10-14-08's and Science Fiction

For those who don't know what the 10-14-08's are all about (no, it's not a spin-off of The 4400. They probably wish they were, though) They are a group of people who believed a gigantic 'Light Ship' was going to present itself to earth on October 14th, 2008. They believed this because a woman who hears voices in her head (or is a fraud. see 'psychic') told them it was going to happen.

When it didn't happen many still remained devoted.

The transition of the 10-14 followers from the start (believers in an alien arrival that
never happened) to their current incarnation (seemingly a cult awaiting for the arrival of
these same aliens motivated only by the word of a psychic channeler and her word) has me
stumped.

Don't get me wrong. I would love to see the aliens land. In fact an alien invasion would be
the most exciting way for the world to end! I'll admit that when I was a teenager I grabbed
up every UFO book there was. I still watch that movie 'Communion' on a regular basis (itself
based on the writings of another kook and known liar; Whitley Strieber)

I've grown away from that since. I still do find the concept of alien visitation to be
exciting. I've just moved more to science-fiction to get that thrill rather than speculating
whether blurry photos from every Tom, Dick and Harry might be an alien visitation.
Some people seem to go the opposite direction. They like their science-fiction a little too
much. It's understandable really. The earth of the Star Trek universe is Utopian. Living on
board the Galactica is excitement at every turn. Travelling through Stargates and exploring
new worlds would be the greatest job in the world. Hell, I've been daydreaming about being a
companion in the TARDIS since I was about 5.

Now before you stop me in my tracks and say 'reasonable people know the difference between
fiction and reality' I must remind you of one thing: Jedi is now an established and official
religion in many countries. We now have over 500,000 registered Jedi around the world.
Let me reiterate.

500,000 people base their beliefs on a religion thought up by a man who made Jar-Jar Binks
and Ewoks.

A common trend I have noticed with the 10-14 crowd is also science-fiction. We have people
sending in videos using alias's such as 'Commander Adama' (although Adama is actually an
Admiral in Battlestar Galactica), Kahless (a Klingon prophet), and even Brad's official
website states 'Share and Enjoy' for spreading his stories via links. 'Share and Enjoy' is
the slogan for the complaints department of the Sirius Cybernetics Corporation from
Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy.

We also have examples of popular science-fiction theory being cited as proof of alien
visitation (the Liz Hurley breast cancer light/wormhole being the latest)

I've done my share of science-fiction conventions in the past. I'll admit I am a nerd. I
even wore a towel over my shoulder when Douglas Adams sadly passed away. At these
conventions I have seen my share of people devoting themselves to various new age religions.
Many of these are based around the worship of extra-terrestrials.

Do people want to believe so hard that a life known only in fiction can be achieved that
they are willing to see past the cold hard facts?

Remain skeptical. Please.

-Doc