Discordian Universalism
I recently joined the Unitarian Jihad
http://www.livejournal.com/community/unitarian_jihad/
found it's web presence growing, but not complete, so I helped encourage it's entry into wikipedia and evertyhing2. I started identifying myself as Discordian Universalist and tried to explain what that meant. That led me to this everything2 entry here
http://www.everything2.com/index.pl?node=Discordian%20Universalism
and then this livejournal community
http://www.livejournal.com/community/discoraversalis/406.html
Where I was told to join this, post it here, and face your, what, I dunno, wrath, critique, praise, worship, thrown asci fruit? o O 0 *|
So if you can't follow links, here it is in a cut tag:
NOTE ALL DEFINITIONS OF DISCORDIAN UNIVERSALISM ARE REQUIRED TO DIFFER IN ALL WAYS. -- THE MANAGEMENT
-------------
A Latitudinarian synthesis of Unitarian Universalism and Discordianism. As of this moment in the movement the Prinicipa Discordia serves analogously to an Old Testament and the Unitarian Jihad serves analogously to a New Testament.
It was the call to arms of the Unitarian Jihad that brought me to action, formalization, and declaration to the world of my new identity as a Discordian Universalist.
Many have joined the banner of the Unitarian Jihad, a noble and moderate cause. However many of it's converts are unsure of how to identify themselves. They do not wish to join the established Unitarian Universalist church, perhaps not wanting that much Orthodoxy.
A primary purpose of Discordian Universalism is to give Brothers and Sisters of the Unitarian Jihad another flag to fly, that is not so Orthodoxical.
Some would argue that the manifesto Jon Carrol disseminated was a parody and therefore not a legitimate call to arms. However from a Discordian perspective it is clearly both, and all the more vital for being parody!
Discordian Universalism welcomes the broad thinking of the Unitarians, without accepting solemnity as a requisite. The Discordians were right to make humor of faith! Life is humorous, death is humorous, clearly that which decides life and death must be bloody hilarious!
Admittedly the term Discordian Universalist needs better definition, but isn't that exactly why a node is created on Everything2? The Unitarian Jihad is still nascent, what would that make it's younger sibling Discordian Universalism?
Right now I would consider it more an evolving memeplex then a high content meme. The desire is to Combine Two Cool Words That Should Have Been Combined A Long Time Ago
-------------
Two are the primary roots of Discordian Universalism
One of those roots is Universalism which is often considered synonymous with Unitarian Universalism.
Two are the primary roots of Unitarian Universalism
One of those roots is Unitarianism, a rejection of the concept of many gods. It can be argued that it means all gods are one, or that all godlike things are united, but that is still a lot of homogeneous god talk. Discordian Universalism does not particularly embrace the homogenized god aspect of the UU.
The other of those roots is Universalism. Universalism is an awesome word, having Transcendental connotations. With regards to the UU Universalism refers to Universal Salvation. The idea that when Christ died for the salvation of people's souls it was Universal. That is, he saved everyone. That means no hell. No fire and brimstone.
That rocks. Fear of hell is a bad way to motivate people, and a dangerous focus for a religion.
So Discordian Universalism shall embrace that Universalist lack of hell, if not focus on the whole Unitarian one god thing.
One of Unitarian Universalisms basic tenets is a respect for all religions, creeds and philosohpies. Unfortunately that respect is often grey faced, serious, and ill disposed to parody.
Discordianism has an irrational number of roots, and is, by definition, undefined. Amongst it's basic tenets is humor, parody, and having fun with things, especially things you respect.
Discordian Universalism shall continue to respect all creeds, in honor of it's Universalist heritage, and it will continue to mock them, in honor of it's Discordian heritage.
-------------
Punch line still needed here!
-------------
Discordian Universalist History:
Some time ago I found myself unable to identify as Unitarian Universalist as I couldn't identify as Unitarian in that I am not a Monotheist. The Problem of Hell still weighs on my mind though, and I embraced Universalism.
I then got smacked backside the head with Erisian thought, bought a copy of the Principia Discordia, passed it along, bought another.
This was followed by 4 years at UC Santa Cruz, immersing myself in Self and Society courses. Plato, Principia and Malcolm X danced in my head for several years.
The inspiration for Synthesizing Universalist and Discordian thought occurred in March 2005. I realized the Religious Left needed more voices. And what could be farther left then a movement inspired by Unitarian, Universalist and Discordian thought?
-Brother Rail Gun of The Short Path
--Mathias Timidi Cono Klast
---Discordian Universalist
http://www.livejournal.com/community/unitarian_jihad/
found it's web presence growing, but not complete, so I helped encourage it's entry into wikipedia and evertyhing2. I started identifying myself as Discordian Universalist and tried to explain what that meant. That led me to this everything2 entry here
http://www.everything2.com/index.pl?node=Discordian%20Universalism
and then this livejournal community
http://www.livejournal.com/community/discoraversalis/406.html
Where I was told to join this, post it here, and face your, what, I dunno, wrath, critique, praise, worship, thrown asci fruit? o O 0 *|
So if you can't follow links, here it is in a cut tag:
NOTE ALL DEFINITIONS OF DISCORDIAN UNIVERSALISM ARE REQUIRED TO DIFFER IN ALL WAYS. -- THE MANAGEMENT
-------------
A Latitudinarian synthesis of Unitarian Universalism and Discordianism. As of this moment in the movement the Prinicipa Discordia serves analogously to an Old Testament and the Unitarian Jihad serves analogously to a New Testament.
It was the call to arms of the Unitarian Jihad that brought me to action, formalization, and declaration to the world of my new identity as a Discordian Universalist.
Many have joined the banner of the Unitarian Jihad, a noble and moderate cause. However many of it's converts are unsure of how to identify themselves. They do not wish to join the established Unitarian Universalist church, perhaps not wanting that much Orthodoxy.
A primary purpose of Discordian Universalism is to give Brothers and Sisters of the Unitarian Jihad another flag to fly, that is not so Orthodoxical.
Some would argue that the manifesto Jon Carrol disseminated was a parody and therefore not a legitimate call to arms. However from a Discordian perspective it is clearly both, and all the more vital for being parody!
Discordian Universalism welcomes the broad thinking of the Unitarians, without accepting solemnity as a requisite. The Discordians were right to make humor of faith! Life is humorous, death is humorous, clearly that which decides life and death must be bloody hilarious!
Admittedly the term Discordian Universalist needs better definition, but isn't that exactly why a node is created on Everything2? The Unitarian Jihad is still nascent, what would that make it's younger sibling Discordian Universalism?
Right now I would consider it more an evolving memeplex then a high content meme. The desire is to Combine Two Cool Words That Should Have Been Combined A Long Time Ago
-------------
Two are the primary roots of Discordian Universalism
One of those roots is Universalism which is often considered synonymous with Unitarian Universalism.
Two are the primary roots of Unitarian Universalism
One of those roots is Unitarianism, a rejection of the concept of many gods. It can be argued that it means all gods are one, or that all godlike things are united, but that is still a lot of homogeneous god talk. Discordian Universalism does not particularly embrace the homogenized god aspect of the UU.
The other of those roots is Universalism. Universalism is an awesome word, having Transcendental connotations. With regards to the UU Universalism refers to Universal Salvation. The idea that when Christ died for the salvation of people's souls it was Universal. That is, he saved everyone. That means no hell. No fire and brimstone.
That rocks. Fear of hell is a bad way to motivate people, and a dangerous focus for a religion.
So Discordian Universalism shall embrace that Universalist lack of hell, if not focus on the whole Unitarian one god thing.
One of Unitarian Universalisms basic tenets is a respect for all religions, creeds and philosohpies. Unfortunately that respect is often grey faced, serious, and ill disposed to parody.
Discordianism has an irrational number of roots, and is, by definition, undefined. Amongst it's basic tenets is humor, parody, and having fun with things, especially things you respect.
Discordian Universalism shall continue to respect all creeds, in honor of it's Universalist heritage, and it will continue to mock them, in honor of it's Discordian heritage.
-------------
Punch line still needed here!
-------------
Discordian Universalist History:
Some time ago I found myself unable to identify as Unitarian Universalist as I couldn't identify as Unitarian in that I am not a Monotheist. The Problem of Hell still weighs on my mind though, and I embraced Universalism.
I then got smacked backside the head with Erisian thought, bought a copy of the Principia Discordia, passed it along, bought another.
This was followed by 4 years at UC Santa Cruz, immersing myself in Self and Society courses. Plato, Principia and Malcolm X danced in my head for several years.
The inspiration for Synthesizing Universalist and Discordian thought occurred in March 2005. I realized the Religious Left needed more voices. And what could be farther left then a movement inspired by Unitarian, Universalist and Discordian thought?
-Brother Rail Gun of The Short Path
--Mathias Timidi Cono Klast
---Discordian Universalist