http://forums.somethingawful.com/showthread.php?threadid=3154710
Not much, but a little.
SA forums are workblocked. xpost?
Quote from: Orange SodaI know a few people that consider themselves Discordian, but I haven't really had the chance to discuss it with them. What is it about? I'm pretty sure it's not meant to be taken too seriously, and I know the goddess Eris is involved, but that's about it. Is it something that people take on in their every day life? Approximately how many people out their consider themselves Discordian? I had a look on Wikipedia but I didn't really get it.
Quote from: Grampshttp://www.principiadiscordia.com/
Give the Principa Discordia a read, and read some of Robert Anton Wilson's books- specifically the Illuminatus trilogy. That will explain it as well as anything.
Quote from: NathilusFrom Robert Anton Wilson, the Schrodinger's Cat trilogy is pretty good too.
Overall, it is mostly an absurdist joke religion along the lines of Church of the SubGenius, but with a sprinkling of truly held philosophy. This philosophy has been intentionally been made difficult to get to past the BS, along the lines of many other occult oriented systems. But basically, it can be summed up thus: 'Everything you know is wrong, because you've spent your life believing that other people are NOT full of poo poo at a base level. They are just as clueless as you are. Think for yourself douche.' Oh and 'Smoke weed everyday.'
Because of this, the system has an anarchist/absurdist/individualist lean and tends to breed pathological liars. One of the icons of the 'faith', and I use that term loosely, is fictional character Hagbard Celine. If he were real he would be at L. Ron Hubbard levels of insanity and and self-deception, but he is still awesome.
Check out this guy [Wikipedia link to Kerry Thornley], the self-styled Lord Omar Khayyam Ravenhurst. His story includes one of my favorite bits of Discordian lore. He testified in front of the Warren Commission because of his distinction of having written the only book about Lee Harvey Oswald before the Kennedy assassination
Quote from: kazmeyerWhen you dig down to that core of real philosophy, Discordianism is essentially Taoism in a clown costume.
Quote from: GrampsQuote from: kazmeyerWhen you dig down to that core of real philosophy, Discordianism is essentially Taoism in a clown costume.
That is a fantastic way of putting it.
Quote from: PiuroQuote from: kazmeyerWhen you dig down to that core of real philosophy, Discordianism is essentially Taoism in a clown costume.
I... I can't top this. This is amazing.
Quote from: NathilusQuote from: kazmeyerWhen you dig down to that core of real philosophy, Discordianism is essentially Taoism in a clown costume.
Hahahaha. And the clown is smoking weed and trying to convince you to participate in sex-magic ceremonies.
Quote from: PiuroQuote from: NathilusHahahaha. And the clown is smoking weed and trying to convince you to participate in sex-magic ceremonies.
Less magic sex ceremonies and more "And the clown is horny."
Quote from: InvincibleMadHouseBeen pretty well put so far.
There are internet-discordians who have almost more to do with Cult of the Sub-Genius who take the poo poo waaaay too seriously. I had a brief encounter with the Black Iron Prison folks, who maintain the core "think for yourself" notion, but miss a lot of the point elsewhere.
All Discordian religious rites are optional, except for the eating of the hotdog on friday, and it is particularly fun to find the meme bombs (or make your own!) and wheatpost them around your favorite metropolitan area.
Quote from: The Electronic OneI have a copy of the Principia right here. It's a sacred text in the sense that it's something a "believer" will refer to often and it usually acts as an antidote to people who take religion too seriously. And, like atheism, it doesn't really translate into many real world decisions. But it can be part of your philosophy of life. Think of it as building material.
QuoteThere are internet-discordians who have almost more to do with Cult of the Sub-Genius who take the poo poo waaaay too seriously. I had a brief encounter with the Black Iron Prison folks, who maintain the core "think for yourself" notion, but miss a lot of the point elsewhere.
I was recently introduced to http://www.principiadiscordia.com/forum/ which is a lot closer to the book's intention. They have a members-only forum for executing Discordian mischief, which is a lot like the kind of stuff GBS does for fun.
Quote from: ManchesterAbsurdism for teenagers pretty much.
Quote from: GixDepends on the teenagers! Also the absurdism. Tao and Discordianism and Absurdism all share a lot of things.
Quote from: charmidesnot even that, just a ridiculous culture which disburdens aspiring intellectuals who are also weak and unable to actually exert any effort to make them feel like their doing something "meaningful."
Quote from: Orange SodaThanks for all the info guys. I'm giving the principal of discordia a read now, and I'll be asking my friends to borrow Robert Anton Wilson's books. I'd heard of the rule of the 5's before, had no idea it was a discordian idea.
Is it considered a real religion? I mean, if Jedi can be considered a real religion, it isn't completely out of the relm for this is it?
Quote from: IsenyneNot if you're planning on running for political office, champ. Try something nice and Protestant.
Quote from: GixDepends on who you ask. Probably not, though. I don't think it is one, at least - which is probably why I identify myself as a member.
Quote from: SeftirSlightly related, is the ILLUMINATUS! Trilogy worth reading? I heard that it was fairly entertaining.
Quote from: GrampsEverything RAWilson wrote is worth reading, but ILLUMINATUS! and the schroedinger's cat trilogy are definitely standouts. The Cosmic Trigger series will seriously gently caress with your head as well.
Quote from: SeftirGood, time to hit up amazon. Thanks.
Quote from: CumulusPersonally I consider 'Promethius Rising' to describe the actual point of Discordianism but without the clown suit. There's a lot to be learnt from that book.
The Cosmic Trigger series is fantastic - it's like acid, but in book form.
Quote from: Not Very MetalThe PD is a fantastic read, absolutely hilarious. You may also find this site useful [hyperdiscordia], it's a kind of discordian-wiki. Lots of circular links, iirc though, so it may take some time to slough through it.
Also, can't second the ILLUMINATUS! trilogy enough as well. c'mon, Hitler's zombie army rising from the lake, epic!
Quote from: NathilusQuote from: charmidesnot even that, just a ridiculous culture which disburdens aspiring intellectuals who are also weak and unable to actually exert any effort to make them feel like their doing something "meaningful."
While Discordianism IS ridiculous, you miss the point entirely AND come off as insanely pretentious. Congratulations!
Quote from: heliopticorAside from the hidden philosophical stuff, Discordianism also gives people an easy template to make "jokes" of a certain rare form that's hard to describe but involves a lot of self-contradiction.
Quote from: NamarrgonAm I right in assuming that anyone that takes Discordianism too seriously has completely missed the point?
Quote from: PiuroAbsolutely. The Principia says "Don't believe anything you read, including this."
Anyone want me to cross post anything to the site?
the taxi has been hailed :lulz:
I got nothing to say. I just thought that since all feedback is useful...bringing this to everyone's attentions might be worthwhile. Maybe. Possibly.
I've posted in the thread and I invited people to come here to discuss stuff.
I hope this doesn't come back to bite me on the ass.
The link is in your sig over there though anyway, right? And at least one of them seems to lurk here (since they know about O:MF), so I can't see it being awful or anything.
For anyone from SA that's reading this, I'd argue that Discordianism is quite definitely 'a Religion', but one that has been specifically designed as an irreligious disorganization.
(see, I did the contradicting my-self joke-thing there :lulz:)
IMHO atheistism is a religion with no means of invisible support
I think every single one of them was spot-on.
Seemed like a pretty good discussion overall.
QuoteTaoism in a clown costume.
:lulz: I hope that is in the news feed now.
Yeah, that one was epic.
Quote from: Iason Ouabache on June 22, 2009, 11:03:03 PM
QuoteTaoism in a clown costume.
:lulz: I hope that is in the news feed now.
I'll add it now
edit: done already.
It's funny, but I don't quite agree. Naturally.
Since we began the Chao Te Ching project, I've had to re-examine what Lao Tzu was saying a lot more closely; and while some of it fits, it does so in the way just about every other introspective philosophy/religion fits into Discordia: Half way. You just can't make a one-to-one comparison between Eris and Tao by swapping "Chaos" for "The Way" and "Order/Disorder" for "Yin/Yang". Trust me, it was one of the first things I tried.
But, because it's funny, "Taoism in a clown costume" will most likely stick and continue giving people the wrong impression.
I see that there are more pages which I can't access, not being a member. Can somebody x-post interesting stuff from pages 2+?
Quote from: LMNO on June 23, 2009, 01:08:03 PM
But, because it's funny, "Taoism in a clown costume" will most likely stick and continue giving people the wrong impression.
It's a hard thing to encapsulate as a tagline (flattering or not flattering). Like the old "Zen for roundeyes" take, it does drive home to the layperson that Discoridanism is more about different ways of thinking / percieving than funny new combinations of dogma and ritual.
Quote from: LMNO on June 23, 2009, 01:08:03 PM
It's funny, but I don't quite agree. Naturally.
Since we began the Chao Te Ching project, I've had to re-examine what Lao Tzu was saying a lot more closely; and while some of it fits, it does so in the way just about every other introspective philosophy/religion fits into Discordia: Half way. You just can't make a one-to-one comparison between Eris and Tao by swapping "Chaos" for "The Way" and "Order/Disorder" for "Yin/Yang". Trust me, it was one of the first things I tried.
But, because it's funny, "Taoism in a clown costume" will most likely stick and continue giving people the wrong impression.
Well, it is impossible to sum up any religion in less than 10 words but you've gotta start somewhere.
I wonder if 'Gramps' is Grampa Kaos.
I always saw more in common with zen than tao, but then, I know zen a little better than I know tao.
(http://img200.imageshack.us/img200/2260/roflbotdcxx.jpg)
Quote from: BabylonHoruv on June 23, 2009, 07:18:36 PM
I always saw more in common with zen than tao, but then, I know zen a little better than I know tao.
Zen is Tao in a Buddhist costume.
Confucianism is Taoism in a rabbit costume.
Taoism is Eris ordering Kung Pow Chicken.
Quote from: Iason Ouabache on June 22, 2009, 11:03:03 PM
QuoteTaoism in a clown costume.
:lulz: I hope that is in the news feed now.
Probably my favorite description ever.
Quote from: LMNO on June 24, 2009, 12:53:08 PM
Taoism is Eris ordering Kung Pow Chicken.
Eris likes her chicken spicy!
Discordianism is getting a lot of play lately, and it kind of disturbs me.
QuoteTaoism in a clown costume.
I like it because it's easy to misconstrue it as meaning "it's just Daoism in different words," which, as LMNO said, is not the case. The clown costume is an integral part of it. Sort of like the original versions of the Joker: you can't take the clown makeup off, because that's how he actually looks.
Quote from: Nigel on June 24, 2009, 06:15:21 PM
Discordianism is getting a lot of play lately, and it kind of disturbs me.
It is?
why?
Pffft, that's like saying 23 or 5 is getting a lot of play these days...
:fnord:
I see that there are more pages which I can't access, not being a member. Can somebody x-post interesting stuff from pages 2+?
Quote from: Cramulus on June 24, 2009, 07:10:57 PM
I see that there are more pages which I can't access, not being a member. Can somebody x-post interesting stuff from pages 2+?
There ain't no page two. It shouldn't appear as if there is one.
oh whoops... I was looking at the "Rate This Thread" bar at the bottom. :oops:
Quote from: Nigel on June 24, 2009, 06:15:21 PM
Discordianism is getting a lot of play lately, and it kind of disturbs me.
turn on the news and watch in :horrormirth: as they keep saying chaos this or chaos that
Quote from: Nigel on June 24, 2009, 06:15:21 PM
Discordianism is getting a lot of play lately, and it kind of disturbs me.
ZOMG. Law of Fives!!! :fnord:
Quote from: Cramulus on June 24, 2009, 07:34:26 PM
oh whoops... I was looking at the "Rate This Thread" bar at the bottom. :oops:
(http://i.zdnet.com/blogs/nelson-muntz.gif)
Quote from: LMNO on June 23, 2009, 01:08:03 PM
It's funny, but I don't quite agree. Naturally.
Since we began the Chao Te Ching project, I've had to re-examine what Lao Tzu was saying a lot more closely; and while some of it fits, it does so in the way just about every other introspective philosophy/religion fits into Discordia: Half way. You just can't make a one-to-one comparison between Eris and Tao by swapping "Chaos" for "The Way" and "Order/Disorder" for "Yin/Yang". Trust me, it was one of the first things I tried.
But, because it's funny, "Taoism in a clown costume" will most likely stick and continue giving people the wrong impression.
"Chaos understood" is neither.
Cain, you did all of that copying and pasting and you actually got my name right. I can never understand why so few people can spell a simple word like heliopticor.
:thanks:
I'm not sure why, either. Must be either a broken left mouse button, or laziness. Or both.
(http://img230.imageshack.us/img230/8787/heliopticor.jpg) (http://img230.imageshack.us/i/heliopticor.jpg/)
Quote from: Risus on June 25, 2009, 08:37:56 PM
(http://img230.imageshack.us/img230/8787/heliopticor.jpg) (http://img230.imageshack.us/i/heliopticor.jpg/)
:spittake:
and
Quote from: Philly Fillet on June 25, 2009, 11:21:46 AM
"Chaos understood" is neither.
SUBMIT AS MEME in one sentence meme bombs if not done already
Quote from: helopticor on June 25, 2009, 04:18:12 PM
Cain, you did all of that copying and pasting and you actually got my name right. I can never understand why so few people can spell a simple word like heliopticor.
:lulz: I don't understand it either.
Quote from: Risus on June 25, 2009, 08:37:56 PM
(http://img230.imageshack.us/img230/8787/heliopticor.jpg) (http://img230.imageshack.us/i/heliopticor.jpg/)
You ruined the joke now :sad:
Quote from: Cain on June 25, 2009, 10:23:03 PM
Quote from: Risus on June 25, 2009, 08:37:56 PM
(http://img230.imageshack.us/img230/8787/heliopticor.jpg) (http://img230.imageshack.us/i/heliopticor.jpg/)
You ruined the joke now :sad:
I'm pretty sure it was my turn to anyway.
Heh, the goons seem alright.
They have silly and hilarious memes too.
This
Quote from: Cainad on June 24, 2009, 06:16:36 PM
QuoteTaoism in a clown costume.
I like it because it's easy to misconstrue it as meaning "it's just Daoism in different words," which, as LMNO said, is not the case. The clown costume is an integral part of it. Sort of like the original versions of the Joker: you can't take the clown makeup off, because that's how he actually looks.
and this
Quote from: LMNO on June 23, 2009, 01:08:03 PM
It's funny, but I don't quite agree. Naturally.
Since we began the Chao Te Ching project, I've had to re-examine what Lao Tzu was saying a lot more closely; and while some of it fits, it does so in the way just about every other introspective philosophy/religion fits into Discordia: Half way. You just can't make a one-to-one comparison between Eris and Tao by swapping "Chaos" for "The Way" and "Order/Disorder" for "Yin/Yang". Trust me, it was one of the first things I tried.
But, because it's funny, "Taoism in a clown costume" will most likely stick and continue giving people the wrong impression.
seem to make the beginning of a very good introduction.
Because of the order in which you quoted those, I read it as if LMNO were disagreeing with my statement, but then I checked the date stamps.
An introduction to what?
Presumably, to the Chao te Ching.
Oh yeah...
<-- a bit thick