Epsilonism

Epsilonism is a term used to describe an eschatologist conspiracy theory trend, usually (but not always) revolving around the so-called Epsilon Team; it was introduced and propagated approximately around 1997 through Greek magazines and books whose subject is conspiracy theories and the paranormal. Usually, Greeks refer to this conspiracy theory as "epsilonism" in a disapproving manner.

Hellenocentrism was a cultural movement in early 20th-century Greece, whose aim was to promote Greek independence and the creation of a modern Greek civilization based on the country's traditions and cultural heritage; this movement has nothing to do with the conspiracy theories described in this current article. The term "Hellenocentrism" is used to refer to the whole movement or wave of people and literature that express compatible views, although not totally related to the belief to a certain definite and common background. The term Archaiolatreia (Archeolatry), normally reserved for followers of the ancient Greek religion and/or admirers of the ancient Greek civilization, is sometimes used for these generic movements when revolving around the superiority of ancient Greeks, in various TV shows.

Elements

As happens with mainstream conspiracy theories, Archeolatrists are divided in both religious and anti-religious enthusiasts. Some conspiracy theorists of Archeolatry such as Dimosthenis Liakopoulos are devout Christian Orthodox and believe that true Orthodoxy can protect and guide the people against the anti-religious New World Order. On the other hand, there are factions who oppose Christianity, which they consider a part of the Zionist plot to exterminate the original Ancient Greek religion and import Jewish elements into the Greek civilization.

Although shunned as charlatans and ideological con-artists by most people, the authors and promoters of the Hellenocentral books enjoy a relative degree of success and popularity extending beyond their particular subculture and into the broad public. The promoters of these theories are usually television presenters who advertise books evangelizing Hellenic "truth" on long, infomercial-type broadcasts.

The theories although don't belong to a definite belief system, have some common background. The controversial topics that followers of these theories have been:
*Purporting that Greeks are superior to other nations, on the basis of DNA differences. Some of the authors promoting this theory support the claim that there are sufficient differences in the Greek skeletal structure to justify classification of Greeks onto another species of man.
*Messianic, because it claims that the Sirians or the Epsilon Team will come as a group of saviours for Greece.
*Presenting myths and legends of ancient culture as historical fact and stands outside the realm of scholarly historiography and archaeology.
*Eschatologist, since, for the most part, it speaks of an end of times, in an apocalyptic manner; other versions of this theory might merely refer to a radically different "world order".
*Numerology; aka Gematria, finding philosophical and religious significances by secret numbers produced by Greek words.
*Anti-religious or heretical: Some theorists, like Liakopoulos, express pro-Orthodox Christian views (however usually syncretic), but other factions are dodecatheists and consider Christianity a Judaic religion that replaced the original Greek pantheon. Both fractions have Marcionic or Gnostic views concerning the Old Testament, rejected as Hebrew mythology.

These theories are also fueled by (and fuel in turn) a market of Greek publications promoting nationalism. The arguments treated by those publications are:
*The supposed absolute superiority of the Greek culture and language.
*The importance of Greek soil, olive oil, etc. in creating Greek culture and thought.
*The existence of several international conspiracies aimed at destroying the Greek culture and language by any means.
*The existence of secret societies, fighting against or for Greece, her culture, and her political interests.

The Epsilon Team

The theory of the Epsilon Team originally had a small, underground, cult following among conspiracy theorists in GreeceFact|date=February 2007. The name of the Epsilon Team came to give to this movement its present 'unofficial' label.

The Epsilon Team will come in the year 2011 or 2012 to liberate Greece and the whole planet from the prolonged Zionist occupation. The theory has eschatological elements resembling apocalyptic writings from eastern religions (including its Messianic expectations, or the belief in an imminent Armageddon between forces of Good and Evil), mixed with obscuria from Greek mythology, such as claims that the Olympian gods were deified humans who became immortal.

Proponents

Proponents of Epsilonism include:
*Ioannis Fourakis (the creator of the theory of existence of the Epsilon Team)
*Anestis Keramidas (maybe the greatest supporter of the Team)
*Georgios Palmos (Epsilonist and Psychic)
*Dimosthenis Liakopoulos (skeptic to the existence of the Epsilon Team per se but expresses compatible views)
*Kyriakos Velopoulos (does not openly support the existence of the Team but just the "possibility")
*Gerasimos Kalogerakis

Examples of such press dedicated, in part or in whole, to promoting nationalism may include:
* [http://www.davlos.gr/ Davlos]
*Hellenorama (Ελληνόραμα)
* [http://www.tritomati.gr/ Trito Mati]
*Archetypo publications

ee also

*Epsilon Team
*New World Order

ources

* [http://www.ellanioi.net/ Example of an "Epsilonist" site]
* [http://clubs.pathfinder.gr/epsilon "Epsilonist" community]

Critical (Orthodox)

* [http://www.arhaioplixia.org/ Orthodox Greek criticism of Archeolatric theories]
* [http://www.apologitis.com/gr/ancient/omada/epsilon.htm Critical conservative Orthodox site] Claims that Hellenocentrism and the myth of Epsilon Team is a neo-pagan and neo-fascist fabrication. (Greek language). NOTE: Among users of Greek internet forums, the owner of this website has often been derided as a religious fanatic, because of numerous other claims he makes in other sections of his website
* [http://www.oodegr.com/neopaganismos/syxrono_xali/E1.htm Another critical Orthodox site]

Critical (pagan)

* [http://www.diipetes.gr/html/dx_5.html Critical article from the official publication of the Supreme Council of Ethnikoi Hellenes denouncing epsilonist theories as fraudulent]

atirical

* [http://funel.blogspot.com Greek-language blog satirizing the actions of Dimosthenis Liakopoulos, denouncing him as a speculator who takes advantage of people's naivety and a promoter of fanaticism and idiocy. Liakopoulos sued the owners of weblisting blogme.gr, because they had a link to this precise blog that exposed him and his actions]
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