Happy Atheist Forum

Religion => Religion => Topic started by: Pharaoh Cat on December 28, 2011, 04:08:24 PM

Title: Discordianism
Post by: Pharaoh Cat on December 28, 2011, 04:08:24 PM
There don't appear to be any threads about Discordianism and that's just wrong, so, now there's one.

Discordianism is a made up religion that admits it's made up.  It's funny on purpose (instead of accidentally like some other religions we might name) and is never horrifying because its practitioners really just want to have fun.  The difference between it and Pastafarianism is this: Discordianism wasn't created to lampoon anything in particular or to have an impact on anything in particular.  Also, Discordianism can be taken seriously (but lightly) as a philosophy of life that yields real wisdom if put to the test.  I don't think Pastafarianism can but I may be wrong.

The serious part of Discordianism can be stated like this:

(1) Order isn't inherently better than Disorder.
(2) Disorder isn't inherently better than Order.
(3) Order can be either creative or destructive.
(4) Disorder can be either creative or destructive.
(5) Most of the time it's better to be creative rather than destructive.
(6) Most of the time creative Order is better than destructive Disorder.
(7) Most of the time creative Disorder is better than destructive Order.
-8- Creative Order and creative Disorder cannot be ranked without first staging a naked mud wrestling bout to see who wins.*

* I made that up.

The goddess Eris represents Disorder for the Discordians.  Order has no representative but that's probably because Order has devotees in the billions already, in churches, mosques, temples, and synagogues worldwide.  To balance all that, Eris gets Discordianism all to herself.

Do you see how the serious part could actually yield some wisdom if put to the test?  But don't be misled.  Wackiness abounds in this religion.

Wikipedia has more: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Discordianism

Anybody into this?
Title: Re: Discordianism
Post by: Gawen on December 28, 2011, 06:19:07 PM
Prove the Goddess Eris exists and represents disorder and gives me the winning lottery ticket numbers (out of sequence, of course) for tomorrow night and I may look into it further.
Title: Re: Discordianism
Post by: Melmoth on December 28, 2011, 06:26:35 PM
I quite like it. I'm all for religion when it's artistic, mythical and practical - as opposed to a collection of literal, rationalistic assertions. One cannot stress enough the power of "let's pretend..."
Title: Re: Discordianism
Post by: yepimonfire on December 28, 2011, 06:42:26 PM
Quote from: Melmoth on December 28, 2011, 06:26:35 PM
I quite like it. I'm all for religion when it's artistic, mythical and practical - as opposed to a collection of literal, rationalistic assertions. One cannot stress enough the power of "let's pretend..."

its more philosophical at this point.
Title: Re: Discordianism
Post by: The Magic Pudding on December 29, 2011, 02:45:04 AM
It seems contradictory enough to catch on.
Title: Re: Discordianism
Post by: xSilverPhinx on December 29, 2011, 06:28:08 AM
Quote from: Pharaoh Cat on December 28, 2011, 04:08:24 PM
(1) Order isn't inherently better than Disorder.
(2) Disorder isn't inherently better than Order.
(3) Order can be either creative or destructive.
(4) Disorder can be either creative or destructive.
(5) Most of the time it's better to be creative rather than destructive.
(6) Most of the time creative Order is better than destructive Disorder.
(7) Most of the time creative Disorder is better than destructive Order.

Keeps going in circles and ends up nowhere. I like it ;D

Quote-8- Creative Order and creative Disorder cannot be ranked without first staging a naked mud wrestling bout to see who wins.*

Necessary to get out of said circles. I like it ;D