Australians Keep Screwing Up Census Stats by Claiming Jedi as Their Religion

[GummyBearz]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/article/36942171/australians-asked-not-to-list-their-religion-as-jedi

I hadn't heard of this before, guess it has been going on since 2001... pretty funny

[LWolf]

1. I wonder if there is

a "none of the above" choice, or a "none of your business" choice on that survey.

What public services are allotted based on religious demographics?

[muriel_volestrangler]

2. Yes, the question is optional; yes, it has a fill-in 'other' option

Data on religious affiliation is used for a number of purposes, such as planning educational facilities, aged care and other social services provided by religion-based organisations; the location of church buildings; the assigning of chaplains to hospitals, prisons, armed services and universities; the allocation of time on public radio and other media; and sociological research.
...
Exaggerations and inaccuracies in the Census data may lead to groups wielding disproportionate influence within government. By means of these inflated figures, politicians may formulate or disallow laws and policies based on religious precepts.

The Atheist Foundation of Australia believes laws and government policies should benefit all members of society, not just those who adhere to a particular religious faith – even when that religion holds a majority position. As such, all government decisions should be based on empirical evidence rather than religious beliefs.

http://censusnoreligion.org.au/

[LWolf]

6. The temptation

to fill in those other boxes with various creative labels would be tough.

Does Australia not even give lip service to the idea of separation?

[muriel_volestrangler]

7. Full separation of church and state is not that common

Here's an example of the situation about religious education in Australia: http://theconversation.com/explainer-what-the-law-says-about-religious-instruction-in-schools-23608

[LanternWaste]

4. The census form has a none option.

The census form has both a None and an Other option.

It seems the president of the Atheist Foundation Of Australia's only concern is that it skews the census results to make Australia appear more religious than it is.

[Xolodno]

3. Bah...Jedi are weak.

Sith is the way to go.....

[frogmarch]

5. Well, it may not happen here.

My great-grandson Jack, a U.S. baby, was christened a Jedi, and I'll bet he's not alone.

[SMC22307]

9. Adorable! (n/t)

[csziggy]

8. Wasn't Jedi an accepted UK religion at one point?

It is a world wide phenomenon, though: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jedi_census_phenomenon

The state university I attended used to ask about religion. A friend of mine objected so he put down that he was a Neo-Coptic Druid, about as nonsensical as he could get back in the mid-1970s. A member of the university administration contacted him for clarification and he explained that he didn't think a state university had any business asking about religion and his answer was a protest against it. They still wanted to know what a "Neo-Coptic Druid" was. He suggested that they ask the Religion Department or do their own research.