One of them is Star Trek. I watched Star Trek TNG with my parents when I was younger, it was a weekly ritual. As an adult, I can recognize that it really isn’t very good TV: the acting was often poor, the writing poorer, and don’t even get me started on the technobabble.
Lots of people do, in fact, give a special status to Star Trek and Star Wars. Not quite the same kind of special status that people try to give to [insert religious book here], but it seems to go beyond normal fandom. For example, people declaring their religion as “Jedi” on census forms.
I think I assign special status to Star Trek, too. Sure, it might be full of gaping plot holes and inconsistencies, but—but—it’s Trek!
Lots of people do, in fact, give a special status to Star Trek and Star Wars. Not quite the same kind of special status that people try to give to [insert religious book here], but it seems to go beyond normal fandom. For example, people declaring their religion as “Jedi” on census forms.
This is not surprising. Religion is a special case of fandom, not the other way around.
I have a post on this somewhere in the depths of my entry-bunnies, but no idea when I’ll post it.