History Main / ChurchOfHappyology

%% See, the joke is to NOT be dumping bile on the screen like every other site on the web.
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* The 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''.

* KimNewman's ''AnnoDracula'' short story "Castle In The Desert" has L. Keith Winton, the vampric author of ''Plasmatics: The New Communion'', and founder of the Church of Immortology.

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* TheITCrowd now has Beth Gaga Shaggy's Spaceology. This seems to be a parody of the book "The Secret."

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* The Children of Taronne from ''{{SWAT 4}}''.

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* The Star Org / Endless from ''LastRes0rt'' take it from a different angle, running with a starfaring naval branch that's curiously powerful for something that's just supposed to be part of a church. At least two of the players (White Noise and Xanatos) are ex-Star Org soldiers; White was left for dead after he was caught hacking into a space station's life support (supposedly on orders) and has since become a "heretic" and renounced his faith, while Xanatos is implied to have mutinied. Xanatos still talks in some of the Star Org's slang though, regularly calling the fans "cogs" among other things.

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* ''YugiohTheAbridgedSeries'' just came right out and said it.

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* ''{{Superjail}}'' devoted an entire episode, "Negatron", to a space cult that looked suspiciously like Happyology. Many of the references though were just obscure enough that only those familiar with Happyology would get the joke.
* ''TheSimpsons'' episode with the Movementarians. 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.

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<<|ComedyTropes|>>
<<|ReligionTropes|>>

** [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sea_Org Just in case you were wondering]]
* [[OrderOfTheStick Rich Burlew]] dropped a TakeThat on ''Dianetics'' [[http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0195.html once]] (fifth panel).

* A ''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 Tom Cruise. [[spoiler:It turns out the killer was a hitman hired by head of Earthonomy, who was having a homosexual affair with the gay actor.]]

There is a certain established religion founded by a [[strike:lunatic]][[LRonHubbard science-fiction author]] that is very protective of its image, and has a disquieting habit of [[FrivolousLawsuit breaking out the lawyers]] whenever they feel this image is threatened. Naturally, this makes them [[SnarkBait an even easier target to mock]]. The trick is [[GettingCrapPastTheRadar getting around the watchdogs]], which is where this trope comes into play.

* The ''{{Superman}}'' {{Elseworld}}s story ''Last Family of Krypton'' features a ''positive'' portrayal of a ChurchOfHappyology; Raology, founded by Kal-El's mother Lara.

There is a certain established religion founded by a [[LRonHubbard science-fiction author]] that is very protective of its image, and has a disquieting habit of [[FrivolousLawsuit breaking out the lawyers]] whenever they feel this image is threatened. Naturally, this makes them [[SnarkBait an even easier target to mock]]. The trick is [[GettingCrapPastTheRadar getting around the watchdogs]], which is where this trope comes into play.

** '''Great''' cartoon! But the line should have been: "Am I a ''contented'' cow?"

* In ''JusticeLeagueOfAmerica'', there is the robot, L-Ron.
** That's probably just a ShoutOut to [[LRonHubbard Hubbard]]'s science-fiction career. When he first showed up (as a lackey to a mercantile [[PlanetLooters Planet Looter]]), L-Ron had a partner named [[RobertHeinlein Hein-9]].

* Eventualism from ''{{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 not a parody of the religion this page is talking about]].

* While it has a definite televangelist feel, there is also a whiff of Happyology in the religion founded by Valentine Michael Smith in the RobertHeinlein novel ''StrangerInAStrangeLand''; Heinlein was a friend of L. Ron Hubbard in his science fiction writing days.
** Note that this example is an exception to the usual portrayal. It's completely benevolent and can do everything it says it can.
** Then again, Valentine Michael Smith was quite proven in the story to have been raised on [[{{Mars}} another planet]], so it would stand to reason.

* ''[[{{ptitleolsdue4jfzga}} 30 Rock]]'' frequently makes reference to the "Church of Practicology", which was supposedly created by Stan Lee (or, as its members believe, an "[[MobileSuitHuman alien king living inside Stan Lee]]").

* StephenColbert is more likely to just [[TheScottishTrope call it what it is]], but did once [[StartMyOwn start his very own]] Church of Happyology: [[ShapedLikeItself The Faith-Based Faith of]] [[GannonBanned Stephen with a PH]][[http://www.thedailyshow.com/video/index.jhtml?videoId=117048&title=Constitution-Schmonstitution-XXVII:-Faith-Based-Aid .]]
** More recently, Colbert has declared himself the religion's New Galactic Overlord, after beating Xenu in the NASA node naming contest. [[http://ccinsider.comedycentral.com/2009/03/05/stephen-colbert-scientologys-new-galactic-overlord/ He wears a shiny cape]].

** Wish I hadn't read that (similar to how much I wish I'd never heard of TheImageBoardThatMustNotBeNamed). As a 2nd-gen Happyologist, I suppose Beck has about as much free will as a Pop-Tart...but even so, his connection to them makes it harder to like his music (which I do). Did Beck just sit back and watch as the artists were destroyed? Was he oblivious to it? (Or an eager participant? Spleaggh...I shouldn't be asking; I don't wanna know.)
** The ''[[http://www.vanityfair.com/culture/features/2008/01/suicides200801?currentPage=1 Vanity Fair]]'' article I got that info from was vague on Beck's involvement (if any), but it's clear that ''someone's'' harassment caused the extreme paranoia pushed them over the edge.
*** The [=CoH=] notoriously send their kids to "schools" more focused on inexpensive child labor than education. Beck might be barely literate; if so, this would explain his idiosyncratic relationship with the English language (a major aspect of his appeal). As a celebrity '''born''' into the church--perhaps the only one--he's a major PR coup; they'd be reluctant to let him go, putting it mildly.

** Not sure this counts, since it's clear the rock star's anti-psychiatry stance isn't religous but based on his experiences with [[spoiler: shock-treatment for manic-depression as a kid, which the prosecution eventually forces him to admit helped despite the pain]].

* TheITCrowd now has Beth Gaga Shaggy's Spaceology.
** Although this seems more a parody of the book The Secret.

* Prismatologist Hugh Bliss from the episodic adventure game ''[[SamAndMaxFreelancePolice Sam and Max]]: Season 1'' peddles a book called '[[JustForPun Emetics]]'. 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''.]]

* The "Hubologists" from ''{{Fallout}}''.
** This series actually went so far as to having the Hubologist 'celebrity spokespeople' [[{{No Celebrities Were Harmed}} "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]].
** Also, given that they openly admitted that donating lots of money got you promoted, and their science, you know, ''actually worked'', they certainly have significant differences from certain real life cults.
*** Not entirely true - if you can get access to 'the Emperor', [[spoiler: one of the articles in the databank]] reveals that the chance of the Hubbologist's spacecraft actually working is 0%.
** Oh, and their space shuttle explodes after the end of Fallout 2, killing every single one of them.
* The [[DeadSpace Church of Unitology]] enlists wealthy and high ranking members of society and one's standing in the church is directly proportional to how much money and power they give to the church. They're extremely secretive about their methods and often described as cultish. This should start to sound familiar about now.
** Prequel comics feature the Church (several times referred to as a "cult") as a major plot point. They are directly responsible for unleashing the alien threat featured in the game by transporting a mysterious "marker" they believe is directly related to their beliefs to a human colony then the mining ship where the game takes place and are hinted to have been aware of its effects all along.
** The most confusing thing, though, is that Unitology is, according to the background information you can collect throughout the game, the ''only'' major religion to survive the expansion of humanity beyond Earth. In other words, the cult seemed ''less'' fake that other established religions when space travel was perfected. This may be slightly justified, though, as it turns out the cult was ''right'' in a lot of their tenets.
*** This is partly the result of [[spoiler: the church's massive movement to undermine and infiltrate the Earth Government after their leader was assasinated. They now have enough pull to have anti-Unitology books officially banned on Earth and her colonies.]] You only learn this from a log you get by beating the game. (IE: not found in the game.)
*** It's kind of hard to have your tenets be "wrong" when they're basically painting a shiny coat on the [[spoiler: instruction manual for the CosmicHorrors]] that your founder was a part in discovering and translating. Of course, a lot of people would consider an "afterlife" as becoming a [[BodyHorror mutilated corpse]] being controlled by alien/genetically-engineered parasites that are connected to a HiveMind that exists only to kill and absorb all other living creatures to be ''[[AndIMustScream worse]]'' than mere nonexistence.
* ''{{Ultima}} VII'': Oooooh boy, where to start here. Practically EVERY SINGLE ASPECT of the Fellowship mirrors Happyology in some form or other. Batlin is a spitting image of L. Ron. The Fellowship have practices similar to Fair Game and Disconnection. Hell, The Avatar is given a bloody Personality Test early on, which is obviously rigged against him. See where this is going?
** As if ElectronicArts wasn't painted evil enough by The Fellowship...
** Like most cults, the Fellowship actually does have a good philosophy (it essentially boils down to "believe in yourself", "help others" and "be generous"). It's just that it actually being a cult with a nefarious purpose kind of undercuts the whole thing.

** They can't be that evil. [[BigBad Veled]] even insulted them as being "bank guards"!
*** No, that just means [[EvenEvilHasStandards even SHE doesn't like them]].

* While he isn't a cult leader as far as I know, [[PennyArcade LH Franzibald]] (an amalgamation of [[XMeetsY Hubbard and Tim Buckley]]) writes pulp fantasy that he makes a lot of money off of and has loads of unwarranted self-imporance.

** Heck, in ''{{KateModern}}'', Gavin even refers to the Hymn of Oner Steve as "L. Ron" at one point.

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

** Are you sure that wasn't NancyCartwright threatening to pull an Isaac Hayes?
*** And in this thread, Futurama is OlderThanTheyThink
** In "Where No Fan Has Gone Before," there is also the Church of [[StarTrek Trek]], with a sign saying [[CrowningMomentofFunny 'The sci-fi religion that doesn't take all your money.']]
*** [[FridgeBrilliance Because they don't have any]], OrSoIHeard...

** And several episodes later, after Isaac Hayes said he was quitting (not because of the Happyology episode, he claimed), they did an episode where Chef was brainwashed by the 'Super Adventure Club' - a child-molesting group who travel the world to do so, and parody the episode mentioned above. Then he was promptly McLeaned.
** Don't forgot the Church Of Blaintology episode, which, though obviously making fun of David Blaine, has a few ''very'' accurate jabs at Happyology.
*** And managed to sneak a visual representation of The Prophet onto the screen.

* ''TheSimpsons'' episode with the Movementarians. 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.

* The ''{{Superman}}'' {{Elseworld}}s story ''Last Family of Krypton'' features a ''postitive'' portrayal of a ChurchOfHappyology; Raology, founded by Kal-El's mother Lara.

** In the same vein, she makes several references to owning a house in Clearwater, Florida. A certain religion is not simply headquatered there, but may have pretty much taken over the local government.

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<<|ReligionTropes|>>

There are churches that have a great wealth of history behind them and are secure enough in their beliefs that they feel they can roll with any criticisms that come their way. And then there are those that...can't.

There is a certain established religion whose name rhymes with "Pientology" founded by a [[LRonHubbard science-fiction author]] that is very protective of its image, and has a disquieting habit of [[FrivolousLawsuit breaking out the lawyers]] whenever they feel this image is threatened. Naturally, this makes them [[SnarkBait an even easier target to mock]]. The trick is [[GettingCrapPastTheRadar getting around the watchdogs]], which is where this trope comes into play.

The ChurchOfHappyology is a thinly veiled reference to a certain other church founded by the guy who wrote ''BattlefieldEarth'' (and wasn't at all sorry for doing so) and has a habit of calling down the wrath of their cyber ninja lawyers to strike down dissenters, and if possible, people from TheImageBoardThatMustNotBeNamed. They've also trademarked the name of their "religion" so often people will be forced to use the ChurchOfHappyology to avoid harassment by the group-which-is-not-mentioned-at-all-in-this-intro.

There is a certain established [[strike:religion]] [[strike:cult]] religion whose name rhymes with "Pientology" founded by a [[LRonHubbard science-fiction author]] that is very protective of its image, and has a disquieting habit of [[FrivolousLawsuit breaking out the lawyers]] whenever they feel this image is threatened. Naturally, this makes them [[SnarkBait an even easier target to mock]]. The trick is [[GettingCrapPastTheRadar getting around the watchdogs]], which is where this trope comes into play.

There is a certain established religion whose name rhymes with "Pientology" founded by a [[LRonHubbard science-fiction author]] that is very protective of its image, and has a disquieting habit of [[FrivolousLawsuit breaking out the lawyers]] whenever they feel this image is threatened. Naturally, this makes them [[SnarkBait an even easier target to mock]]. The trick is [[GettingCrapPastTheRadar getting around the watchdogs]], which is where this trope comes into play.

The ChurchOfHappyology is a thinly veiled reference to a certain other church founded by the guy who wrote ''BattlefieldEarth'' and has a habit of calling down the wrath of their cyber ninja lawyers to strike down dissenters, and if possible, people from TheImageBoardThatMustNotBeNamed. They've also trademarked the name of their "religion" so often people will be forced to use the ChurchOfHappyology to avoid harassment by the group-which-is-not-mentioned-at-all-in-this-intro.

-->'''Lucille:''' Well, apparently, mood-altering medication leads to street drugs. That? what this very handsome, young doctor said on The Today Show.

* We've come this far without mentioning [[http://lesfreres.org/pageant/ A Very Merry Unauthorized Children's Scientology Pageant]]?

[[SamAndMax http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/emetics.jpg]]
[[caption-width:292:You'll be so happy, you'll puke ''rainbows''!]]

**** [[spoiler: only its really the other way around the Church was founded by the goverment]]