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I was thinking recently about L. Ron Hubbard and the creation and success of Scientology in the modern world, and although I have my misgivings about its practices it is interesting to see a modern religion inspired by the works of a science fiction author.

So I began thinking, what if Philip K. Dick had done something similar? VALIS and many of his other works had pretty heavy religious and spiritual elements to them. Very different in tone from L. Ron's stuff, and perhaps a bit too mystical and disjointed. But what if it had been consolidated into something coherant, a doctrine that could actually be followed?

Perhaps there could be a figure who does this for PKD after his death, in the same way that August Derleth was instrumental in pulling Lovecrafts works and estate together after his death. A John the Baptist to PKD's Jesus, able to package the mysticism and gnostic musings into something with mass appeal. The science fiction elements likely wouldn't hurt, given the success of Scientology, Raelians and the like in OTL.

I'm going to reread VALIS and some of his other more mystical works to get some ideas as to what such a religion would look like if it was organized in some fashion.
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