"Make-Believers"
2 Feb 2007
In this day of rampant relativism, when everyone is encouraged to make up their own truth and no one is permitted to criticize another’s concocted convictions, feelings have replaced facts as the foundation of faith. In other words, whatever you feel good about believing is “truth” enough, irregardless of whether or not it flies in the face of facts and logic. Everyone is now free to make up their own beliefs, as well as their own “facts” in support of them. Consequently, today’s world is becoming increasingly populated by “make-believers”; that is, people who believe what they or others have made-up. On the other hand, real believers—people who believe in real things—are becoming increasingly scarce.
The growing popularity of fabricated faiths can be easily proven by the number of Britons who wrote down “Jedi Knight” as their religious affiliation on the 2001 census. In fact, so many did so that a new category for “Jedi Knights” had to be created by the British government. Of course, Jedi Knights are the fictitious heroes of George Lucas’ famous “Star Wars” films. These conjured up champions of good are portrayed on the silver screen as fighting evil through the ages with the help of the force. So taken are many Britons 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 his fiction to be fact. Since then, the book has sold millions of copies and thousands of gullible souls have stepped through the looking glass into the “Wonderland” of Scientology.
The British newspaper The Sun recently reported that Scientology’s leaders have dubbed actor Tom Cruise as their “Christ.” According to these cult leaders, Cruise is “the chosen one” to spread Scientology’s sham throughout the world. Believe it or not, these straight-faced cultists compare Cruise to Christ in that he’s currently criticized for his views, but will ultimately be proven right and worshipped by future generations. Now there’s a bit of fiction that not even the combined imaginative minds of George Lucas and L. Ron Hubbard could have dreamed up.
If Cruise (Ethan Hunt) really wants to accept a “Mission Impossible” let him tackle the new role Scientologists are asking him to play, especially the part where he’s crucified for the sins of the world, but rises again for the world’s salvation. Instead of “Mission Impossible,” this really ought to be called “Mission Preposterous.” Still, as blasphemous as it is, one must admit that it does make perfect sense for a Hollywood actor whose one claim to fame is pretending to be fictitious characters on the silver screen to serve as the phony messiah for a false religion fabricated by a science fiction novelist.
I guess William James was right; there really is no idea so absurd that people will not believe it. This is especially true today, with our world’s growing population of make-believers.
Don Walton
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