Millennialism and the Coming Tyranid Invasion: The Doomsday Beliefs of the Genestealer Cults

Abstract

Religious themes and the fanaticism that they bring are some of the most important to the universe of Warhammer 40K. While the Imperium of Man is steadfastly dedicated to the worship of the God Emperor, the Genestealer Cults thrive in the cracks of this mainstream religion, as a group of disorientated commoners. One defining element of the Genestealers is their belief in the “Day of Ascension,” a prophesied event, where, according to their beliefs, their planet and themselves will be transformed into a utopia with the arrival of the “Star Children.” This belief in a coming doomsday event is a hallmark of popular depictions of new Religious Movements, with a long history in western mysticism, and modern cult activity. This presentation will examine the millennialism beliefs of the Genestealer Cults, comparing them to Norman Cohn’s millennialist work and real world examples of New Religious Movements.