K
Joined: Mar 28, 2002
Posts: 555
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K
Great post Aqua. I think religion is entertainment for a lot of people, and for those of us without religion, something with all of the detail and richness and ritual of tiki can be like a religious experience, especially when you mix in alcohol and other less legal drugs.
Personally, I find great joy in the obvious undercurrent of mid century tiki culture making the gods into vessels for our enjoyment. I get enjoyment out of making fun of religion, and religious people need unbelievers in order to feel special, so I'm happy to oblige, and happy that my roomfull of pagan idols can assist. A Tiki Room is a den of iniquity, it's a monument to hedonism, the one true faith!
http://deus.org
While I'm posting controversial topics, I might as well throw in Religion. There is a lot of speculation that in a hundred years, Elvis will be an official religion (like he isn't already), with lifestyle guidelines, commandments (like "Don't Be Cruel" "Follow That Dream" "Return to Sender" and "Do the Clam") and rituals. Myself, when pressed, often say that I worship the Holy Trinity of Frank, Dino and Sammy, half-jokingly (the other half is still up in the air).
So is Tiki headed that way? Dig it: we already have common lingo, attire, rituals, and lifestyles, and many of us wear pagan idols around our necks on a regular basis, signaling to the world our allegiance to our "gods." In its pure form, Tiki IS a religious symbol, at least to many Polynesians. Personally, I think it would make a great "whitewashed" religion too - as long as the doctrine remains un-written. That formality always leads to dissent and chaos within the ranks. Basically we all believe in the basic principals of Freedom and Pleasure. And the tiki bar is our church!
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