Has a mock religion ever become a "real" one?

by mcrbids

Around the world, "Jedi" is starting to become a State-recognized religeon, even though everybody knows that self proclaimed "Jedi"s don't believe in the literal "force". A similar thing is happening with "Flying Spaghetti Monster" among atheists. Are there any religions taken seriously today that started out as a sort of joke but then started to be taken seriously?

Jetamors

Drawing Down the Moon (which is, among other things, a survey of 20th century Wicca and Pagan movements) talks about a few groups that started as satirical organizations. In particular, you might be interested in the Reformed Druids of North America, which was formed to protest mandatory chapel attendance at Carleton College. Most of the original founders weren't serious neo-Pagans, but a lot of the members kept practicing even after the college dropped the chapel requirement, and eventually formed their own breakaway sects.