I believe that a man has an obligation to be merciful to the weak...
patient with the stupid...generous to the poor. I think he is obligated
to lay down his life for his brothers, should it be required of him. But
I don't propose to prove any of these things; they are beyond proof.
And I don't demand that you believe as I do.
Bob Wilson:
1. Never trust in anybody else's B.S.
2. Never trust in your own B.S.
"Manual for Discordian Evangelists" by O.K. Ravenhurst
"The SOCRATIC APPROACH is most succesful when confronting the ignorant. The Socratic approach is what you call starting an argument by asking questions. You approach the innocent and simply ask, "Did you know that God's name is ERIS, and that He is a girl?" If he should answer "Yes," then he is probably a fellow Erisian, and so you can forget it. If he says "No," then quickly proceed to: "The BLIND ASSERTION and say, "Well, He is a girl, and His name is ERIS!!!" Shrewdly observe if the subject is convinced. If he is, swear him into the Legion of Dynamic Discord before he changes his mind. If he does not appear convinced, then proceed to: "The FAITH BIT: "But you must have faith! All is lost without faith! I sure feel sorry for you if you don't have Faith." And then add: "The ARGUMENT BY FEAR and in an ominous voice ask, "Do you know what happens to those who deny Goddess?" If he hesitates, don't tell him that he will surely be reincarnated as a precious Mao Button and distributed to the poor in the Region of Thud (which would be a mean thing to say), just shake your head sadly and, while wiping a tear from your eye, go to: "The FIRST CLAUSE PLOY wherein you point to all of the discord and confusion in the world and explain, "Well, who the hell do you think did all this, wise guy?" If he says, "Nobody, just impersonal forces," then quickly respond with: "The ARGUMENT BY SEMANTICAL GYMNASTICS and say that he is absolutely right, and that those impersonal forces are female and that Her name is ERIS. If he wonder of wonders, still remains obstinate, then finally resort to: "The FIGURATIVE SYMBOLISM DODGE and confide that sophisticated people like himself recognize that Eris is a Figurative Symbol for an Ineffable Metaphysical Reality and that the Erisian Movement is really more like a poem than like a science, and that he is liable to be turned into a Precious Mao Button and Distributed to The Poor in The Region of Thud if he does not get hip. Then put him on your mailing list."
Bob Wilson:
From the Jewish:
A young man went to his Rabbi and said, "I have lost Faith."
"So," said the Rabbi, "and how did you lose Faith?"
"I studied Logic at the university," said the young man, "and I found out that you can
prove either side of any case if you're clever enough."
"Indeed," said the Rabbi. "Can you prove that you have no nose?"
"Certainly," said the student. "To begin with - "
But at this point the Rabbi punched him hard right in the nose.
"What hurts?" the Rabbi asked solicitously.