I enjoy fiction. Also, when I talk e.g. with religious people, I imagine that we are all talking about some imaginary world; then it doesn't bother me that their arguments do not apply to our world. I can discuss Bible the same way I can discuss Tolkien, and sometimes it's fun. Only when people remind me that they actually believe the elves are real, it gets weird.

Your first example... that's also in the weird territory. I could enjoy it as a fiction. I don't see any other use for it. -- Is it just an aesthetic difference?