church parody religion better known belief systems teaches complex philosophy focuses salesman 1950s revered prophet church leaders developed detailed narratives relationship gods central deity accompanied gods drawn ancient mythology popular fiction literature describes grand conspiracy seeks world followers narratives church presents blend cultural references elaborate remix sources founded 1970s serves leader publicist imitated actions religious leaders tactic culture attempt undermine better known church leaders followers avoid mainstream belief absolute truths group holds quality importance clearly defined number followers unknown church message welcomed college students artists united_states group compared journalists consider church elaborate joke academics defended honest system deeply held beliefs origins founded born born born present group inception organization recorded activity publication document known pamphlet dallas texas document announced impending end world possible deaths readers criticized christian god new age perceptions spirituality church leaders maintain man named founded group members constructed elaborate account life described commentators fictional assert contacted meeting person year persuaded join shortly describes sacred professional beliefs deities beliefs simple narrative striking outside observers bizarre convoluted group developed intricate mythology involving gods aliens usually considered observers religions primary deity generally known cast extraterrestrial contacted 1940s accounts state encounter occurred building television watching late night television gave supernatural knowledge past future addition incredible power posed deep questions alien receiving mysterious answers discussion centered powerful conspiracy church attributes command world regarded church relatively evil classified rebel gods leaders note quality expressed stark fist removal church teaches elder gods committed human pain relatively good comparison character leader elder gods study religious scholar states work model approach scripture aspects fiction treated real church aspects popular culture spirituality leaders teach nature consequently quotation marks cast world avatar hold died times church primary symbol icon face pipe states image taken clip art likened 1950s era salesman church canon contains references aspects culture united_states decade religious scholar argues type reference simultaneously critiques concept american dream church mythology intended lead powerful conspiracy individuals work living refused support group instead organized counter movement church leaders teach intelligent child grew older studied religious traditions including fourth way key event life occurred traveled learned vital truths topics including church teaches exist members descended relative church identifies mother church leaders cite lack resemblance mother husband reason revealing father married woman named leaders identify couple belief resembles hindu doctrines church literature variously described occupation drilling equipment sales accounts life generally emphasize good fortune intelligence leaders believe capable time travel ability results occasional changes doctrine deemed sacred doctrine church consequently members attempt follow plans conspiracy literature incorporates aspects conspiracy theories teaching grand conspiracy root lesser ones records conspiracy leaders monitor humans contain church view conspiracy uses facade empowering messages people service church refers individuals states unaware organization power control leaders teach cultural religious conspiracy propaganda maintain followers capable developing imagination church teaches empowered members owing descent church followers capacity deep understanding lack cultural studies scholar states church develops commentary religion morality members believe service conspiracy seek bar quality promoted church teachings center capitalized defined claim embodies quality church members seek acquire believe allow free comfortable life hard work responsibility claim sex avoidance work taught key ways gain believes ability achieve goals states church description recalls way described casts unique magical system distribution named members founders based dallas distributed document moved cleveland ohio claimed church members actual number lower minister church consists paying fee estimated ministers church annual income reached members male according social maintains fit society ultimately triumph church experienced success converting college students particularly gained popularity american cities including san_francisco cleveland church members voiced concerns amusement new members took church seriously fearing acted like cult followers concept parodies expressed concern church doctrines pre existing mentally ill believes church genuinely helps adherents notable associates church include members cartoonist provided early publicity church comics anthology references church present works art including internet based collaborative fiction hat comic book band sublime album freedom television program instructions church leaders issued specific instructions followers casts ideology specific commands particularly group values command regular employment stop working church view sic opposition idea working living leaders state members collect public assistance lieu maintaining employment second command purchase products sold church leaders teach founded gain wealth unlike religious groups church admits profit presumably mocking religious groups financial motives sees instruction buy ironic parody greed good mentality 1980s notes group emphasizes consumption popular cultural artefacts consumption simultaneously emphasized processes remix command rebel law order specifically church security cameras encourages computer notes instruction recalls critique law order fourth command rid world descend leaders teach hopes rid earth percent humanity making earth clear group praises drug abuse abortion effective methods individuals fifth command exploit fear specifically individuals conspiracy church leaders teach members conspiracy fear events local groups members known host periodic events known include music art forms leaders comical names angry occur bars similar venues compares style services casts preaching sessions events examples concept spaces ordinary constraints social control suspended occasion presence wife church leader meeting included public nudity goat costume contributed losing custody children court case publicity surrounding event ultimately church recruitment efforts church celebrates holidays honor characters drawn fiction popular culture pagan groups occasionally assisted church events members little emphasis meetings citing church focus book discusses community held multiple states continental united_states different countries including china netherlands germany church held non events burning man festival relationship hosts festival ohio members access discounted tickets ace annual festival day early literature july introduced significant date later known day church held identified date significance 1950s claiming world experience massive change date beings arrive earth leaders declared paying members transported union world destroyed sent joyful hell anticipation event day drills held july church held large clothing optional new_york attended members event ostensibly intended celebrate coming aliens appearance detected technology available time speculated arrive interpreted satire way religious groups revised failures critics dismissed event prank form performance art church business manager admitted group strange predictions aliens contended statements believable account jesus walk water theory conspiracy lied year present year actually lied liberation date pass cause followers lose faith precaution members continue gather day july events non appearance aliens celebrated casts productions echo ancient greek plays publishing online established website members active 1990s print gained significant online presence successful advent internet communities church pioneer religious use notes use medium seen rejection labor practices published official teachings non works book discusses length published sold copies years print casts book arms forces visual style content book mirror group draws themes fiction established new religions number topics including number writers authored stories build mythology compiled published core texts presented style notes group texts cultural artifacts remixed new creation process argues variety concepts describes web references video group promoted video produced radio hosts radio shows world including broadcasters atlanta ohio maryland california hour church popular audio production broadcast radio stations united_states canada analysis commentary comparative religion church teachings perceived christianity earning reputation parody religion church leaders stated met narratives echo extraterrestrial themes found notes descriptions bear noticeable similarities powerful alien found writings church rhetoric seen satirical imitation 1980s sees church faux culture targeting prosperity theology describes original innovation contemporary religion religious scholar views church attempting idea authenticity religion religions create sense similarity compares radical 17th century movement england notes statements shocked attacking traditional notions religious political authority view demonstrates legitimate pedigree history western religion american journalist church 20th century american religious movement citing shared emphasis freedom number similarities goddess chaos adherents believed members wife ally humans like rejects absolute truth contradictions religious scholar views church sees child groups heavily influenced writings referred members pope bob states groups elements common explicitly remixes pop culture scholars difficulty defining church commentators placed church category joke religions usually seen description sees partially accurate irony essential aspect faith terms describe church include faux cult post modern cult satirical sophisticated joke religion anti religion religion high parody members church consistently maintained practice religion described group satire real stupid religion contends honest nature religions states church accorded status functional equivalent religion authentic religion sees arguably legitimate path liberation citing culture activism church religion joke reverse view spiritual manifestation cultural shift irony believes broad agreement church fundamentally different type group religions date antiquity prefers use term fake religion describe group sees group popular movements look feel like religion apparent excess mock religion knight characterizes church spoof religion viable system right argues church forms counterpart concept arguing create consume popular culture practice spirituality describes popular culture sources explicitly creative process maintaining prompts reader adopt group views forcing individual reconsider methods approaching content states group attempts strip references original meaning necessarily losing status icons addition sees church goal modes thought behavior american culture believes attempts fight culturally thought patterns shocking people argues traditional approaches religion cast seriousness measure devotion approach believes failed contemporary society feels irony common value ignored religions embracing quality maintains offers accessible groups literature scholar critical notes church present truth faults examining concept truth addition believes group attempts radical perspective literal fantastic embrace criticism writer member criticized church alleging group come characterized submission authority believes initially served later took aspects allegations cult like behavior appeared newspaper sunday themed vandalism struck english town publications book simon isbn high mail simon isbn tales bob short stories isbn revelation bob appointed read churches simon isbn isbn holland arise dvd moving pictures
Church of the SubGenius