Discordianism is a contemporary religion that has as its primary deity Eris, an Ancient Greek Goddess of discord. Followers of Discordianism are encouraged to worship Eris (Discordia in Latin), the Greek goddess of chaos and discord. Worshipping of the goddess of chaos, and an understanding that there needs to exist harmony between chaos and order in order for society to evolve, are stressed as the common qualities between members of the Discordia Cabal. Discordianism acknowledges chaos, discord, and disagreement as valid and desirable qualities, as opposed to most religions, which idealize harmony and order.
Considered by some a parody religion, and called the Zen of Round-Eyed Men by others, Discordianism recognizes chaos, discord, and dissent as both valid and even desirable qualities (in contrast to most other religions, which idealize order and harmony). Discordianism religion is not a polarized system in which there is a opposition between order and chaos, with chaos seen as superior. Because this religion is the religion of chaos–the opposite of order–Discordianism is an entirely non-dogmatic religion. Discordianism proclaims chaos and disharmony as an essential part of reality, just as other religions proclaim harmony and order.
Although most religions venerate principles of harmony and order in the universe, discordianism may be interpreted as the conviction that disharmony and chaos are equally valid aspects of reality. Discordianism is grounded in the notion that order/chaos is a basic duality, one largely unexamined by mainstream religions, and chaos is not always evil, nor is order always good. Discordianism is a form of absurdist syncretism, containing elements of Zen, Dadaism, surrealism, religion, postmodernism, skepticism, and others, likely invented while high on LSD, derived from Greek Goddess Eris, also known by the Roman equivalent of its name, Discordia, the Goddess of discord and chaos. Discordia is the Latin name for Eris, revered as a Goddess in the obscure yet wide-reaching religion called Discordianism. The obscure yet wide-reaching religion called Discordianism.
Eris, the Greek mythological Goddess of Discord, has also been turned into a Matron Deity of Discordianism, the religion. The oldest and most general influence within Discordianism is probably the archetypal Trickster, known virtually across cultures, symbolized by the titular goddess, the Eris.
Discordianism was founded circa 1958-1959 by Malaclypse the Younger, who published its main extant sacred text, The Principia Discordia, and by Lord Omar Khayyam Ravenhurst, who revealed to him his main partly lost sacred text, The Honest Book of Truth. Developed in the mid-3120s (late 1950s to early 1960s C.E.) by Malaclypse the Younger and Omar Khayyam Ravenhurst, it was designed as a faith that was internally conflicted. Discordianism was founded following the publication in 1963 of its holy book, The Principles of Discord, written by Greg Hill, along with Kerry Wendell Thornley, both working under the pseudonyms of Malaclypse the Younger and Omar Khayyam Ravenhurst.
The Principia Discordia is a Discordia religious text written by Greg Hill (Malaclypse the Younger) with Kerry Wendell Thornley (Lord Omar Khayyam Ravenhurst). The phrase “Principia Discordia Discordia) with Kerry Wendell Thornley. The Principia Discordia frequently suggests that Discordianism was founded as a dialectical counterpoint to the more prevalent orders-based religions, though rhetoric throughout the book describes chaos as the far more fundamental drive of the universe.
In Discordianism, the chaos is symbolic of the Pataphysical nature of reality; individual instances of chaos are central to Pataphysical theories. The sacred chao is the symbol used by Discordians to illustrate the interconnectedness of order and chaos. The Five-Fingered Hand of the Chaos Goddess is a symbol used by Discordians either for identification as Discordians, for sealing documents, or simply as a symbol for organization.
Its holy books actually provide descriptions of the Goddess of Chaos, as well as the Discordian interpretation for how the universe came to be. Over time, more material has been added, but its holy book is still considered to be the bible of Discordianism, even if it may be lacking a lot in the eyes of someone trying to be an Eris-worshipper without any previous experience. Some worship Eris as the Goddess in her literal sense, whereas others see her merely as an emblem for the message of the religion.
It is possibly because of a falling-out between the chaos goddess and the other deities and goddesses, that Discordianism has championed her as the sole deity. Discordianism is a religion and later philosophy that is based upon the veneration of Eris, the Greek-Roman Goddess of Chaos, or the archetypes or ideals associated with Eris. Discordianism is a religion and subsequent philosophy based on the veneration or worship of Eris, the Greco-Roman goddess of chaos, or archetypes or ideals associated with Eris. However, as a practical matter, and in spite of Greg Hill and Kerry Thornleys above-mentioned claim that Eris has very real powers, modern-day discordians (like people who self-identify as Pagans, since Discordianism has found its niche as a resurgent form of Paganism) are not required to believe that Eris is an ontological reality, they can view this theology of religion as a myth, a metaphor, or an anecdote (or all three at once).
This is obviously supposed to be the basis for Discordianism; the polar opposite of organized religions which proclaim a God has it all under his or her. After much study and meditation, they both discovered that the Discordia of Eris was responsible for a revelatory vision. Discordianism can be best described as a deliberately non-logical surrealist or Dadaist art piece, using religion and philosophy as artistic media, with a half-serious intention to fill a slot for worldviews in human’s consciousness, with something that is essentially sceptical, subversive, and non-dogmatic.