UK Census

[Rima]

Well, here's a question for those of you living in the UK...
The religion question is new in the census, and under the usual options, there is a space for "other". I have heard that there is a thing going round, for a joke, to write "Jedi Knight" in the space... as APPARENTLY, if enough people write the same "religion" in this bit (ie over 10000), it has to become one of the options in the next census, that is a recognised religion... I was just pondering the meaning of this for those of us who are pagans and wondered, (if in fact it isn't all rubbish), what you all thought about it, what (if anything) you are writing in, and if you'd heard this silly rumour? I'm just interested... I guess it all has to do with whether or not you have "come out" yet and other things.... do let me know your thoughts.

And Bright Blessings to you all, wherever you are

[Kiya]

I must admit, I had heard this rumour, but I think it's just a bit of fun... soon to become urban legend I guess! I did put in Pagan, after much consideration. Initially I thought 'who's business is it anyway?' but in the end I felt almost joyful at writing it down, which I'm taking to mean I've done the right thing for me.

[Earth Walker]

We will be having a national census soon in Canada,
and I guess it will ask the same questions about
religion. I'll just tell them that I'm Pagan.


Never rollerskate in a buffalo herd. :D

[ladyrowan]

Just came across this old post, and thought i'd answer it - better late than never!

It is true that if over 10,000 people put down a particular religion, it then becomes 'official'.
However, (you might already have seen this) the government has stated that they will NOT be taking any notice of Jedi Knights!

The Pagan Federation did ask everyone, whether Wiccan, Witch, Druid etc etc to put down 'Pagan' because if all of us put down our own individual paths, there probably wouldn't be enough for any of them to be counted. If we all put Pagan, then the government would have to accept it.

Spiritualism is already classed as an accepted official religion.

Lets just hope there's not too many Pagans among the millions who never returned the forms! 8O

BB