The Kathryn Fraser Mackay Memorial Lectureship fund was established in 1980 by Donald and Lottie Mackay in memory of their daughter, Kathryn Fraser Mackay ’77, and supports lectures coordinated by the Religious Studies and Philosophy departments. Welcome Joseph Laycock, Associate Professor of Religious Studies at Texas State University.
Joseph Laycock is an Associate Professor of Religious Studies at Texas State University. He is the author of ten books including The Exorcist Effect: Religion, Horror, and Demonic Belief, and The Penguin Book of Cults. He is also a co-general editor for the journal Nova Religio.
“Are You a Lizard Person?”
According to a 2013 survey by Public Policy Polling, 4% of Americans or about 12.5 million people believe in lizard people. A malevolent species of reptilian humanoids that can disguise themselves as human beings and secretly control the government. The idea is much older and much more serious than people realize. There have been over a dozen violent incidents conducted by people trying to stop the lizard people, including a massive car bomb that was detonated in downtown Nashville on Christmas morning of 2020. This talk explores the history of the reptilian conspiracy theory, the danger it poses, and the reasons that people become invested in it.
The Kathryn Fraser Mackay Memorial Lectureship fund was established in1980 by Donald and Lottie Mackay in memory of their daughter, Kathryn Fraser Mackay ’77, and supports lectures coordinated by the Religious Studies and Philosophy departments. The event is free and open to the public. For additional information, contact the Religious Studies Department 315-229-5125 or kwhittier@stlawu.edu.