Editing Church of the SubGenius (section)

==Members==
[[File:Robert Crumb 2010.jpg|thumb|[[Robert Crumb|R. Crumb]], a cartoonist who helped publicize the Church]]
The Church of the SubGenius's founders were based in Dallas when they distributed their first document. The SubGenius Foundation moved to [[Cleveland]], Ohio, in 1999.{{sfn|Cusack|2010|p=83}} In 2009, Stang claimed the Church had 40,000 members, but the actual number may have been much lower.{{sfn|Cusack|2010|p=106}} As of 2022, becoming a minister in the Church costs $50, but is on sale for $44.99.{{sfn|SubGenius.com Sales}} Stang has estimated that there are 10,000 ministers{{sfn|Rea|1985}}{{sfn|Cusack|2010|p=90}}{{sfn|Scoblionkov|1998}} and that the Church's annual income has reached $100,000.{{sfn|Niesel|2000}} In October 2017, the Church moved to [[Glen Rose, Texas|Glen Rose]], Texas.

Most SubGenius members are male,{{sfn|Cusack|2010|p=102}} and, according to Stang, many are social outcasts.{{sfn|Giffels|1995}} He maintains that those who do not fit into society will ultimately triumph over those who do.{{sfn|Niesel|2000}} The Church has experienced success "converting" college students,{{sfn|Batz|1995}} particularly at the [[Massachusetts Institute of Technology]].{{sfn|Yuen|1998}} It has also gained popularity in several American cities, including [[San Francisco]], [[Little Rock]], and Cleveland.{{sfn|Giffels|1995}}{{sfn|Ashbrook|1988}} A few Church members have voiced concerns and/or amusement about new members who took the Church too seriously, fearing that they acted like serious cult followers, the very concept the SubGenius parodies.{{sfn|Rea|1985}} Stang has expressed concern that the Church's doctrines could exacerbate preexisting [[psychosis|psychoses]] of mentally ill devotees, although he believes that the Church genuinely helps many adherents.{{sfn|Giffels|1995}}

Notable associates of the Church include [[Mark Mothersbaugh]],{{sfn|Leiby|1994}} [[Mojo Nixon]],{{sfn|Leiby|1994}} [[Zoogz Rift]],<ref>{{Cite interview |last=Smith |first=Kevan |title=What's My Name? Who Am I? |url=https://www.subgenius.com/damn_truth/zoogz.htm |access-date=April 15, 2024 |website=The Church of the Subgenius}}</ref> [[Paul Mavrides]],{{sfn|Giffels|1995}} [[Paul Reubens]],{{sfn|Cusack|2010|p=94}} members of [[Negativland]],{{sfn|Leiby|1994}} [[David Byrne]],{{sfn|Solomon|2017}} and [[Robert Crumb|R.&nbsp;Crumb]].{{sfn|Callahan|1996}} Crumb provided early publicity for the church by reprinting ''Sub Genius Pamphlet'' #1 in his comics anthology ''[[Weirdo (comics)|Weirdo]]''.{{sfn|Niesel|2000}} References to the Church are present in several works of art,{{sfn|Cusack|2010|p=111}} including the Internet-based [[collaborative fiction]] ''[[Ong's Hat]]'', the comic book ''[[The Middleman]]'', the band [[Sublime (band)|Sublime]]'s album ''[[40oz. to Freedom]]'', and the television program ''[[Pee-wee's Playhouse]]''.{{sfn|Kinsella|2011|pp=64–67}}{{sfn|Lloyd|2008}}{{sfn|Knight|2012|p=96}}

===Instructions===
Church leaders have issued instructions to their followers;{{sfn|Cusack|2010|p=89}} Robert Latham of the [[University of California, Riverside]], calls their ideology "anarcholibertarian".{{sfn|Latham|2002|p=94}} Five commands embody the group's values:
* Shun regular employment and stop working. This encapsulates the Church's view that to repent is to "SLACK OFF",{{sfn|Cusack|2010|p=89}} as opposed to working for a living.{{sfn|Kirby|2012|p=50}} SubGenius leaders say it is permissible for members to collect public assistance in lieu of maintaining employment.{{sfn|Cusack|2010|p=89}}
* Purchase products sold by the Church, which its leaders say Dobbs founded to gain wealth.{{sfn|Cusack|2010|p=87}} Unlike most religious groups, the Church proudly admits it is for-profit (presumably mocking religious groups that seem to have ulterior financial motives).{{sfn|Leiby|1994}} Cusack sees the instruction to buy as an ironic parody of the "[[Wall Street (1987 film)|greed is good]]" mentality of the 1980s,{{sfn|Cusack|2010|p=89}} and Kirby notes that although the group emphasizes "the consumption of popular cultural artefacts", this consumption is "simultaneously de-emphasized by the processes of remix".{{sfn|Kirby|2012|p=52}}
* Rebel against "law and order". Specifically, the Church condemns [[security camera]]s and encourages [[computer hacking]]. Cusack notes that this instruction recalls [[Robert Anton Wilson]]'s critique of law and order.{{cn|date=March 2023}}
* Rid the world of everyone who did not descend from [[yeti]]s.{{sfn|Cusack|2010|p=89}} SubGenius leaders teach that Dobbs hopes to rid the Earth of 90% of humanity, making the Earth "clear".{{sfn|Cusack|2010|p=87}} The group praises [[drug abuse]] and [[abortion]] as effective methods of culling unneeded individuals.
* Exploit fear, specifically that of people who are part of the conspiracy. Church leaders teach conspiracy members to fear SubGenius devotees.{{sfn|Cusack|2010|p=89}}