Episkopos

Greek word episkopos (επίσκοπος, from επι "over" and σκοπος "seeing") which can be translated bishop, overseer, superintendent, supervisor, the first, leader or foreman. From the word episkopos are derived the English words episcopacy, episcopate and episcopal. The system of church government by bishops is called episcopacy.

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According to the Principia Discordia:

AN EPISKOPOS OF THE DISCORDIAN SOCIETY is one who prefers total autonomy, and creates his own Discordian sect as The Goddess directs him. He speaks for himself and for those that say that they like what he says.

It further goes on to say the following:

Should you find that your own revelations of The Goddess become substantially different that the revelations of Mal-2, then perhaps the Goddess has plans for you as an Episkopos, and you might consider creating your own sect from scratch, unhindered. Episkoposes are not competing with each other, and they are all POEE priests anyway (as soon as I locate them). The point is that Episkoposes are developing separate paths to the Erisian mountaintop.

There is some controversy as to exactly the multiple of Episkopos is, with Epikoposes, Episkopii, Episkopossum, and other such inanities all being offered up as possibilities.

It can also be considered evidence of the robust nature of the disorganization of Discordian belief that in more organized religions, the role of Episkopos as presented by Discordians would result in schisms, holy wars, a great deal of screaming and breast-beating, and occasional bouts of fanaticism wherein murder in the name of the One Truth is deemed acceptable. Discordians seem to avoid the majority of this, aside from screaming and breast-beating when it seems fun.

[Category:Discordian]