Jedi Order lures 53,000 disciples
More than 120,000 New Zealanders and Australians claim the Force is with them.
The return of the Jedi who ruled a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away began with a tongue-in-cheek email campaign before the NZ Census in March last year.
If 8000 New Zealanders stated they were disciples of Star Wars characters Yoda and Luke Skywalker, the email claimed, the Jedi Order would become a recognised religion.
Despite only one week's notice, 53,715 people did just that - unofficially showing this country has more Jedi Knights than Buddhist, Baptists, Mormons, Hindu and Ratana Christians.
The return of the Jedi who ruled a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away began with a tongue-in-cheek email campaign before the NZ Census in March last year.
If 8000 New Zealanders stated they were disciples of Star Wars characters Yoda and Luke Skywalker, the email claimed, the Jedi Order would become a recognised religion.
Despite only one week's notice, 53,715 people did just that - unofficially showing this country has more Jedi Knights than Buddhist, Baptists, Mormons, Hindu and Ratana Christians.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=2352142
Posted: Sat 31 Aug 2002
