Discordianism emerged from the U.S. counterculture of the 1960s as a parody religion, but later academic study has suggested that it functions as a “virtual religion” or a genuine spiritual movement for some adherents. It is centered on Eris, the Greek goddess of strife and discord and has been described as a religion, a new religious movement, and a form of social commentary.
The origins of Discordianism trace back to the late 1950s in Whittier, California. Greg Hill and Kerry Wendell Thornley claim to have experienced a shared vision of Eris while in a bowling alley. In this narrative, time stopped for everyone except the two of them, and they received a revelation that later inspired the creation of a new belief system.
Hill and Thornley developed these ideas over the following years. They eventually wrote the Principia Discordia, the foundational text of Discordianism, under the pseudonyms Malaclypse the Younger and Omar Khayyam Ravenhurst. The book was first printed in 1963 using a Xerox printer. It combines typewritten passages, hand-drawn illustrations, and copied stamps and seals. Its structure reflects the theme of chaos associated with Eris.
Discordian theology proposes that chaos is the fundamental condition of the universe. According to the Principia, both order and disorder are interpretations imposed by the human mind. The book introduces two conceptual frameworks: the Aneristic Principle, which represents apparent order, and the Eristic Principle, which represents apparent disorder. Discordians are taught that these categories are mental constructs and that none of them represents ultimate truth. Metaphysical reality, in this view, exists beyond human systems of classification.
A central symbol of the movement is the Sacred Chao, said to have been devised by the legendary Apostle Hung Mung. The symbol resembles the Taoist yin-yang, but the traditional dots are replaced by two different images. One side contains a pentagon representing the Aneristic Principle, and the other contains a golden apple representing the Eristic Principle.
The golden apple refers to the “Original Snub,” a Discordian reinterpretation of a Greek myth. In the story, Eris was not invited to a wedding attended by the gods. In response, she threw a golden apple into the gathering. The apple bore the inscription kallisti, meaning “for the prettiest.” The resulting dispute among the goddesses eventually led to the Trojan War. In Discordian narratives, the event symbolizes a challenge to established authority and rigid systems of order.
Discordianism developed an intentionally contradictory organizational structure. It is often described as a “non-profit irreligious disorganisation.” The principal sect is known as the Paratheo-Anametamystikhood of Eris Esoteric, commonly abbreviated as POEE. Despite this formal title, Discordian writings state that every person on Earth is a pope.
Followers are encouraged to create and distribute “Pope Cards.” Possession of such a card symbolically grants the authority to canonize saints or perform marriages. This practice reflects the movement’s rejection of traditional religious hierarchies and its emphasis on individual authority.
Discordianism recognizes five classes of saints. Only the category known as “Saint Second Class” includes real historical figures. Higher classes are reserved for fictional characters, such as Don Quixote, on the premise that fictional characters can achieve forms of perfection unavailable to real people.
One frequently cited second-class saint is Emperor Norton, a 19th century San Franciscan who proclaimed himself “Emperor of the United States.” Discordian writings describe him as an example of a person who lived according to his own perception of reality regardless of social convention.
Another concept introduced in the Principia Discordia is the “Curse of Greyface.” According to this narrative, a figure called Greyface taught in 1166 BCE that life should be treated as serious and that play was sinful. Discordian texts claim that this teaching produced psychological and spiritual imbalance in human societies, leading to excessive emphasis on rigid order.
To counteract this condition, Discordians employ symbolic practices such as the “Turkey Curse,” a series of vocalizations resembling turkey sounds. They also refer to a set of principles called the “Pentabarf.” The Pentabarf consists of five rules, including a suggestion that Discordians eat a hot dog on Fridays as a form of protest against religious dietary restrictions. Another rule states that a Discordian should not believe what they read.
During the 1970s, Discordian ideas reached a wider audience through the publication of The Illuminatus! Trilogy in 1975 by Robert Shea and Robert Anton Wilson. The novels incorporated Discordian themes involving hidden knowledge, secret organizations, and competing interpretations of reality.
Discordian mythology also includes a contrast between Eris and her sister Aneris. Eris represents existence and creative chaos, while Aneris is described as the goddess of non-being and order. In Discordian narratives, Aneris attempts to turn existing things into nonexistence, which is used to explain cycles such as life and death.
Another recurring concept is the “Law of Fives.” This idea states that all events occur in relation to the number five or are divisible by five. The principle is often presented as a demonstration of pattern recognition: once someone begins searching for a pattern, they can find it in many places, illustrating how perception shapes interpretation.
Discordianism also includes an alternative system for measuring time known as the Discordian or Erisian calendar. This calendar counts years from the “Original Revelation” in 1166 BCE. It divides the year into five seasons: Chaos, Discord, Confusion, Bureaucracy, and The Aftermath.
Each season lasts seventy-three days. Every four years an additional day, called St. Tib’s Day, is inserted into the calendar. The system is presented as an alternative to the Gregorian calendar associated with the influence of Greyface.
Throughout its development, Discordianism influenced several later cultural movements. Among these were the Church of the SubGenius and the practice known as chaos magic. Discordian literature also introduced the idea of “fnords,” meaningless words inserted into texts to create a sense of unease among readers who are unaware of them.
Academic attention to Discordianism increased after 2005. Scholars including David Chidester and J. Christian Greer analyzed the movement as an early example of forms of spirituality that later developed in online communities. They described it as a precursor to “virtual religions” that operate through decentralized networks rather than traditional institutions.
Some researchers have also noted that Hill and Thornley initially presented Discordianism in a humorous manner but later described philosophical value in its ideas. The movement often blends satire with sincere reflection on belief systems. This combination allows Discordianism to move between parody and religious expression.
Discordian writings continued to expand in later decades. Collections such as Apocrypha Discordia and Historia Discordia compile texts, documents, and commentary produced by different generations of participants. These works explore themes including individual freedom, the relationship between Zen philosophy and anarchism, and the use of humor in spiritual practice.
Key Sources:
Chidester, D. (2005). Authentic Fakes: Religion and American Popular Culture. University of California Press.
Cusack, C. M. (2010). Invented Religions: Imagination, Fiction and Faith. Ashgate Publishing, Ltd.
Frauenfelder, M. (2006, November 1). Publisher alters, then copyrights Principia Discordia. Boing Boing.
Gorightly, A. (2014). Historia Discordia: The Origins of the Discordian Society. RVP Press.
Younger, M., & Ravenhurst, O. K. (1980). Principia Discordia. Loompanics Unlimited.
Encyclopedia of Cults, Sects, and New Religious Movements 