Mr Jones, from Holyhead, said his religion dictated that he should wear the hood in public places and is considering legal action against the chain.
‘It states in our Jedi doctrination that I can wear headwear. It just covers the back of my head,’ he said.
The Tesco spokesperson though didn’t just cite store policy or private property owners’ rights but actually offered a theological justification for the permissibility of asking him to remove his hood without violating his beliefs:
‘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.’
And that’s about as good and close to truth as any theological argument from the “real” religions gets.
Hooded Daniel Jones (right) with his brother Barney at a meeting of their Jedi church in Holyhead, North Wales
via Friendly Atheist
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