A few years ago I wrote a short story about involving space aliens that had mistaken The Three Stooges for a religion.
This religion was based on a trinity consisting of Moe, the Stern Father disciplining those in need, Curly, the person in need of stern guidance and discipline and Larry, the compassionate being that tries to temper the guidance and discipline of the Father.
There were some other parts involving the “Shempest Heresies” , Joe, the Anti-Curly and Curly Joe — The second Coming of Curly.
Today I am reading how the Qanon followers are waiting for the return of JFK and JFK jr. to announce that tRump is king.
Maybe I should have started a religion based on The Three Stooges. I could have made a killing. Elvis could have been one of the Major Prophits, Micheal J. Fox would make a great Anti-Elvis. I would use all the sightings of celebrities that have died as signs that The Great Purge is coming and if you want to be one of The Chosen People that will be taken to the Great Nirvana of Beverly Hillbillies, all you need to do is send me a money order in the amount of $19.99 per person you wish to be taken.
Think of all the old television shows I could use as the gospels and scripture! Green Acres, Petticoat Junction, Goner Pyle USMC, The Andy Griffith Show, Make Room for Daddy, Mayberry RFD, the list goes on and on! I need to get Looney Tune cartoons involved in this as well, but the copyrights could prove a bit problematic, so maybe I need to stick with celebrities that have passed this mortal coil.
To be very honest with you, the only reason I can see for people being so gullible, is they want somebody to tell them what they want to hear and they will pay good money to hear what they want to hear, no matter how loony the reasoning.