Church of the SubGenius facts for kids

The Church of the SubGenius is a unique group that some people call a religion. It was started by two people, Ivan Stang and Philo Drummond. It began in Dallas, Texas, but is now based in Cleveland Heights, Ohio. In 2009, one of its founders, Ivan Stang, said there were about 40,000 followers. However, the exact number of people who follow its ideas is not truly known.

The Church of the SubGenius has very interesting and sometimes funny beliefs. They teach that their group was founded by a salesman named J. R. "Bob" Dobbs. They say that in 1953, "Bob" was fixing his TV set. While he was doing this, a space god named JHVH-1 supposedly gave him special knowledge. This knowledge included ideas about the past and future, and something very important called "Slack".

What is "Slack"?

The idea of "Slack" is central to the Church of the SubGenius. It means having freedom, happiness, and being able to do what you truly want. It's about not being stressed or forced to do things you don't enjoy. The Church believes that everyone should have "Slack" in their lives.

The "Conspiracy" Against Slack

The Church of the SubGenius teaches that there is a big, secret plan, or conspiracy, to stop people from having "Slack". They believe this conspiracy tries to make humans work too much and follow rules that prevent them from being truly free and happy. They say this secret group wants to control people's lives and keep them from enjoying "Slack".

Aliens and the Church

Another interesting belief of the Church of the SubGenius was about aliens. They once said that aliens would come to Earth on July 5, 1998. This was part of their playful and often humorous approach to their beliefs.

Images for kids

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  Jehovah 1, the primary deity of the Church of the SubGenius.

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  Fictional character Ward Cleaver (right), to whom Dobbs's appearance is often compared.

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  R. Crumb, a cartoonist who helped publicize the Church.

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  Klaatu, a character from the 1951 American science fiction film The Day the Earth Stood Still, who is celebrated by the Church of the SubGenius.

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  Rev. Ivan Stang of the Church of the SubGenius at The Cyclone of Slack

See also

In Spanish: Iglesia de los subgenios para niños