Britain has become more diverse, with 86 percent of residents in England and Wales identifying themselves as white, down from 91.3 percent in 2001. London is the most cosmopolitan city in the UK, with 45.8 percent of residents classifying themselves as “white British.” Also, 37 percent of the capital’s residents were born abroad and 24 percent are not UK citizens.

Over 240,000 people selected ′Other religion′ box on their census form.
Over 240,000 people selected 'Other religion' box on their census form.

Comments (26)

Clair (unregistered) 23.01.2013 21:07

@ chosenbygrace Be happy and grateful you had been informed all mentioned here Catholicism, Baptist, Presbyterianism , Lutheranism , teachings of “Assemblies of God”, Methodist, Anglican, Episcopal institutions represent heretical in their nature entities that rather diverting people from the path to Christ through wrong theological teachings and leading them into mentioned by you “hell” even here on earth. Why? But that is a subject of another thread and probably of many other articles needed to elaborate. That is primary  reason as to why certain geopolitical unions on the political global map had been emerging .And that is a reason why Russia has always had  got so many enemies during last thousand years.  The Church you cursing here and that our Lord had once promised to leave after His resurrection is One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church and that is Orthodox Church though devil has been offering his own alternative “churches”. Your name-calling and utter ignorance of religious theological subject tells of how much grace you do possess, when citing me here, for as you fail to see the image of God in each person and call an individual you know nothing about an “utter idiot”. Besides, you really can’t tell a difference between theological concept of “Protestantism” and single person who might subscribe to its ideas. But as in any kind of ignorance  a certain degree of bliss is always present so that people are hardly to want to escape from it.  

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chosenbygrace 07.01.2013 20:45

""I was pointing on the self-destructiveness of Protestantism on the Church."

I was going to not comment on this article after seeing the three I saw first with the others nonsensically  being hidden were sufficient, till I saw that incredibly offensive and stupid statement. So, someone points out you nonsensically interchange Britain and England as if they were the same thing, than you make nearly the same type of error by generalizing Protestantism! Do you have any idea as to how many Christian denominations comprise "Protestant"? Here ignorant anonymous author: Baptist, Presbyterian, Lutheran, Assemblies of God, Methodist, Anglican, Episcopal, non denominational, and some of these can be further divided into evangelical or orthodox versions. "Protestant" is also used by some to cover any [Christian] religion that rejects Catholicism or disagrees with it's claim to be the only true religion.

How dare you lump millions of Christians ALL OVER THE WORLD in lazy ignorance together in an insulting way. And what an idiot, "the Church"? So Baptists and Presbterians obeying the ten commandments and "Do to others as you would have them to do you" commandments which you reject, are DAMAGING the Church with a capital C?

And tell us anonymous coward author: How in THE HELL do you, without explanation, say Protestants all being the same in your ignorant delusional mind are damaging the Church you know nothing about and don't even specify what "Church" refers to, how do you just skip right over the tens of millions, at least 50 million people killed by Catholics over the past 1,500 years of their persecution of those who wouldn't submit to Catholicism, and their endless drunkness, brawls, hiring of prostitutes, abuse of children, wife-beatings and other common sins among atheists, as not being worth mentioning? So reformed type Baptists and Presbyterians, who spend their own money from their own hard work in Africa, risking their lives going there to help people get farm animals and start a farm or build a little home are known for all that?

You're an utter idiot. Stop bashing people you know nothing about. May God forgive your ignoramus self.

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chosenbygrace 07.01.2013 20:40

"I was pointing on the self-destructiveness of Protestantism on the Church."

I was going to not comment on this article after seeing the three I saw first with the others nonsensically  being hidden were sufficient, till I saw that incredibly offensive and stupid statement. So, someone points out you nonsensically interchange Britain and England as if they were the same thing, than you make nearly the same type of error by generalizing Protestantism! Do you have any idea as to how many Christian denominations comprise "Protestant"? Here ignorant anonymous author: Baptist, Presbyterian, Lutheran, Assemblies of God, Methodist, Anglican, Episcopal, non denominational, and some of these can be further divided into evangelical or orthodox versions. "Protestant" is also used by some to cover any religion that rejects Catholicism or disagrees with it's claim to be the only true religion.

How dare you lump millions of Christians ALL OVER THE WORLD in lazy ignorance together in an insulting way. And what an idiot, "the Church"? So Baptists and Presbterians obeying the ten commandments and "Do to others as you would have them to do you" commandments which you reject, are DAMAGING the Church with a capital C? You're an utter idiot. Stop bashing people you know nothing about. May God forgive your ignoramus self.

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