A popular belief system, here referred to as "Anunnaki Theory" suggests that the gods of ancient Mesopotamia were in fact extraterrestrial beings who genetically manipulated humanity for their own...Show moreA popular belief system, here referred to as "Anunnaki Theory" suggests that the gods of ancient Mesopotamia were in fact extraterrestrial beings who genetically manipulated humanity for their own ends. This paper examines two books which present this theory in different ways: "The 12th Planet" and "The Lost Book of Enki." and examines the different ways in which these inspire believers. This paper suggests the narratively-presented "Lost book of Enki" affords substantially more spiritual and creative reading than the pseudo-academic "12th Planet."Show less
The Church of the SubGenius is one of many invented parody religions that have popped up around the turn of the century. These distinct religions, often with catchy and humorous names such as the...Show moreThe Church of the SubGenius is one of many invented parody religions that have popped up around the turn of the century. These distinct religions, often with catchy and humorous names such as the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster or the United Church of Bacon, confuse people who expect religion to be primarily concerned with spirituality or communication with the divine. If not about those things, what are these religions about? Why are they created, and how have these religions gained such popularity and so many loyal followers who are willing to engage with their subject matter for decades? This thesis aims to answer these questions through an adaptation of theories of minimal counterintuitiveness (MCI) and bizarreness.Show less
