Originally based in dallas, texas, the church of the subgenius gained prominence in the 1980s and 1990s subculture and maintains an active presence on the internet. Just to tease some chronic haters, we announced in our main members only forum, scrubgenius, and in a couple of church facebook pages, that i, rev. Worth, texas soon becomes much more than they bargained for when they decide to turn their conservative southern ideology on its head and invent a new religion all their own. Most of them had ninetofive jobs, but theyre really creative artists at heart, and this was a place where they could get published. Basis of the church of the subgenius, a fan club of j. The subgenius foundation moved to cleveland, ohio, in 1999.
It serves as the cornerstone of the literature of the church of the subgenius the prescriptures, and sure, its spawned a couple of sequels that have done well for itself, but it does is best job doubling as a reference work. But the original church was actually formed during a full moon lunar eclipse on sunday, july 26, 1953, with 23 charter members. Church of the subgenius subgenius wikia clench fandom. The church of the subgenius is a parody religion that satirizes betterknown belief systems. Apparently unshaken that the world did not end on july 5 th, 1998 as they had predicted, the church of the subgenius has declared july 5 th as the newest xday. Stang has estimated that there are 10,000 ministers and. During a sunday night worship service, several church of the subgenius members in the spirit pyroflatulated, disintegrating the churchs west wall and engulfing a pickup truck in flames. Church of the subgenius wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. They host periodic events known as devivals, which include sermons, music, and other art forms. Stang, had retired and put the widely feared yet also widely imitated dr. There is a general underlying subgenius social philosophy that might be succinctly stated as the valorization of leisure for playful creation, and the satire of human hubris. This is your chance to get in on the ground floor of a huge, lucrative cult now, while rates are low.
Local groups of members of the church of the subgenius are known as clenches. Boone and producer louis black, the founder of the austin chronicle are raising funds through kickstarter in order to create slacking towards bethlehem, a documentary about the legendary church of the subgenius, its enigmatic frontman j. The church of the subgenius is parody religion described by some of its own members as an insane bogus ufo mindcontrol cult. The early church of the subgenius had several different membership card designs. This is the informational website for the subgenius recovery and support network, a group dedicated to the rehabilitation of former members of this dangerous mindcontrol cult. What started out as an inside joke amongst two self proclaimed weirdos in ft. Few parody religions have captured the tenor of their times more than the church of the subgenius, cocreated by ivan stang and dr philo drummond in 1979, the same year that the moral. Labeling the church of the subgenius a parodyreligion is an insulting term towards members. Bob dobbs, was assassinated in san francisco in 1984. The subgenius material has only recently been made public. As the founders say themselves you never know where references to church of the subgenius will pop up as it was an underground cult that never wanted that many members. Bob dobbs is the figurehead of the church of the subgenius.
This group pees rivers to save you and eats your butt so hard, your pussy will fall down to. The church of the subgenius subgenius organizations. Bob dobbs and the church of the subgenius fantasia. Shes essentially following a 35year prank, and throughout you get a true sense of the attraction and popularity of this church from its members. Bob dobbs, purportedly a salesman from the 1950s, who is revered as a prophet by the church. Subgenius doctrine has been practiced for nearly 40 years by its adherents, longer for those that have studied it before the churchs official creation. Subgenius recruitment has been especially dedicated among the ranks of people who refuse to conform to the norms of society, including. The church of the subgenius has had a variety of membership cards since its inception in 1953. The church of the subgenius finally plays it straight. There have been many stories, legends, and rumors involving the religious organization known as the church of the subgenius. The church of the subgenius is a dangerous ufo mind control suicide cult, and its followers are called subgenii because they are stupid and follow idiotic slogans, and give up their hardearned cash in exchange for meaningless titles.
Church of the subgenius wikipedia republished wiki 2. For the more free ongoing ranting and news, and forums you can contribute to, see the old subgenius reverends blog, modemacs subgenius wiki, the yahoo subgenius group elist, or the eurosubgenius yahoo list. They themselves claim to be a harmless group of people who like to poke fun at christianity. Church of subgenius montclair, nj the church of the subgenius and its icon, j. Originally based in dallas, texas, the church of the subgenius gained prominence in the 1980s and 1990s and maintains an active presence on the internet. The church of the subgenius founders were based in dallas when they distributed their first document. The church also holds yearly events in preparation for the end of the world, or xday. The subgenius church format made for a good framework. Church of the subgenius rationalwiki bahai studies. A more recent, interactive and lively one is the slack hole 2. In the computer technology realm, the church of the subgenius had varying influences in the development of slackware and atari products.
Arise the church of the subgenius recruitment video youtube. Subgenius doctrine combines the worst elements of selfhelp groups, ufo cults, scientology, and apocalyptic christianity with. A fairly highlevel member dedicated to pushing boundaries did a radio interview connecting the subgenius to the columbine massacre, for example. In preparation for the fulfillment of this doomsday prophecy, the church is requesting that all of its members participate in a festival with rock concerts and blasphemous rituals taking place in upstate new york, during the final weekend before the arrival of the apocalypse. This slanderous wording should be made neutral and it should be listed as a religion. Bob dobbs and the church of the subgenius 2019 trailer. A denizen of the underground subculture, attuned to the obscure. It is good having the celebrity interviews and would have helped the kickstarter funding and getting it screened but i think it would have worked without it. Church of the subgenius signs and symbols of cults. He has a grin and smokes frop in his pipe, is a fullblooded yeti, is famous for his slogans, and has more slack than any other subgenius.
Other subgenius members who have played a notable part in popular culture are david byrne of the talking heads, dr. The big break for the church of the subgenius came in 1981, when stang tried to recruit new members by publishing a very strange brochure. To herald in the momentous occasion, the church asks all of its members to partake in a clothing. Bob dobbs is the leader of the church of the subgenius, holding the titles of high epopt and living slack master, and is the greatest salesman the world has ever known.
One of the most mindboggling parts of the documentary focuses on how the joke became all too real for some members. Charter membership 1953 edit charter membership card of kitten anderson. The church of the subgenius is an order of scoffers and blasphemers, dedicated to total slack, delving. Ufo cult predicts end of the world in july 2007 clickpress. Brimming with anachronistic and illogical clip art, the. The church of the subgenius is a religious organization, often seen as a parody religion, that satirizes religion, conspiracy theories, ufos, and popular culture. The church of the subgenius is a religion founded by ivan stang and philo drummond. Subgenius members believe that those in the service of the conspiracy seek to bar them from slack, a quality promoted by the church. Church scriptures claim that bobs enemies, the conspiracyand other chjrch of rival deitieshave tried to usbgenius him many times. Worth, texas soon becomes much more than they bargained for. His image is derived from a piece of 1950s clip art. The church of the subgenius is a parody religion described by some of its own members as an insane bogus ufo mindcontrol cult. Many people believe the church of the subgenius, founded by texan millionaire j. The book of the subgenius has to be viewed as more than just a comedy book now, both due to its age and content.
The church of the subgenius was created solely for those people, who dont feel normal. The church of the subgenius also known as the subgenius foundation, inc. Starting with 23 charter members, it slowly expanded under the leadership of bob and his later wife and charter member constance connie marsh dobbs. Somehow, against all odds, the church of the subgenius became a real. In 2009, stang said that the church of the subgenius has 40,000 followers, but the real number of followers is not known. Subgenius members believe that those in the service of the conspiracy seek to bar them from slack, 21 a quality promoted by the church. Membership cards subgenius wikia clench fandom powered. Timothy leary, hakim bey, dave barry, peewee herman, frank zappa, penn jillette, jello biafra and otter and morning glory zell of the church of all worlds. Bob dobbs and the church of the subgenius what started out as an inside joke among two selfproclaimed weirdos in ft. The church of the subgenius finally plays it straight texas monthly. The church of the subgenius, a web site produced by subgenius foundation, a public interest or advocacy organization, is part of the library of congress september 11 web archive and preserves the web expressions of individuals, groups, the press and institutions in the united states and from around the world in the aftermath of the attacks in the united states on september 11, 2001. Subgenius leaders have developed detailed narratives about dobbs and his relationship to various gods and conspiracies. Early church 19531975 edit the early church of the subgenius had several different membership card designs. If you consider yourself a proper nerd, geek, or weirdo, this is one of the most important videos you may ever watch.
Church of the subgenius simple english wikipedia, the. The church of the subgenius is a religious group satirizing religion, conspiracy theories, ufos, and popular culture. Church members claim that xday is the day that duespaying church members will be whisked away by aliens to the planet x. While the card is faded and worn, the phrase charter member can be seen in red ink under the subgenius cross. Church of the subgenius from rationalwiki the church of the subgenius is a parody religion the one true religion described by some of its own members as an insane bogus ufo mindcontrol cult. Membership cards subgenius wikia clench fandom powered by wikia. From its inception in 1980, the church had prophesied that an army of alien invaders known as the xists or men from planet x would land on the planet earth and destroy the world of normals, pinks, and glorps, while the members of the church of the subgenius would be rescued by the aliens and taken away into space. Subgenius doctrine combines the worst elements of selfhelp groups, ufo cults, scientology, and apocalyptic christianity with utterly shameless. Bob dobbs and the church of the subgenius film threat. For proof that it is an evil cult visit this website, which. Subgenius doctrine combines the worst elements of selfhelp groups, ufo cults, scientology, apocalyptic christianity, and utterly shameless moneygrubbing antics. Devival is a term used by both the church of the subgenius and later discordianism citation needed for a gathering or festival of followers.
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