Principia discordia : or, How I found goddess and what I did to her when I found her ; the magnum opiate of Malaclypse the younger, wherein is explained absolutely everything worth knowing about absolutely anything

by Robert Anton Wilson

Paper Book, 1989

Status

Available

Call number

813

Collection

Publication

Mason, Mich. : Loompanics Unlimited, [1989?]

Description

One of the great books of our time, Principia Discordia is the official bible of the most relevant religion ever conceived, Discordianism. This legendary underground classic contains absolutely everything worth knowing about absolutely anything. Discordianism is the religion for these screwed-up times, and Principia Discordia reveals it here for your enlightenment, confusion and entertainment. --(Text refers to a previous edition)

User reviews

LibraryThing member riani1
You think it's a joke--until parts of it start making sense. Don't worry, your mind getting a little bent doesn't hurt, and it will snap back if you want it to.
LibraryThing member bfgar
I experienced excursion from Christianity with the help of a professional. His name was John Patrick McCllimans, a/k/a "Hugo the Bear", an "old" snaggle-toothed hippy with a love of life. He was one of the founders of the Church of All Worlds, and head of the Chicago Nest (if you don't understand
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that, don't worry). Unfortunately, he died very much too early in his life, and I miss him very much.

JP was not only introduced a Neo-Pagan, he was also an anarchist (in the Platonic sense). There was never an organized anything, he thought, that couldn't be made a little better by the liberal application of anarchy. This was not only true of government but also of religion. And here is where the Principia Discordia comes in.

The Principia is probably the best textbook on anarchy every written. It is funny, disrespectful, irreverent, and one of the best ideas that's ever come to fruition. The principle ideas come to us compliments of Robert Anton Wilson's Illluminati trilogy (3 more amazingly anarchic books, and it's high-time I find my copies and reread them). In 1958, Malaclypse, and his friend, Omar Khayyan Ravenhurst, founded Discordianism after reading them. I suspect that there were liberal imbibements involved as well.

The book contains such pieces of wisdom as "The Classification of Saints," of which there are five levels ranging from Saint Second Class to Five Star Saints, although humans can only attain the first level. The other four are "reserved for fictional beings who, not being actual, are more capable of perfection." There are instructions on how to become Pope, an explanation of the Erisian movement (the religion that is the basis for this tome), important quotes, and just plain silliness.

The only thing not included in it is a warning that reading about or discussing either the Illuminati trilogy or the Principia while stoned is not a very good idea. It might lead to either paranoia or a fit of laughing that can make you very sore.
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LibraryThing member ponythemadpony
Best described as a LOL, no seriously we mean it book. All about putting the fun back into fundamentalism. Several concepts are actually quite ingenious, including my favourites the Law of Fives, Fnords, and Starbuck's Pebbles.
LibraryThing member Unamazing
A quietly brilliant, incredibly bizarre book. To be honest, the references and illustrations are all a bit dated, and some of the humor is a little weak. But the philosophy behind the humor is sharp as a knife, even if the authors would like to make you work to understand them. Of course, that's a
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big part of their point: any religion/philosophy based on the concept of freedom must of necessity include the idea that potential members have to figure things out for themselves. It's free thought, expressed through the lens of humor and nonsense. Some people might think it's all something new, but it's not. Thomas Jefferson might have said pretty much the same things; he would have just said them more seriously.
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LibraryThing member ErixWorx
"It's a joke disguised as a religion


...or is it a religion disguised as a joke?"
Either way, it has the potential to change your life forever, no matter what you think the answer is.
LibraryThing member Murphy-Jacobs
This popped into my life in my early-mid twenties, just about the time when such things tend to appear. Irreverent, perhaps irrelevant in some ways, this was my first real look at religious mockery and the kinds of stuff that went on in the 60s and 70s (when I was much too young to understand). I
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don't know where my copy has vanished to -- it had the purple cover, although the first edition I saw was a first edition with ratty covers and everything -- and I wish I knew. Probably loaned to some guy I was crushing on and conveniently never returned. It just breathes youth to me.
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LibraryThing member fitakyre
Warning: Do not read this book unless you're drunk or very open-minded.
LibraryThing member the.ken.petersen
This book covers some serious issues, in a very silly fashion.

The main belief of Discordians is that the universe is in a state of constant chaos and that our 'understanding' is merely a filter which allows only ideas that fit our belief system to pass through to our senses.

This is a discomforting
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thought because, if there is no order, there can be no perfect world in which we may all be happy. It does, however neatly explain why humans can so easily hold diverse views: if the filtering is right, anything can appear to be the path to eternal happiness.
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LibraryThing member GallifreyArchive
Essential reading for any existentialist, atheist, antitheist, or true theist in my opinion. The Principia still has some gems of actual wisdom hidden among the apple jokes - but I could just be saying that. You'll never know unless you check for yourself (and perhaps not even then).

Just read it.
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It's the only holy book which has a copy in the Library of Congress.
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LibraryThing member copperyon
Essential reading for any existentialist, atheist, antitheist, or true theist in my opinion. The Principia still has some gems of actual wisdom hidden among the apple jokes - but I could just be saying that. You'll never know unless you check for yourself (and perhaps not even then).

Just read it.
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It's the only holy book which has a copy in the Library of Congress.
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LibraryThing member Anituel
A fun, nonsensical read. I really don't give this book much more importance than that (with the exception of a couple of good parables).
LibraryThing member adamwolf
For younguns, imagine LOLRANDOM Flying Spaghetti Monster, and you're pretty close to this. (Hail Eris!)
LibraryThing member aeceyton
spiritual logic games from stoners

Language

Original publication date

1965
1970 (rev.)

Physical description

75 p.; 22 cm

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