# Church of the SubGenius? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 18, 2003, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/church-of-the-subgenius/182791 "2003-06-18T21:45:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![The\_Mad\_Hermit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b5ac83/32.png) [@The\_Mad\_Hermit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Mad_Hermit)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2003, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/church-of-the-subgenius/182791/1 "2003-06-18T21:45:02Z")
I’ve Googled and found information about it, but what is the deal with (or behind) the Church of the SubGenius? Are there any members who are Dopers? None of the sites really explained it, it just looked like a lot of people having fun. Is this all a joke, or is there a serious side? Does the ordainment mean anything? ---
**Author:** ![pravnik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8edcca/32.png) [@pravnik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pravnik)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2003, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/church-of-the-subgenius/182791/2 "2003-06-18T21:53:16Z")
It’s a serious as a clown having a heart attack. No, wait, maybe not that serious. In other words, it’s wry social commentary, a straight faced joke, a big scam, the best of all the one true religions, take your pick. ---
**Author:** ![alimarx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e274bd/32.png) [@alimarx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alimarx)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2003, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/church-of-the-subgenius/182791/3 "2003-06-18T21:55:20Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Steelerphan \* > \*\*Are there any members who are Dopers? \*\* Yep. > [@](#): > > \*\* > Is this all a joke, or is there a serious side? \*\* Yep. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Kentzel-Griffin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ccd318/32.png) [@John\_Kentzel-Griffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Kentzel-Griffin)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2003, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/church-of-the-subgenius/182791/4 "2003-06-18T22:52:41Z")
See: [What’s the deal with the Church of the Subgenius?](http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mbob.html) by our very own Eutychus. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2003, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/church-of-the-subgenius/182791/5 "2003-06-18T23:29:00Z")
Better still, check out the Church’s own Holy Website, at [www.subgenius.com](http://www.subgenius.com). Praise “Bob”! Kill “Bob”! Pee “Bob”! ---
**Author:** ![legion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/838e76/32.png) [@legion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/legion)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2003, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/church-of-the-subgenius/182791/6 "2003-06-18T23:29:40Z")
That’s gotta be a typo, surely. They are really the Church of the Subgenus. The members are somewhere between Homo erectus and Homo sapiens, possibly Homo stupidus. ---
**Author:** ![MrO](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/50afbb/32.png) [@MrO](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrO)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2003, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/church-of-the-subgenius/182791/7 "2003-06-19T00:15:06Z")
It’s a joke, but to those who get it, it’s no more ridiculous than the religions that it makes fun of. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2003, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/church-of-the-subgenius/182791/8 "2003-06-19T00:19:02Z")
_Homo correctus,_ actually. Of Atlantean Yeti descent, mixed with the inferior blood of humans. ---
**Author:** ![vl\_mungo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/bc8723/32.png) [@vl\_mungo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vl_mungo)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2003, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/church-of-the-subgenius/182791/9 "2003-06-19T01:42:44Z")
It’s just the same as everything else. ---
**Author:** ![Skillet38](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8797f3/32.png) [@Skillet38](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skillet38)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2003, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/church-of-the-subgenius/182791/10 "2003-06-19T02:03:22Z")
four words flying saucer cult funny ---
**Author:** ![PatriotX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c4cdca/32.png) [@PatriotX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatriotX)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2003, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/church-of-the-subgenius/182791/11 "2003-06-19T03:09:00Z")
\*\* Steelerphan\*\* Y.O.U. **my** friend, you _are_ in LuCk. _I_ happen to be The High Episkopos, (T.H.E.), Ignitor of the Illuminati,(IoI), Simon W. Moon 523, KSC, Illuminati UNLTD inc. (EIEIO). For the newly reduced and greatly rewarded small price of 99.99 (USD) I will gladly share some of the Many GLORIOUS Secrets of the CHURCH with you. For this one time only limited time offer you too can learn to pull the wool over you OWN eyes and to pick your OWN third nostril[sup]TM[/sup]. You too can be the proud owner of the Quality goes in before _the_ N.A.M.E. goes on. habafropzupopulus! Ask about how you can purchase you very own franchise on the T.R.U.T.H. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2003, 5:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/church-of-the-subgenius/182791/12 "2003-06-19T05:49:02Z")
I’m not a member of the Church of the Subgenius, but I _am_ a genuine and certified Pope. I carry the card in my wallet, in front of the drivers’ license (ANYBODY can drive if you pass the test, being a Pope is better.) Pope Ourri XLII, at your service. Actually, you’re at my service, since I’m-a da frickin’ Pope. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![The\_Chao\_Goes\_Mu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_chao_goes_mu/32/3191_2.png) [@The\_Chao\_Goes\_Mu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Chao_Goes_Mu)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2003, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/church-of-the-subgenius/182791/13 "2003-06-19T14:07:48Z")
“REPENT! QUIT YOUR JOB! SLACK OFF!” Steelrphan, Irony begets Irony. Hail “Bob” ---
**Author:** ![vibrotronica](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/a9a28c/32.png) [@vibrotronica](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vibrotronica)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2003, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/church-of-the-subgenius/182791/14 "2003-06-19T14:59:13Z")
Praise “Bob” and pass the ammunition. ---
**Author:** ![moriah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b2d939/32.png) [@moriah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/moriah)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2003, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/church-of-the-subgenius/182791/15 "2003-06-19T16:33:42Z")
To all the ‘pinks’ who say that Bob is a false Bob: get some slack. ---
**Author:** ![MikeRochenelle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/49beb7/32.png) [@MikeRochenelle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MikeRochenelle)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2003, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/church-of-the-subgenius/182791/16 "2003-06-19T17:13:09Z")
_Ask about how you can purchase you very own franchise on the T.R.U.T.H._ OR KILL ME!!! -Bo… I mean, Ben ---
**Author:** ![The\_Mad\_Hermit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b5ac83/32.png) [@The\_Mad\_Hermit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Mad_Hermit)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2003, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/church-of-the-subgenius/182791/17 "2003-06-19T17:32:12Z")
Thank you all, especially **DrMatrix.** May the grace of Bob go with you. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2003, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/church-of-the-subgenius/182791/18 "2003-06-19T18:10:49Z")
I’ll add something more, **Steelerphan,** in a “ha-ha-only-serious” vein. Like all great religions, the Church of the SubGenius is based on a profound core spiritual insight. It might or might not be true, but either way, it is profound, and worthy of attention. In the COSG’s case, this insight is that “humanity” is divided into two fundamentally different groups: those who really have imaginations and creativity and senses of humor and really know what it’s like to be alive . . . and the others, who don’t. In our view the first group are us, the SubGenii, whether saved or unsaved; latter group are the “normals,” the “humans,” the “pinks.” The pinks are a vast numerical majority; therefore a SubGenius faces the challenge of living among them and still getting some slack out of life without going insane from boredom and frustration. The Church and “Bob”'s grace help us to do this. But it’s ultimately a do-it-yourself plan. As it was said on the SubG recruitment video, _Arise,_, “The SubGenius can learn to think for himself – but only “Bob” can show him how!” The difference between SubG’s and pinks has nothing to do with intelligence, by the way, as “psychologists” measure it. “It’s not intelligence, it’s what you do with it! One idiot who thinks up a good new joke is worth a thousand scientists making A-bombs, according to “Bob”!” Salvation costs $30.00. (I am a priest of the Church and authorized to accept donations; or, you can send it straight to the Holy Post Office Box or pay by credit card on the website.) For that you get not only what I’ve already described, but a guaranteed reserved seat in the escape saucers to Asgard, when the Men from Planet X come down (in so short a time!) to “spray the planet for humans.” In Asgard we will enjoy eternal slack and cytorspasmic OozSquirt! ---
**Author:** ![Dogface](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9d8465/32.png) [@Dogface](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dogface)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2003, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/church-of-the-subgenius/182791/19 "2003-06-19T19:18:43Z")
But the scientist who paints daisies on his A-Bomb is worth even more. Until you reject “Bob” you cannot understand “Bob”. Until you hate “Bob” you cannot follow “Bob”. Until you kill “Bob” you cannot be “Bob”. Strike that last one. You can’t be “Bob” no matter what you do. Just kill “Bob” for the hell of it. ---
**Author:** ![da\_pope](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7ba0ec/32.png) [@da\_pope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/da_pope)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2003, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/church-of-the-subgenius/182791/20 "2003-06-19T20:58:32Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Marley23 \* > \*\*I’m not a member of the Church of the Subgenius, but I _am_ a genuine and certified Pope. I carry the card in my wallet, in front of the drivers’ license (ANYBODY can drive if you pass the test, being a Pope is better.) > > Pope Ourri XLII, at your service. Actually, you’re at my service, since I’m-a da frickin’ Pope. 🙂 \*\* news to me. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/church-of-the-subgenius/182791.md?page=2)