EAST Lancashire MP Gordon Prentice has lined up with comedian Rowan Atkinson to object to government plans to create a new offence of stirring up religious hatred.

He expressed concern that people cracking jokes could end up breaking the law and was particularly worried about what constituted a religion.

Comic Rowan has already been to Westminster to complain that the proposal could outlaw humour and satire at the expense of religious faiths and their members, thus restricting free speech.

Pendle MP Mr Prentice told Home Secretary David Blunkett in the House of Commons: "I have misgivings about the new offence we are creating -- that of stirring up religious hatred.

"It is being introduced for a noble purpose and for the best of reasons but it still makes me feel a little uncomfortable.

"There is no consensus among the public that calls for the introduction of this new offence.

"Religions are belief systems, and all belief systems should be open to challenge, ridicule, satire and debate. In a free society it should be possible to contest them.

"The Bill contains no definition of religion and that is amazing. There will be an offence of stirring up religion hatred, but we will not know what constitutes a religion.

"Apparently the government are content to leave that for the courts to decide. This question will test the most eminent juries and the finest legal brains in the land." He said he was stunned that according to the 2001 census being a Jedi Knight -- of which there are 390,000 in the UK -- was a religion. Others featured in the census included Mysticism, Paganism, New Age beliefs, Vodun, Wicca, Tintao, Ancestor Worship and Cooneyism.

He said that Satanism was also featured and said: "What do we mean by hatred? I suppose it means a really intense dislike.

"How would Christians feel about Satanists? I imagine that they would feel intense dislike for the anti-Christ."

And he warned that fundamentalists in a religion might use the act to try and prosecute more liberal members of that faith.

Mr Prentice said the Bill might also encourage self censorship among groups like journalists, writers, comedians and performers.