Omar V Garrison

Kerry Wendell Thornley (1938-1998) was an American author and co-founder of Discordianism, a religion he established with childhood friend Greg Hill. Under the alias Omar Khayyam Ravenhurst, Thornley, along with Hill, authored the foundational text of Discordianism, "Principia Discordia, Or, How I Found Goddess, and What I Did to Her When I Found Her." His earlier work, the 1962 manuscript "The Idle Warriors," gained notoriety as it focused on Lee Harvey Oswald before the assassination of John F. Kennedy. Thornley's involvement with Oswald, whom he met while serving in the U.S. Marine Corps, led to his testimony before the Warren Commission. He was later subpoenaed by New Orleans District Attorney Jim Garrison during his investigation into the JFK assassination, facing a perjury charge that was ultimately dropped. Thornley was active in countercultural publishing, producing his own newsletters like "Zenarchy" under the pen name Ho Chi Zen, which explored a unique form of anarchism rooted in meditation. His ideological journey was diverse, encompassing atheism, anarchism, Objectivism, neo-paganism, and Buddhism.

Thornley is primarily recognized for his role in co-founding Discordianism, a religion that humorously venerates Eris, the Greek goddess of chaos. Alongside Greg Hill, he co-authored "Principia Discordia," the central scripture of this faith. This work, along with his other writings, reflected a deep engagement with countercultural thought and esoteric philosophies. Thornley's intellectual explorations were broad, touching upon atheism, anarchism, and various spiritual traditions. He also self-published a newsletter called "Zenarchy," which proposed a non-combative, non-participatory approach to anarchy derived from meditation, highlighting his interest in synthesizing spiritual practice with social philosophy.

Thornley's life intersected with significant historical events, most notably through his acquaintance with Lee Harvey Oswald. While both served in the U.S. Marine Corps, Thornley developed a manuscript titled "The Idle Warriors" in 1962, focusing on Oswald. This work predated the 1963 assassination of John F. Kennedy, leading Thornley to be called to testify before the Warren Commission. The Commission preserved his manuscript, though it remained unpublished until 1991. His later book, "Oswald" (1965), generally supported the Commission's findings. Thornley's connection to Oswald also drew the attention of New Orleans District Attorney Jim Garrison, who subpoenaed Thornley during his investigation into a potential conspiracy behind the assassination.

In his later years, Thornley continued his involvement in countercultural activities, living in Atlanta and distributing a free flier series titled "Out of Order." He also wrote a column for the zine "Factsheet Five." His experiences in the 1960s, particularly concerning the Garrison investigation, reportedly contributed to a growing sense of paranoia. Despite these challenges, Thornley maintained a connection to his esoteric interests, with a Buddhist memorial service being held shortly after his death. His ashes were scattered over the Pacific Ocean, a final resting place reflecting a life lived across diverse philosophical and spiritual landscapes.

“And so it is that we, as men, do not exist until we do; and then it is that we play with our world of existent things, and order and disorder them, and so it shall be that Non-existence shall take us back from Existence, and that nameless Spirituality shall return to Void, like a tired child home from a very wild circus.”