The Farce Awakens: Why the Charity Commission’s decision on Jediism reveals a need to revisit the definition of religion

This guest post by Dr Russell Sandberg, Head of Law at Cardiff University, explores what the Charity Commission’s decision to reject an application for registration by the Temple of the Jedi Order (TOTJO) reveals about the developing definition of religion under English law. It develops a shorter article previously published in The Conversation.

The story so far

There is no common definition of religion under English law. Instead, there are different definitions (more often than not developed by courts and tribunals) in relation to different religious rights. That said, several ideas have become common to the case law both on charitable status and on the registration of places of religious worship. Continue reading