Earth Walker
April 21st, 2001, 11:32 AM
The Texas-based Church of the Subgenius has had
more success, as has Discordianism. While some
complain that the Discordian movement is a complicated
joke disguised as a new religion, Discordians counter
that it is actually a new religion disguised as a
complicated joke. The bible of the movement is The
Principia Discordia, co-authored by former Playboy
editor and "guerrilla ontologist" Robert Anton Wilson.
He describes the mythos of the Principia Discordia: "It
explains how humanity fell due to the Original Snub(the
gods had a party on Olympus but did not invite Eris,
who as goddess of chaos, vengefully created the Apple
of Discord and released the Trojan War and all subsequent International Relations) and all the other
Discordian mysteries, including the Law of Fives(all
events in the universe are related, directly or indirectly,
to the number five, given enough ingenuity on the part
of the interpreter)."
The Discordians are divided into two camps, one led by
Ho Chih Zen (Kerry Thornely) representing the
organization's anarchist spirit, and the other by
Malaclypse the Younger (Gregory Hill) which represents
a more mystical, passive sensibility. But in keeping with
its philosphy of discord and its rule "We Discordians
must stick apart," anyone who visits the Discordian
Web site is automatically pronounced a Pope in the
organization. Others have been honoured without their
approval or even knowledge. The Knights of the Five-
sided Castle are the top brass of the Pentagon, intrepid
warriors recognized "for their contributions to increasing
the five degrees of stochasticism in the world (chaos,
discord, confusion, bureaucracy and international
relations.)"
Discordianism--or at least one branch of this gnarled
movement claiming to be the true Church of Discord--
has fully legal tax-exempt status in the U.S.
The Church of the Subgenius, led by one Reverend
Ivan Stang out of Dallas, offers an equally warped world-view. The founder, savior and martyr of the Church is J.R. (Bob) Dobbs, who resembles a piece of
bad clip art. The pipe-smoking Bob is said to have been
born after his mother was seduced by a milkman
descended from Aztec gods. Bob grew up to be a
champion aluminum-siding salesman, but had the fortune/misfortune to have been caught in a stalled
elevator with Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard.
Emerging from that meeting, the newly enlightened Bob
decided to create his own religion. Bob was assassinated in San Francisco in 1982 by a former
disciple named Puzzling Evidence or by six people,
depending on which conspiracy theory you prefer.
Much is made by Bob-followers of a mysterious essence
called "slack" (from which the term slacker originated).
Slack is pretty much indefinable, but it's something you
want to have, and something lacking entirely in those
called "Pinks." These are sub-sub-sub geniuses; average people in other words. Pinks believe what they
are told in schools or by corporations, enjoy watching
most of what's on TV, and never have had an original
or rebellious thought in their lives.
There's one big problem with Discordianism and other
mock religions; they're just that--mock. They may be
amusing, but that's about all the emotional connection
they make with their audience. Besides, we pretty much
overdosed on irony through the 90's, so in seeking out
a new religion for a new millennium there's no need to
go on a bender with another funny faith. Yet the
Discordians, BooHoos and Sub-genii all have an important lesson to teach. What we need today is a
serious religion that doesn't take itself that seriously,
in recognition that existence has a comic quality to it.
...conclusion to follow...
more success, as has Discordianism. While some
complain that the Discordian movement is a complicated
joke disguised as a new religion, Discordians counter
that it is actually a new religion disguised as a
complicated joke. The bible of the movement is The
Principia Discordia, co-authored by former Playboy
editor and "guerrilla ontologist" Robert Anton Wilson.
He describes the mythos of the Principia Discordia: "It
explains how humanity fell due to the Original Snub(the
gods had a party on Olympus but did not invite Eris,
who as goddess of chaos, vengefully created the Apple
of Discord and released the Trojan War and all subsequent International Relations) and all the other
Discordian mysteries, including the Law of Fives(all
events in the universe are related, directly or indirectly,
to the number five, given enough ingenuity on the part
of the interpreter)."
The Discordians are divided into two camps, one led by
Ho Chih Zen (Kerry Thornely) representing the
organization's anarchist spirit, and the other by
Malaclypse the Younger (Gregory Hill) which represents
a more mystical, passive sensibility. But in keeping with
its philosphy of discord and its rule "We Discordians
must stick apart," anyone who visits the Discordian
Web site is automatically pronounced a Pope in the
organization. Others have been honoured without their
approval or even knowledge. The Knights of the Five-
sided Castle are the top brass of the Pentagon, intrepid
warriors recognized "for their contributions to increasing
the five degrees of stochasticism in the world (chaos,
discord, confusion, bureaucracy and international
relations.)"
Discordianism--or at least one branch of this gnarled
movement claiming to be the true Church of Discord--
has fully legal tax-exempt status in the U.S.
The Church of the Subgenius, led by one Reverend
Ivan Stang out of Dallas, offers an equally warped world-view. The founder, savior and martyr of the Church is J.R. (Bob) Dobbs, who resembles a piece of
bad clip art. The pipe-smoking Bob is said to have been
born after his mother was seduced by a milkman
descended from Aztec gods. Bob grew up to be a
champion aluminum-siding salesman, but had the fortune/misfortune to have been caught in a stalled
elevator with Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard.
Emerging from that meeting, the newly enlightened Bob
decided to create his own religion. Bob was assassinated in San Francisco in 1982 by a former
disciple named Puzzling Evidence or by six people,
depending on which conspiracy theory you prefer.
Much is made by Bob-followers of a mysterious essence
called "slack" (from which the term slacker originated).
Slack is pretty much indefinable, but it's something you
want to have, and something lacking entirely in those
called "Pinks." These are sub-sub-sub geniuses; average people in other words. Pinks believe what they
are told in schools or by corporations, enjoy watching
most of what's on TV, and never have had an original
or rebellious thought in their lives.
There's one big problem with Discordianism and other
mock religions; they're just that--mock. They may be
amusing, but that's about all the emotional connection
they make with their audience. Besides, we pretty much
overdosed on irony through the 90's, so in seeking out
a new religion for a new millennium there's no need to
go on a bender with another funny faith. Yet the
Discordians, BooHoos and Sub-genii all have an important lesson to teach. What we need today is a
serious religion that doesn't take itself that seriously,
in recognition that existence has a comic quality to it.
...conclusion to follow...