Turning Science Fiction Into Your Religious Faith
4 Nov 2005
The Bible teaches that man was created in the image of God (Genesis 1:26-27). Today, however, God is being created in the image of man. Instead of believing ourselves created in God’s likeness, we are more and more attempting to fashion God according to our liking. Instead of worshipping the Maker of us all, we are more and more worshipping gods of our own making. As a result, humanity is increasingly bowing down to figments of its own imagination.
When asked about their religious affiliation on the 2001 census, so many Britons answered “Jedi Knight” that a new category of religion had to be created. Afterward, 70,509 people in Australia and 53,715 in New Zealand marked “Jedi” as their religion. Jedi Knights are the fictitious warriors of George Lucas’ “Star Wars” movies. These conjured up champions of good are portrayed on film as fighting evil through the ages with the help of the force. So taken are so many with Lucas’ science fiction that they have turned it into their religious faith.
Unfortunately, George Lucas is not the first person to have his science fiction turned into a religious faith. L. Ron Hubbard was a successful author of science fiction novels who became so enamored with his own writing that he decided to believe his make believe. In his book, “Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health,” Hubbard declared to the world his fiction as fact. Since then, the book has sold millions of copies and thousands of gullible souls have joined Hubbard in Scientology’s world of illusion.
It was William James who said, “There is no idea so absurd that if repeated often enough, people will not believe it.” Apparently, James was right; not just about ideas, however, but about religion as well. Some people are willing to adhere to the most absurd religions, even those made up from fictional movies and books.
Don Walton
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