Parody religion

{{religion}} 
A '''parody religion''' is a modern [[religion]] [[Hoax|thought up]] [[Poe's Law|to mock or ape]] the [[Dogma|principles]], [[belief]]s, and self-righteousness of "real" religions — those in which people seriously believe.

==List of parody religions==
===In fiction===
These examples were created by writers, often to make some kind of satirical point about religion.

*Absolute Truth Ministries (ATM) - featured in season 3 of the TV comedy ''Weeds''<ref>[https://weeds.fandom.com/wiki/Majestic Majestic], Weeds at fandom.com</ref>
*Bokononism (From the novel ''{{wpl|Cat's Cradle}}'' by Kurt Vonnegut) - in the book it was created as a fake religion to control indigenous people, and its scripture claims that all its claims are "foma" (harmless untruths).<ref>[https://j-nelson.net/2018/03/twenty-writers-kurt-vonnegut-bokononism-cats-cradle/ Twenty Writers: Kurt Vonnegut’s Bokononism in Cat’s Cradle], Jim Nelson, 18 March 2018</ref><ref>[https://www.cs.uni.edu/~wallingf/personal/bokonon.html The Books of Bokonon], extracted from ''Cat's Cradle'' by Kurt Vonnegut</ref>
*Truffidianism - from Jeff Vandermer's fantasy novel ''Finch'', a parody of [[Roman Catholicism]].<ref>[https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/CrystalDragonJesus Crystal Dragon Jesus], TV Tropes</ref>
*Verdukianism - the "Secret Santa" episode of TV sitcom ''30 Rock'' (s4e08), Dec. 10, 2009<ref>[http://cultural-learnings.com/2009/12/10/the-office-and-30-rock-secret-santa/ The Office and 30 Rock – “Secret Santa”], Cultural Leanings, 10 Dec 2009</ref><ref>[https://30rock.fandom.com/wiki/Verdukians Verdukians], 30 Rock at fandom.com</ref>

===Inspired by fiction===
Many fictions inspire a desire to be like a character or to take some characters as offering lessons to live by. These are examples where people have gone from mere fandom to trying to create some kind of actual religion.

Note that other fandoms e.g. [[Star Trek]] have produced fans inspired by an ideology, such as Star Trek's ideas about peace and world government, and other aspects of fandom can resemble a religion (icons and sacred objects, pilgrimage, saint-like figures).<ref>[https://www.jstor.org/stable/3712174 Star Trek Fandom as a Religious Phenomenon], Michael Jindra, Sociology of Religion, Vol. 55, No. 1, Religious Experience (Spring, 1994), pp. 27-51 (25 pages)</ref> However, if an attraction is primarily to rational principles, such as world/universal government and humanist values, then this might not be considered a true religion, although the boundaries are fuzzy.

*{{wpl|Ang Dating Doon}} (English: ''What Used to be There'') - a parody of the {{wpl|Members Church of God International}} religious programme ''{{wpl|Ang Dating Daan}}'' (English: ''The Old Path'') in the form of a skit in the Filipino sketch comedy series ''{{wpl|Bubble Gang}}''. A recurring gag is that of the parodic use of the theme song from the anime television series ''Chōdenji Machine Voltes V'' ("Voltes V no Uta" by Mitsuko Horie, Koorogi '73 and Columbia Cradle Club) which also served as a convenient way to promote the then-recent re-runs of the anime on GMA Network. Despite concerns from the Catholic-majority Philippines who take offence at the supposed religious mockery, ''Ang Dating Doon'' actually received plaudits from MCGI themselves, particularly the late {{wpl|Eli Soriano}} who cited the sketch as having helped promote his ministry.<ref>Castro, Levi M. (March 2000). "Special Report". ''Ang Dating Daan'' magazine (''The Old Path'') 58 (10): page 12.</ref><ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a8rijp7dX0Y "Brod Pete to Bro. Eli: 'Marami akong natutunan sa Biblia dahil sa kanya'"]. Retrieved March 16, 2024.</ref>
*[[Fun:Arceusology|Arceusology]] - Pokémon.
*Dudeism.<ref>[http://dudeism.com/ Dudeism.]</ref> A {{wpl|Dudeism|vaguely Daoist-esque}} religion based on the tenets of The Dude from the Coen Brothers' film ''{{wpl|The Big Lebowski||.}}''
*[[Jediism]]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20020604072903/http://www.flamingmayo.com/firstchurchofpacman/ The First Church of Pacman] (click on the image to enter). A parody religion created by Pacman collector Tim Crist.<ref>[https://www.smithsonianmag.com/innovation/why-players-around-world-gobbled-up-pac-man-180974902/ Why players around the world gobbled up Pac-man], Smithsonian Magazine, May 22, 2020</ref> [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5C_99XJqIs4 Here's footage of Reverend Shoebox bible-thumping].
*The Great Space Butterfly<ref>[http://omfgcata.wikia.com/wiki/Moon/Space_Butterfly The Great Space Butterfly]</ref> - created by fans of Youtuber and gaming personality {{wpl|Jesse Cox||.}}
*{{wpl|Haruhi Suzumiya (character)|Haruhiism}} (if you like anime);
*{{wpl|Puella Magi Madoka Magica|Church of Madoka|.}} Haruhiism (see above) is [[heresy]]. Madoka died for your sins. Inspired by the anime ''Puella Magi Madoka Magica''.

===Not connected with fictional works===
Many of these are countercultural or hacker jokes; some were created explicitly to expose the benefits other religions, like Christianity, receive from the state.
*The Church of Emacs (See: [[Saint IGNUcius]], FSF)
*The Church of Firefox
*[[Fun:The Church of Google|Church of Google]]
*[https://churchofthehelixchoir.bandcamp.com/ Church of the Helix Choir] - Pokémon.
*''The Church Of Inglip''<ref>[https://inglipnomicon.fandom.com/wiki/Inglip Inglip], Inglipnomicon on fandom.com</ref> - no fucking clue.
*[http://www.revbilly.com/ Church of Stop Shopping.] An anti-[[Consumerism|consumerist]], {{wpl|culture jamming|culture jamming|,}} performance community headed by {{wpl|Reverend Billy and the Church of Stop Shopping|"Reverend Billy"}} (no, not [[Billy Graham|''that'' Reverend Billy]]) whose targets have included BP, [[Monsanto]] and Starbucks.<ref>{{wpa|Reverend Billy and the Church of Stop Shopping}}</ref>
*{{wpl|Iglesia Maradoniana}} (literally Church of Maradona or Maradonian Church) - A fan club of the late Argentine footballer Diego Maradona, whom they believe to be the greatest of all time. The Maradonian Church is a textbook example of the quasi-religious following football draws among its fans, and as such is viewed as a tongue-in-cheek parody intended to celebrate Maradona's legacy in spite of criticism that it is mocking at Christianity, which is the dominant religion in Maradona's native Argentina.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=knRo_1xrJ2A Football as a Religion: The Church of Maradona]</ref>
*[[Church of the SubGenius]] - suspiciously similar to actual money-grubbing UFO cults, known for its "Eternal Salvation, or TRIPLE Your Money Back" guarantee.
*The [[First Church of the Last Laugh]] — "The World's Oldest Religion. The World's Largest Church. 150% less [[dogma]] and only ONE High Holy Day."<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20200113040438/http://www.saintstupid.com/ The First Church of the Last Laugh] (archived from January 13, 2020).</ref>
*[[Flying Spaghetti Monster|Pastafarianism]] - one of the classics, often used in arguments about [[Freedom of religion|freedom of/from religion]].
*''Frisbeeterianism'' - Founded by comedian [[George Carlin]], it celebrates the universality and perfection of the shape of the frisbee. Adherents believe that when you die, your soul goes up on the roof and no one can get it down.<ref>[https://religionnews.com/2008/06/24/frisbeeterianism/ Frisbeeterianism], Religion News Service, 24 June 2008</ref>
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20041209035432/http://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Really_Reformed_Church_of_Wikipedia Really Reformed Church of Wikipedia] - they have a song.
*[[Scientology]] - uniquely on this list, its adherents don't know it.<ref group=note>Seriously. He started it for fun with some writer buddies.</ref>
*[[Invisible Pink Unicorn|Unicornism]] - worship of the Invisible Pink Unicorn; like Pastafarianism, intended primarily to expose hypocrisy and bias towards other, older, less fun religions.

===Parody religions that can be taken seriously===
*{{wpl|Church of Euthanasia}} - known for its advocacy of population reduction and in particular its slogan "Save the Planet, Kill Yourself"
*[[Church of the SubGenius]]
*[http://singlesunion.org/creed A credo for unhappy singles]
*[[Discordianism]]
*{{wpl|Dudeism}}
*[[Scientology]] - unfortunately its adherents do.
*[[The Satanic Temple]]<ref>[https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/4w7adn/unmasking-lucien-greaves-aka-doug-mesner-leader-of-the-satanic-temple Unmasking Lucien Greaves, Leader of the Satanic Temple], Vice, Jul 30, 2013</ref><ref>[https://www.villagevoice.com/2014/07/22/trolling-hell-is-the-satanic-temple-a-prank-the-start-of-a-new-religious-movement-or-both/ Trolling Hell: Is the Satanic Temple a Prank, the Start of a New Religious Movement — or Both?], Village Voice, July 22, 2014</ref>
*The [https://www.coltranechurch.org/ Saint John Coltrane African Orthodox Church], a Christian sect based on the Jazz legend {{wpl|John Coltrane}} has been active for more than 50 years in San Francisco, California.<ref>[https://www.npr.org/2020/09/23/915846867/five-decades-on-an-eclectic-church-preaches-the-message-of-john-coltrane Five Decades On, An Eclectic Church Preaches The Message Of John Coltrane]</ref> According to Rev. F. W. King they are "Coltrane-conscious".<ref>[https://www.sfgate.com/music/article/The-Church-of-St-John-Coltrane-Jazz-and-German-3003904.php The Church of St. John Coltrane: Jazz and German Tourists]</ref>

===Parody religions that are probably bad for your health===
*[[Fun:Celestial Teapot|Celestial Teapotism]]
*[[Fun:Doughism|Doughism]]
*[[Kissing Hank's Ass]]
*[[Scientology]] - [[Mental illness denial|if you happen to need]] [[Psychology|psychological]] or [[Psychiatry|psychiatric]] help.

==And here's a related joke==
[[Last Thursdayism|Last Thursday]], the [[Pastafarianism|Flying Spaghetti Monster]], the [[IPU|Invisible Pink Unicorn]], [[Church of the SubGenius|J.R. "Bob" Dobbs]], and [[Discordianism|Eris]] walked into a bar. The bartender cried out, "You guys can't be serious!"

==See also==
*[[Russell's Teapot]]
*[[Last Thursdayism]]
*[[Fun:Scientific Geoterrapinism|Scientific Geoterrapinism]]
*[[Landover Baptist Church]]
*[[Betty Bowers]]
*[[Unitarian Universalism]] - some Christians think they're taking the piss
*[[Hoax]]
*[[Poe's Law]]

==External links==
*[http://concord.wikia.com/wiki/Fictional_Religions_in_Science_Fiction Fictional Religions of Science Fiction]

==Notes==
{{reflist|group=note}}

==References==
{{reflist|2|80%}}

[[Category:Religion]]
[[Category:Parody religions| ]]

Categories: Religion, Parody religions