History Main / ChurchOfHappyology

* The Hymn of One from ''WebVideo/{{lonelygirl15}}''. A religion that posts several vague happy-sounding Website/YouTube videos to the internet while being rumored to be much more terrifying behind the scenes.

** Inarguably the most famous example of taking on Scientology head-on was the season 9 episode "[[Recap/SouthParkS9E12TrappedInTheCloset Trapped in the Closet]]", best remembered for its long depiction of a key event in Scientology belief, with the caption "[[NotMakingThisUpDisclaimer THIS IS WHAT SCIENTOLOGISTS ACTUALLY BELIEVE.]]" Parodies of Scientologist celebrities like Creator/TomCruise and Creator/JohnTravolta are mocked (though more for the hordy old jokes that they're both deeply closeted). So (in)famous was that episode that a ''Magazine/RollingStone'' magazine article on Parker and Stone featured a Photoshopped picture of them painting graffiti on a Scientology center sign. It also spawned a meme on Website/FourChan, in which all manner of bizarre photos are captioned with "THIS IS WHAT SCIENTOLOGISTS ACTUALLY BELIEVE."

You can tell a Happyology-style parody religion from another ParodyReligion by the presence of celebrity characters [[Creator/TomCruise trampolining on couches]], an evil alien overlord, multiple tiers of membership that require large sums of money to advance through, the withholding of certain outlandish doctrines or beliefs from members until the reach a certain level, and devices that are sort of like lie detectors being used for counseling sessions. You might also see some of the hyper-specific Orwellian terminology like 'suppressive persons', if a creator [[{{Anvilicious}} thinks subtlety is overrated]].

** A few episodes after "Trapped In The Closet" was "[[Recap/SouthParkS10E1TheReturnOfChef The Return of Chef]]", made in response to Music/IsaacHayes, voice of Chef (and known Scientologist), ostensibly leaving the show in response to the episode.[[note]]According to Isaac Hayes III, the Church made that decision on this behalf, arguing that after he suffered a debilitating stroke he was not fit to make this decision.[[/note]] This episode plays the trope a little straighter, with Chef (appearing via [[StylisticSuck low-quality]] [[ManipulativeEditing sentence-mixes]]) getting brainwashed by "The Super Adventure Club" - a child-molesting group who travel the world to do so. It also features [[CallBack a montage depicting a key event in the club's belief, with the caption "THIS IS WHAT THE SUPER ADVENTURE CLUB BELIEVES."]] It ends with Chef [[ActorLeavesCharacterDies getting killed off]] and Kyle calling out "that fruity little club" for what they did to him.

'''Sparks:''' ''(furious, with fanatic fervor)'' Ho, there will a day of reckoning for you, non-believer! A totalling of sums! And a snapping of necks! And you will count yourself among the damned!

** ''VideoGame/GrandTheftAutoIV'' features Brandon Roberts, an Epsilonist and [[ThePrimaDonna egotistical actor]] who is interviewed on Public Liberty Radio in a parody of Creator/Tom Cruise's incoherent interviews from the mid-'00s. While he never mentions the Epsilon Program by name, he does toss out a "Kifflom", their go-to greeting. Random hobos and soapboxers will also occasionally throw out references to their beliefs indicating that they are members.

* The Epsilon Program in the ''VideoGame/GrandTheftAuto'' series. In the words of their leader Cris Formage, they're not a cult but "a fellowship of like-minded adults who tithe money in exchange for salvation and merit badges", and their success may be partially attributed to their leader's charismatic, Creator/JamesEarlJones-esque voice. Their headquarters is located in the UsefulNotes/CaymanIslands (a [[SwissBankAccount notorious tax shelter]]), and their holy text, the Epsilon Tract, has never even been written. They were first introduced in ''[[VideoGame/GrandTheftAutoSanAndreas San Andreas]]'' on [[Radio/GTARadio Lazlow's radio talk show]], where Formage is interviewed alongside another self-help huckster, Darius Fontaine. ''[[VideoGame/GrandTheftAutoIV GTA IV]]'' also features Brandon Roberts, an Epsilonist and [[ThePrimaDonna egotistical actor]] who is interviewed on Public Liberty Radio in a parody of Creator/TomCruise's incoherent interviews; while he never mentions the Epsilon Program by name, he does toss out a "Kifflom", their go-to greeting, which is also the name of one of their patron deities, apparently. ''VideoGame/GrandTheftAutoV'' has an entire sidequest in which Michael joins the Epsilon Program, allowing a deeper insight into the cult than ever before: they convert you from an "antithesis" to a "thesis" through illicit favors, inane brainwashing rituals, and ''hefty'' donations (starting at $500 and escalating to $50,000). Conversely, people who are looked down upon are referred to as "Objectionable Persons". The real kicker, however, comes in ''VideoGame/GrandTheftAutoOnline'', where we get the ultimate look at just how much of a CrapsackWorld the ''GTA'' universe really is. [[spoiler:The first time you get killed, you find out that Cris Formage really ''does'' have magical powers, which he uses to resurrect you [[GameplayAndStoryIntegration (which explains how respawns and Passive Mode work)]] while gloating about both his sexual conquests and how [[TheyCalledMeMad all the naysayers were wrong]].]] In other words, in the ''GTA'' universe, the one true faith is an exploitative weirdo cult.

* [[http://www.epsilonprogram.com/ The Epsilon Program]] in the ''VideoGame/GrandTheftAuto'' series. In the words of their leader Cris Formage, they're not a cult but "a fellowship of like-minded adults who tithe money in exchange for salvation and merit badges", and their success may be partially attributed to their leader's charismatic, Creator/JamesEarlJones-esque voice. Their headquarters is located in the UsefulNotes/CaymanIslands (a [[SwissBankAccount notorious tax shelter]]), and their holy text, the Epsilon Tract, has never even been written. They were first introduced in ''[[VideoGame/GrandTheftAutoSanAndreas San Andreas]]'' on [[Radio/GTARadio Lazlow's radio talk show]], where Formage is interviewed alongside another self-help huckster, Darius Fontaine. ''[[VideoGame/GrandTheftAutoIV GTA IV]]'' also features Brandon Roberts, an Epsilonist and [[ThePrimaDonna egotistical actor]] who is interviewed on Public Liberty Radio in a parody of Creator/TomCruise's incoherent interviews; while he never mentions the Epsilon Program by name, he does toss out a "Kifflom", their go-to greeting, which is also the name of one of their patron deities, apparently. ''VideoGame/GrandTheftAutoV'' has an entire sidequest in which Michael joins the Epsilon Program, allowing a deeper insight into the cult than ever before: they convert you from an "antithesis" to a "thesis" through illicit favors, inane brainwashing rituals, and ''hefty'' donations (starting at $500 and escalating to $50,000). Conversely, people who are looked down upon are referred to as "Objectionable Persons". The real kicker, however, comes in ''GTA Online'', where we get the ultimate look at just how much of a CrapsackWorld the ''GTA'' universe really is: [[spoiler:the first time you get killed, you find out that Cris Formage really ''does'' have magical powers, which he uses to resurrect you [[GameplayAndStoryIntegration (which explains how respawns and Passive Mode work)]] while gloating about both his sexual conquests and how all the naysayers were wrong]]. In other words, in the ''GTA'' universe, the one true faith is an exploitative weirdo cult.

* One ''TabletopGame/{{Warhammer 40000}}'' ''TabletopGame/DarkHeresy'' adventure features a religious cult named the Joyous Choir, which subjects its followers to tests of spiritual and mental functioning using "Harmony Meters" until they become "true", as in [[http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_pcE4Q0CzfdQ/TFCa4NIdFqI/AAAAAAAAADY/iNp_Wq-GnRM/s1600/Joyous+Choir+Handout.jpg this pamphlet]]. [[spoiler:Surprisingly ''not'' run by Chaos; it's just checking for psykers to sell, to make drugs with them... A Slaneeshi cultist is, in fact, a possible ally.]]

* The Triune Understanding cult in Creator/KurtBusiek's run on ''Comicbook/TheAvengers'' was clearly supposed to represent this. The Triune Understanding was depicted as a fast-growing movement claiming to maximize human potential, but gradually revealed to have connections with an invading alien race.
* In the Creator/DCComics ''ComicBook/CountdownToFinalCrisis'' tie-in ''Lord Havok and the Extremists'', Dreamslayer (a CaptainErsatz of Creator/MarvelComics' Dread Dormammu) is the leader of the Church of Dreamology. Since she's an ex-nun, possessed by a demon, who does evil things for good reasons, it's not clear how good or evil the religion itself might be.
* In ''ComicBook/Earth2'', a Superman clone named Brutaal, who identified himself as the original Superman but now working for Darkseid, begins destroying all the shrines and places of worship on Earth (including one whose sign read "SCIENTOL" with the rest being cut off by the panel), with the villain declaring all religions "fiction".
* The ''ComicBook/EMan'' comic had the Church of Technolography, led by Elrod Flummox, who talks almost entirely in bizarre psychological jargon. [[http://asylums.insanejournal.com/scans_daily/730600.html#cutid1 See for yourself.]]
* ''ComicBook/MonstersUnleashed'' Vol. 2 has a ''literal'' Church of Happyology (well, [[JustForFun/OneOfUs someone's been reading TV Tropes]]!). They have more in common with a lovecraftian cult, but nonetheless still slip into this trope:

* ''ComicBook/TheSimpingDetective'' has the Church of Simpology, a cult that takes money from its members and brainwashes, whilst also encouraging Simping, Mega City One's clown trend.

* The ''Franchise/{{Superman}}'' {{Elseworld}}s story ''Last Family of Krypton'' features a ''positive'' portrayal of a Church of Happyology - Raology, founded by Kal-El's mother Lara. The positivity of the portrayal is helped by the fact that Kryptonians have been worshiping Rao for thousands of years, so it isn't a newly-designed-by-one-man phenomenon like most other Churches of Happyology, but rather an immigrant bringing their old religion to their new home and then going for converts.
* ''ComicBook/UltimateMarvel'' has the Church of Shi'Ar Enlightenment, a religion with many rich and famous members. They assist the [[ComicBook/UltimateXMen Ultimate X-Men]]. Turns out they, and their offshoot sect the Hellfire Club, actually believe that Jean Grey is the [[TheChosenOne reincarnation of their alien Phoenix God]]. Gee, what are the odds?
%% The Path of Prosperity from ''Comicbook/{{Witchblade}}'' bears some suspicious resemblances to Scientology.

* ''TabletopGame/MageTheAwakening'' has "Panography", a church full of Banishers (mages whose Awakenings went very wrong and who view other mages as evil sorcerers) dedicated to hunting down the "alien entities" that possess certain people (that is, mages). It's essentially a straight name switch - their slightly unbalanced movie star member "[[Film/TopGun John Maverick]]" even ''looks'' like Tom Cruise. The fact that the abbreviation for the specific group that contains the Banishers is M.A.D. (Militant ''Auditing'' Division), only adds to the hilarity. Though [[CelebrityParadox the real Scientology seems to exist in this universe as well]], being mentioned in ''TabletopGame/HunterTheVigil: Compacts and Conspiracies''.

[[quoteright:275:[[VideoGame/SamAndMaxFreelancePolice https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/church_of_happyology.png]]]]
[[caption-width-right:275:You'll be so happy, you'll puke ''{{rainbow|Puke}}s!'']]

%% PLEASE don't dump bile on here like every other site on the web.

* ''Webcomic/{{Jack|DavidHopkins}}'' devotes an arc to this. The name of the arc is a giveaway.
* In ''Webcomic/{{Insecticomics}}'', A priest of Unicron starts his own religious show, "The Hour of Devour", which presents worshipping the Chaos Bringer as this. Fallen finds out and is pissed because he [[EvenEvilHasStandards actually has some respect for his job as Unicron's herald, and sees the priest's show as a mockery of service to the forces of chaos.]] Eventually, he mellows out and lets the priest go on as he pleases.
* In ''Webcomic/PennyAndAggie'', the crazed {{Cloudcuckoolander}} Xena is a devotee of this religion. Although the comic avoids mentioning the church by name, she's been known to slam the field of psychology (including parroting Creator/TomCruise's denial of chemical imbalances), make reference to engrams and souls imprisoned in volcanoes, and note that her name is similar to that of a certain galactic dictator central to the religion's foundational myth. She's even been known to moan "Mr. Hubbard" in her sleep.

* In ''WebVideo/KateModern'', Gavin even refers to the Hymn of Oner Steve as "L. Ron" at one point.
* ''WebVideo/{{Hackles}}'' had the [[http://hackles.org/cgi-bin/archives.pl?request=325 Squidentologists]].
* ''WebVideo/YuGiOhTheAbridgedSeries'' just came right out and said it.

* Although the [[http://www.chainsawbuffet.com/categories/roboreaganology/ Church of the Immortal Robot Reagan]] is more or less an outright parody of the aforementioned sect, its creators claim that it's just a "more honest" version since it's a cult that's really a moneymaking scam that ''openly admits'' it's a moneymaking scam.

* One of the fan songs on the ''[[WebVideo/DoctorHorriblesSingAlongBlog Dr. Horrible]]'' DVD mentions them by name. [[spoiler:"That was a joke: [[EvenEvilHasStandards I'm evil, not crazy!]]"]]

* In [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xmJ8tvdEqPo a side short]] of the Parle Productions series ''[[https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLBB81D75D9D6AD206 The Marauders]]'', James Potter convinces Peter Pettigrew that there is a "Church of Potter", then renamed to "Pottertology".
* The ''Website/SCPFoundation'' has the [[http://www.scpwiki.com/fifthist-hub Fifth Church]], who once [[http://www.scp-wiki.net/scp-1425 almost destroyed reality with a self-help book]].

* ''WesternAnimation/{{Futurama}}'':
** Despite the "-ology" name, the Temple of Robotology is more a loose (very loose) parody of Christianity: you promise to be good, and if you don't the Robot Devil takes you to [[IronicHell Robot Hell]], however this didn't stop "[[SockPuppet concerned citizens who weren't Scientologists]]" from complaining. In the DVDCommentary, Creator/MattGroening says he received a call from a Scientologist about it; he apparently just decided to say it was the "church", not the "temple", rather than point out there are no other similarities.
** In "[[Recap/FuturamaS4E11WhereNoFanHasGoneBefore Where No Fan Has Gone Before]]", there is also the Church of [[Franchise/StarTrek Trek]], with a sign saying "The sci-fi religion that doesn't take all your money."

* ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'': The Movementarians from "[[Recap/TheSimpsonsS9E13TheJoyOfSect The Joy of Sect]]". Devote all your money and labor to them and they will (eventually) take you to Blisstonia, noted for its high level of bliss. It ends with a double subversion. Plus "the Leader" is the spitting image of LRH, and laments "I should have stayed with the Promise Keepers" after the whole cult falls apart. However, the Movementarians also drew from other controversial religious groups, such as the Unification Church (the mass wedding), Osho (the leader driving around in a Rolls Royce), and Heaven's Gate (riding on a spaceship to another planet). Notably, they managed to do this despite Creator/NancyCartwright, voice of Bart Simpson, being a Scientologist.
* The ''WesternAnimation/ChipNDaleRescueRangers'' episode "Case of the Cola Cult", which features a cult centered around the worship of soda, could be a critique of Scientology or of religion in general. There certainly are eerie parallels to Scientology in the episode (such as very rich mice giving all of their riches to a phony religion, only to have those riches embezzled by the cult leader's [[EvilVizier corrupt second-in-command]]). It's unclear what the writers were really going for, but it was certainly something [[WhatDoYouMeanItsForKids pretty deep]] for a TV cartoon made by Disney. All of which was likely to shoot right over the heads of the target audience.

* The Flame Keepers Circle from ''WesternAnimation/{{Ben 10}}'' started as this, but the nature of their god Diagon and their relationship with him makes them more like a Cult of Cthulhu.

* ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy'':
-->'''Tiny Tom Cruise:''' You could consider a sizeable donation to the Church of Spaceship Beep-Boop.\\
'''Brian:''' You mean the church of...\\
'''Tom:''' Torture, kidnapping, and extortion? That's the one!\\
'''Stewie:''' And we can't get in trouble because we didn't use the actual name!
* ''WesternAnimation/OneHundredAndOneDalmatiansTheSeries'': In the third part of "Dalmatian Vacation", Anita meets [[FunWithAcronyms "The Society for Achieving Utopian Consciousness via Extra-Terrestrial Rebirth and Desert Operational Lacrosse Team"]] (or Saucer Dolts) in the desert. They are waiting for the mother ship to take them to another planet [[NotSoOmniscientCouncilOfBickering but can't agree which one.]]

* An episode of ''Series/BoyMeetsWorld'' dealt with a suspicious person who was gathering teens into his cult of personality:
-->'''Cult Leader:''' We're all equal here.\\
'''Cory or Eric:''' Cool. What's this room?\\
'''Cult Leader:''' That's the Celebrity Room. You can't go in there.
* An episode of ''Series/{{Monk}}'' featured an otherwise standard cult whose members would disseminate their leader's literature on the street while wearing distinctive uniforms. Monk's friends are worried that the constantly-depressed Monk will be susceptible to the cult, and they're right (though he gets over it).
%%* Pierce on ''Series/{{Community}}'' thinks he's some sort of Christian Buddhist, but apparently he's really in this trope.
* ''Series/TheITCrowd'' has Beth Gaga Shaggy's Spaceology, though this seems to be a parody of the book ''Literature/TheSecret'' and also a parody on Cosmic Ordering with "space-star ordering". We have a SuspiciouslySpecificDenial: "Spaceology is a religion, not a cult."
* ''Series/TheMentalist'': Some episodes involve a cult called Visualize that threatens legal trouble if any of their secrets get out. Its role gets more important as the story progresses; the leader might even know how to catch the BigBad. Or know the BigBad. Or ''be'' the BigBad. Or have been an [[EvilMentor evil Obi-Wan]] to the BigBad in the past... [[WildMassGuessing Your guess is as good as anyone else's at this point.]]
* One episode of ''Series/EverybodyLovesRaymond'' started off with Robert joining something similar to a Scientology group, and acting like he was lobotomized. Then he invited Raymond, and it was accidentally revealed that the only reason that Robert was invited in the first place was to get to Ray. Robert, naturally, was crushed. However, both of them used the group to stage an intervention in order to get Marie and Debra back on speaking terms.
* A ''Series/DiagnosisMurder'' episode has Earthonomy, a cult with ridiculous mafia-like connections. They kill a reporter who was investigating them and attempt to kill another reporter. One suspect is even a closeted gay actor obviously based on... [[NoCelebritiesWereHarmed a certain actor]]. [[spoiler:It turns out the killer was a hitman hired by the head of Earthonomy, who was having a homosexual affair with the gay actor.]]
* ''Series/LieToMe'': "Beyond Belief" features a self-help phenomenon/cult called [[DeconstructiveParody Scientific RePatterning]], or SPR. Among other less-than-friendly aspects of the organization, an initiate of SPR spies on Lightman's house and members break into Lightman's locked house while his daughter is home to deliver a pamphlet for their organization. Also, a fairly large part of the plot revolves around [[spoiler:sexual misconduct with younger initiates]].
* The Church of Spirentology in ''Series/MadeInCanada''. The cult claims their goal is to help their members become "transparent", but they seem more interested in making money.
* Reasonablism in ''Series/ParksAndRecreation''. The founder started by writing a book to help people organize their offices, called "Organize It". Then he had another interesting thought. Maybe there was a 28-foot tall lizard with a volcano for a mouth, who controlled the universe.
-->'''Chris:''' Why does the cult call themselves the Reasonablists?\\
'''Leslie:''' Well they figure if people criticize them it will sound like they're attacking something very reasonable.\\
'''Ben:''' That's weirdly brilliant.
* On ''Series/{{Friends}}'', when Rachel gets the phone numbers of some of the actors at Joey's soap opera party, he discourages her from calling one because he's in a cult.
-->'''Joey:''' This guy is in a cult, okay? It'll cost you $5,000 to get to Level 3, and I don't feel any different.
* In ''Series/TheLAComplex'', the Church of Scienetics (a {{portmanteau}} of Scientology and Dianetics) gets involved at one point. There's a reference to "Nexu" (pronounced knee-zoo, which is similar to Xenu).
%%* Wholeness in ''So [=NoTORIous=]''.
* ''Series/TheArrangement2017'' centers around the Institute of the Higher Mind. The titular arrangement is the marriage of IHM member and superstar movie actor Kyle West and unknown actress Megan Morrison.
* ''Series/{{Community}}'' has Reformed Neo-Buddhism. Among their other beliefs, someone outside the church questioning your rank is enough for your rank to fall, higher-ranked members can see the color blurple, have psychic powers, and can ''eat ghosts.''
* ''Series/RumpoleOfTheBailey'': In "Rumpole's Return" the defendant believes he has fallen afoul of a powerful religious group, based in Florida, which has ordered him to be framed for a crime. The church all live in a large compound to which outsiders are forbidden and members are locked in, and joining it requires signing a legal contract giving them all their possessions and money. Scattered around the compound are large paintings of "The Master" who is apparently the only way to paradise.
* ''Series/Runaways2017'' (based on the Creator/MarvelComics [[ComicBook/{{Runaways}} series of the same name]]) features The Church of Gibborim, founded by main character Karolina's grandfather (David Ellerh, whose surname may be a nod to Creator/LRonHubbard) and currently headed up by her mother Leslie. A {{Zigzagged}} example in that the alien who inspired the religion is very real [[spoiler:and is Karolina's biological father]], and most of the members are seemingly nice people who genuinely believe they're putting their faith into action for the good of the less fortunate; but the Church is nevertheless shown to be a cult whose leaders seek out the wealthy and famous as members for their influence, while abusing their power to entrap,[[spoiler:murder and consume]] the impoverished and homeless teenagers their charity takes in. It's later shown that the Church has a habit of "reconditioning" members, and a facility dedicated to such is even called "The Crater" (likely a reference to the trope non-namer's infamous [[Room101 The Hole facility]]). [[spoiler:One such denizen ends up being Leslie, in what is ''absolutely not'' a plot based on the speculation of the current fate of Shelly Miscavige]].
* ''Series/SchittsCreek'': In Season 6, Alexis convinces Stevie, Ronnie, Jocelyn and Twyla to take a stair-stepper exercise class called Elevation that turns out to be a thinly disguised pyramid scheme and cult that is training its members to elevate to a gateway and rendezvous with a UFO. [[spoiler: Twyla knew it was a cult the whole time but was just trying to support Alexis's career.]]
* Season 2 of ''Series/TheBoys2019'' introduces the Church of the Collective, which seems to have traits in common, including a ''Literature/{{Dianetics}}''-esque holy book, a [[TherapyIsForTheWeak hatred of therapists]], charity work that is [[UnwantedAssistance more interested in evangelism than helping people]], a use of {{Frivolous Lawsuit}}s against the IRS to secure their tax-exempt status, and processes designed to gain {{blackmail}} information from new recruits. The Deep ends up joining early on in the season, as a consequence of his HumiliationConga in the previous season. [[spoiler:The Church turns out to have close ties to [[MegaCorp Vought International]], specifically helping them rehabilitate the images of wayward superheroes while collecting blackmail info on them to keep them in line.]]
* ''Series/UnbreakableKimmySchmidt'' had the Church of Cosmetology, which in one episode was just the cult one of Kimmy's bunkermates joined, but in the WhatIf episode had the connections much clearer, like how it tries to attract actors or how its leader is married to [[https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/leah-remini-files-missing-person-602723/ someone who is never seen but is "definitely alive"]].

* Music/FrankZappa had the Church of Appliantology led by L. Ron Hoover in [[Music/JoesGarage "Joe's Garage"]].

* Music/EmilieAutumn and her Bloody Crumpets have Contessaology [[FlashbackBackBack ology...ology...ology]]. It's devoted to praying for [[EthicalSlut Veronica's remaining virtue]]. And [[ImAHumanitarian cannibalism]]. That too.
* Music/FaithNoMore "Land of Sunshine". (With original quotes from the psycho tests.)

* The Eightfold Truth in ''AudioPlay/BigFinishDoctorWho''.

* The climactic adventure in the ''TabletopGame/CallOfCthulhu'' sourcebook "TabletopGame/DeltaGreen" is ... unsubtle.
* Creator/WizardsOfTheCoast decided to cut out the middle man and make (a sect of) Scientology an evil conspiracy in TabletopGame/D20Modern led by a psychic alien.

* From ''TabletopGame/MagicTheGathering'' there's the Orzhov Syndicate in the Ravnica plane. It poses itself as a church, but it's really a fantasy-version [[TheMafia Mafia]]. From the same plane, the Selesnya Conclave as well; though [[WellIntentionedExtremist much better intentioned]], they are still fundamentally a cult, that deals with dissenters via quietmen and actually brainwash the populace, unlike the Orzhov.

* Prismatologist Hugh Bliss from the episodic adventure game ''[[VideoGame/SamAndMaxFreelancePolice Sam and Max]]: Season 1'' peddles a book called "[[PunBasedTitle Emetics]]", pictured above. Then it turns out [[spoiler:Bliss is actually a sentient bacteria colony that feeds on endorphins, and is plotting to turn everyone on Earth into blissed-out drones so he'll have an unlimited food supply]]. Therefore, [[spoiler:in order to "save" the world, Max has to personally ''punch everyone in the face'']].
* In ''VideoGame/SamAndMaxHitTheRoad'' Lee-Harvey, the aide of a country-western singer, reads a book called "Dialenics" by Elrod Hubbel, which he says is changing his life. Since he's in the entertainment industry, it makes sense.
* In ''VideoGame/MonkeyIsland2LeChucksRevenge'', there's a book in the Phatt Library called "Dynanetics", by L. Creator/RonGilbert (Ron Gilbert being the creator of the series). Guybrush's comment: "Who does this guy think he is, anyway?"

* The "Hubologists" from ''VideoGame/Fallout2'', a cult created by a pre-war ConMan by the name of Dick Hubbell. The game actually went so far as to have the Hubologist "celebrity spokespeople" [[NoCelebritiesWereHarmed "Juan Cruz" and "Vikki Goldman"]] tell you that their religion was not, in fact, connected or based in any way, shape, or form upon any group [[BreakingTheFourthWall in the real world]]. [[LaserGuidedKarma After attempting to take over San Francisco they all die in the end]] in a failed attempt to explore space, if not by the PlayerCharacter's own hand. They make a comeback in ''VideoGame/Fallout4'' under the leadership of a Dara Hubbell who claims to be Dick's direct descendant, and you can wipe them out ''again'' if you tamper with their "spaceship".
* The ApocalypseCult Team Flare in ''VideoGame/PokemonXAndY''. They have to pay large sums of money to join the group, describe themselves as scientists despite bearing no resemblance to the scientist class, are heard trying to memorize mantras like "There are no real absolutes", and seem completely convinced that the group is the only future and everyone else is doomed. The members are described as being cult-like early on - one NPC even says that a friend of a friend turned joined the group and went out for lunch with him and wouldn't stop talking about it being the future (which is something that happens often in real life). They also speak in very childish manners, often whining about their losses or blaming the loss on bad luck. Their main aspirations are invading all the big companies and historic buildings, and blackmailing people into selling them to them. Also, their battle sprites have them looking like they're BrainwashedAndCrazy.

* ''VideoGame/UltimaVII'': Practically every single thing about the Fellowship mirrors Scientology in some form or other. Batlin is a spitting image of Hubbard, the Fellowship have practices similar to Fair Game and Disconnection, and the Avatar is even given a Personality Test early on, which, as you can see [[http://lparchive.org/Ultima-VII-The-Black-Gate/Update%2015/ here]], is obviously rigged against them.
* [[http://www.epsilonprogram.com/ The Epsilon Program]] in the ''VideoGame/GrandTheftAuto'' series. In the words of their leader Cris Formage, they're not a cult but "a fellowship of like-minded adults who tithe money in exchange for salvation and merit badges", and their success may be partially attributed to their leader's charismatic, Creator/JamesEarlJones-esque voice. Their headquarters is located in the UsefulNotes/CaymanIslands (a [[SwissBankAccount notorious tax shelter]]), and their holy text, the Epsilon Tract, has never even been written. They were first introduced in ''[[VideoGame/GrandTheftAutoSanAndreas San Andreas]]'' on [[Radio/GTARadio Lazlow's radio talk show]], where Formage is interviewed alongside another self-help huckster, Darius Fontaine. ''[[VideoGame/GrandTheftAutoIV GTA IV]]'' also features Brandon Roberts, an Epsilonist and [[ThePrimaDonna egotistical actor]] who is interviewed on Public Liberty Radio in a parody of Creator/TomCruise's incoherent interviews; while he never mentions the Epsilon Program by name, he does toss out a "Kifflom", their go-to greeting, which is also the name of one of their patron deities, apparently. ''VideoGame/GrandTheftAutoV'' has an entire sidequest in which Michael joins the Epsilon Program, allowing a deeper insight into the cult than ever before: they convert you from an "antithesis" to a "thesis" through illicit favors, inane brainwashing rituals, and ''hefty'' donations (starting at $500 and escalating to $50,000). Conversely, people who are looked down upon are referred to as "Objectionable Persons". The real kicker, however, comes in ''GTA Online'', where we get the ultimate look at just how much of a CrapsackWorld the ''GTA'' universe really is: [[spoiler:the first time you get killed, you find out that Cris Formage really ''does'' have magical powers, which he uses to resurrect you [[GameplayAndStoryIntegration (which explains how respawns and Passive Mode work)]] while gloating about both his sexual conquests and how all the naysayers were wrong]]. In other words, in the ''GTA'' universe, the one true faith is an exploitative weirdo cult.
* Seeing as how it's a [[FollowTheLeader shameless ripoff]] of ''GTA'' (and proud of it), ''VideoGame/SaintsRow2'' features an even more blatant parody of Scientology: the Church of Philosotology, run by an "R. Lon Hibbard", whose beliefs are almost carbon copies of various Scientology tenets. They also run the Forgive and Forget stations, which let you lose any unwanted heat from police or gangs, for a price (in true Scientology tradition).
* The particularly crass MMORPG ''VideoGame/ForumWarz'' gives us a two-for-one deal with the Church of [[Franchise/DragonBall Saiyantology]] - and that's just the sixth or seventh of all the bizarre subcultures they've declared fair game to mock.
* The Order from ''VideoGame/DeusExInvisibleWar''.

* ''VideoGame/WarcraftIII'':
** Kel'Thuzad's StopPokingMe quotes are rife with this.
-->'''Kel'Thuzad:''' I always wanted to start my own religion... ''So I did!''
** Several other Scourge units (the more intelligible ones, at least) do the same.

* ''Operation Abyss: New Tokyo Legacy'' has the Tojo Peace Foundation (TPF) and its student club version, the Peace Research Club. They use celeberties to recruit, and offer assessments and counseling that actually just serves to lure people in.

[[folder:Comics]]
* ''ComicBook/UltimateMarvel'' has the Church of Shi'Ar Enlightenment, a religion with many rich and famous members. They assist the [[ComicBook/UltimateXMen Ultimate X-Men]]. Turns out they, and their offshoot sect the Hellfire Club, actually believe that Jean Grey is the [[TheChosenOne reincarnation of their alien Phoenix God]]. Gee, what are the odds?
%% The Path of Prosperity from ''Comicbook/{{Witchblade}}'' bears some suspicious resemblances to Scientology.
* In ''ComicStrip/TheFarSide'', a door-to-door proselytizing cow hands another cow a "Cowentology" pamphlet and suggests she ask herself "Am I a happy cow?"

* The ''ComicBook/EMan'' comic had the Church of Technolography, led by Elrod Flummox, who talks almost entirely in bizarre psychological jargon. [[http://asylums.insanejournal.com/scans_daily/730600.html#cutid1 See for yourself.]]
* The ''Franchise/{{Superman}}'' {{Elseworld}}s story ''Last Family of Krypton'' features a ''positive'' portrayal of a Church of Happyology - Raology, founded by Kal-El's mother Lara. The positivity of the portrayal is helped by the fact that Kryptonians have been worshiping Rao for thousands of years, so it isn't a newly-designed-by-one-man phenomenon like most other Churches of Happyology, but rather an immigrant bringing their old religion to their new home and then going for converts.
%%* The Triune Understanding cult in Creator/KurtBusiek's run on ''Comicbook/TheAvengers'' was clearly supposed to represent this.

* ''ComicBook/TheSimpingDetective'' has the Church of Simpology, a cult that takes money from its members and brainwashes, whilst also encouraging Simping, Mega City One's clown trend.
* In the Creator/DCComics ''ComicBook/CountdownToFinalCrisis'' tie-in ''Lord Havok and the Extremists'', Dreamslayer (a CaptainErsatz of Creator/MarvelComics' Dread Dormammu) is the leader of the Church of Dreamology. Since she's an ex-nun, possessed by a demon, who does evil things for good reasons, it's not clear how good or evil the religion itself might be.
* In ''ComicBook/Earth2'', a Superman clone named Brutaal, who identified himself as the original Superman but now working for Darkseid, begins destroying all the shrines and places of worship on Earth (including one whose sign read "SCIENTOL" with the rest being cut off by the panel), with the villain declaring all religions "fiction".

[[folder:Films -- Live-Action]]

* Eventualism from Creator/StevenSoderbergh's ''Film/{{Schizopolis}}'': "Eventualism isn't designed to answer all questions. It's designed to question all answers. It's not about healing pain. It's about the pain of healing." Also, the book is written by T. Azimuth Schwitters and features a volcano on the cover. The creators are adamant that [[DeniedParody it's most certainly not a parody of any real religions]].

* In ''Film/TheMaster'', Lancaster Dodd is the charismatic leader of a California cult called "The Cause". Director Creator/PaulThomasAnderson admitted to drawing on the early history of Scientology for the movie but also said The Cause is just the backdrop for a character study. Much of the doctrine of The Cause is clearly lifted from Scientology and Dodd resembles L. Ron Hubbard.
* ''Film/BeyondTheBlackRainbow'' is centered around the Arboria Institute, which is basically Scientology [[ThisIsYourPremiseOnDrugs on drugs]]. [[MushroomSamba Lots]] [[SurrealHorror and lots]] [[MindScrew of drugs]].

* ''Children of the Revolution'' from the short story collection ''Literature/ZombiesVsUnicorns'' features a cult/religion founded by a science fiction author that requires a lot of money to progress and is quite popular among rich famous people... but [[JustForFun/RecycledInSpace with]] [[OurZombiesAreDifferent zombies]].

%% In ''Literature/StrangerInAStrangeLand'', both the Fosterites and the religion founded by Valentine Michael Smith carry strong Scientology overtones. (Perhaps not too surprising; Heinlein and Hubbard knew one another well enough that there's a semi-apocryphal [[note]]{Mrs. Heinlein said it's true and she should know better than almost anyone, but no documentary proof survives if indeed any ever existed}[[/note]] story about Scientology having been founded as a result of a bar bet in which Hubbard contended that he could invent a successful religion from scratch.)
* The Creator/PhilipKDick short story ''The Turning Wheel'' included a religion whose messiah was known as The Bard Elron Hu. [[StealthPun At no point is he ever referred to as Elron Hu, Bard.]] This is a particularly early reference, as it was originally published just a few years after ''Dianetics''.
* In ''Literature/SnowCrash'', media and business magnate L. Bob Rife funds a church of this kind to literally take over the world. Rife's church is, at least on the surface, a Christian sect rather than a brand-new invention, but when the title of one of its tracts is "[[RedScare How America Was Saved From Communism]]: [[Music/ElvisPresley Elvis]] [[WhoShotJFK Shot JFK]]", it gives you an idea of just how far from reality they are. [[spoiler:Oh, and they're a part of Rife's drug distribution network, to boot.]]
* ''Literature/RepairmanJack'' takes on one of these that is not even really ''thinly'' veiled, the "Dormentalist Church", in ''Crisscross'', though the text makes a pointed reference to that other church as a distraction for the cyber ninja lawyers.
* Creator/KimNewman's ''Literature/AnnoDracula'' short story "Castle In The Desert" has L. Keith Winton, the vampiric author of ''Plasmatics: The New Communion'' and founder of the Church of Immortology.

%%* In the young adult novel ''Godless'', a teen frustrated with having to conform to the Christian norms creates a god out of his town water tower. His friend ends up taking this very seriously indeed, creating an entire Bible out of water towers the world over.
%%* Nanoism in ''Literature/AndAnotherThing'' has elements of this. So does Tyromancy, except that the Tyromancers' leader is a true believer.

%%* CESSNAB, the Church of Eternal Satisfaction and Snack And Bowl, from Libba Bray's ''Literature/GoingBovine''.
* Creator/CliveCussler's ''Plague Ship'' has Responsivists, the big bad organization of the novel. While they don't worship any aliens, they go to great lengths to preserve their public image, react violently to members leaving their movement, and have a lot of Hollywood celebrity endorsement.
* The short story ''Pango and the Slave Souls'' by German author Gisbert Haefs has the "[[WeWillUseWikiWordsInTheFuture SciOntoLogen]]". The mentor of the protagonist points out that this is just GratuitousLatin / GratuitousGreek for "the teaching about knowledge about being" and that they should rather be called "[[TakeThat SciOntoLiars]]".
* In the novel ''Martian Rainbow'' by Creator/RobertLForward, Gen. Alexander Armstrong organizes a globe-girdling cult as a pyramid scheme, featuring himself as next messiah and Lord of the Church of the Unifier. He enforces his rule with a doomsday device made from an orbiting asteroid that will destroy the Earth unless he activates a safety switch with his handprint once every 24 hours. His identical twin brother Augustus [[spoiler:saves the Earth by taking Alexander's place when he dies of a heart attack, cutting off their right hands with a band saw and getting his brother's hand surgically attached to his arm so he can operate the switch on the doomsday device. Then he rolls up the organization, buying out the leadership for cash and ordering them to disperse.]] Naturally, he can't admit to any of this and has to [[spoiler:pretend to be his brother]] from then on.
* On the anarchist planet of Bakunin in the ''Literature/HostileTakeoverSwann'' series, Communes based on an extreme cult of personality are called "hubbards" as an obvious reference.
* The Rosicrusophists and their screenwriter/prophet Dr. Frank Wood (or Ubiquitous Lothar Fitz-Chang, depending on your mood) of the comic neo-noir ''Literature/GetBlank'', with their Misguided Enemies, their Ladder to Fulfillment, and their expensive and insane courses, are clearly not in any way based on a highly-litigious religious group.
* Literature/{{Spenser}} directly compared the California-based HELIOS to the Church, including bringing up Hubbard, in ''Angel Eyes''.

* ''Series/BrooklynNineNine'': In Season 5, Jake signs himself up to [=NutriBoom=], a clear Pyramid Scheme[[note]]Well, [[InsistentTerminology a conical-tiered, multi-flow-through medical marketing entity]][[/note]], only in order to get a [=NutriBoomer=] to help him out. When he tries to cancel it, it turns out that not only it is impossible to leave without paying $10,000, Jake and Boyle have a thug sent [[StalkerWithoutACrush to follow them around and intimidate them,]] and the inner circle of the company is a cult-of-personality slavishly devoted to their CEO. The CEO's wife has been missing for a while and members are required to sign a statement asserting that she is definitely alive and happy, which [[BlatantLies in no way resembles]] questions about the welfare and current whereabouts of Shelly Miscavige. [[spoiler: In the show, the CEO's wife really is alive and happy - she's the one actually running the whole con from behind the scenes, at least until Jake and Charles stumble on the truth.]]
* In ''Series/PeepShow'', Jeremy and Super Hans briefly join a cult at the end of Series 5. The mythology revolves around "negative orgones" that cause human unhappiness. The cult takes personality tests and [[TakeThat forbids thinking]].

* In Season 4 of ''Series/UglyBetty'', Daniel Meade joins "The Community of the Phoenix", which recruits high-profile followers and has several similar parallels to Scientology. After allowing the Church to make decisions in his personal and professional life, he's saved by Betty just as he reaches Level 7.
* The depiction of "Selfosophy" in the ''[[{{Series/Millennium1996}} Millennium]]'' episode [[{{Recap/MillenniumE31JoseChungsDoomsdayDefense}} "Jose Chung's Doomsday Defense."]] [[{{Creator/LanceHenriksen}} Frank Black]] teams up with [[{{Creator/CharlesNelsonReilly}} Chung]] to investigate an assassin obsessed over the movement's self-help tapes. Chung had actually been a friend of founder/fellow-hack-writer Juggernaut Onan Goopta who struck it rich through his dubious advice books. Aside from the [[OurLawyersAdvisedThisTrope necessary name change,]] writer Darin Morgan pulls no punches in his [[TakeThat jabs at the church:]] from its first facility being a converted insane asylum in {{UsefulNotes/Seattle}} spreading to UsefulNotes/NewYorkCity and all throughout {{UsefulNotes/California}} to depicting its staff as lawsuit-happy [[StepfordSmiler Stepford smilers]] a hair's breadth away from snapping who fawn over converted celebrities [[TheCameo including]] [[{{Creator/DavidDuchovny}} Bobby Wingood]]
%%* ''Neighbours'' had a Scientology-like cult some years ago.
* ''Series/{{Dinosaurs}}'' has the book "Dino-Netics: The Science of Selling Books," by L. [[TakeThat Mother Hubbard]].

* ''Series/WildPalms'' prominently features a thinly-disguised Hubbard figure, accompanied by thinly-disguised Sea Org members in naval uniforms, and "Synthiotics", at the center of its plot.
* ''Series/MontyPythonsFlyingCircus'' had an early (if broad) reference in the "Crackpot Religions Ltd." sketch. (Scientology was run from England in the 1960s.)

* ''Series/SaturdayNightLive'' did a spoof advertisement for the Church of Neurotology, based on a real promotional video released by Scientology, in a season 40 episode hosted by Michael Keaton.
-->''"A gorgeous religion, old and true, started in 1982."''

* The ''Series/LawAndOrderCriminalIntent'' episode "Con-Text" ([[RippedFromTheHeadlines based on a real-life case]]) features a Scientology-esque self-help group called "[=GraceNote=]". Members of [=GraceNote=] fork over tons of cash to take classes and spout psychobabble like "transforming your context" and "optimizing your psychic drive". There's even a bit where one of the suspects tells the detectives they don't understand because they're "not clear". Interestingly, Scientology member Karen Black was one of the guest stars. (This was likely coincidental, as episode writer Gerry Conway said he was just thrilled for the ''Five Easy Pieces'' star to be in the episode.)
* UK kids' show ''Series/BykerGrove'' had the Psychandrics, a cult crossed with a pyramid scheme; the goal was to try to convert as many new members as they could. Main character Duncan (Declan Donnelly) was ensnared when he fell for one of the girls already in the cult, and almost got dragged away to their main compound in Mexico, never to return. He escaped (with the girl), but they returned a couple of years later, saying that they had ditched their old Leader and reformed (though they still behaved like cult members), and dragged the girl ended up going off with them anyway.