Lachrymology is a pseudophilosophy, allegedly founded in 1949 by Ronald P. Vincent, but believed to have actually been an invention of the band Tool. The word itself translates literally into "the study of crying", and central to the pseudoreligion is the teaching that only through physical and mental pain (and that pain's subsequent release, as in crying) one can become a higher being.

It is difficult to find any information about lachrymology outside of the context of Tool. A book called The Joyful Guide to Lachrymology, written by Ronald P. Vincent in 1949, supposedly inspired the band in several ways early on. However, this book cannot be found in the Library of Congress or anywhere online, and it has been widely suggested that the entire story was simply a joke started by the band for their own amusement and publicity. They no longer talk about lachrymology.

In the early 90s, Tool released this official statement on lachrymology:

"In the summer of 1948, Ronald P. Vincent, a crop-spray contractor, moved from Kansas to Hollywood after his wife had been dismembered in a bizarre snow plough accident. Inspired by the unrelenting pain he felt, Vincent penned his first and only book, 'A Joyful Guide to Lachrymology'."

Blair Blake, in his article about lachrymology, suggests that the religion is not a literal reference to emotional and physical growth through overcoming emotional and physical hardship (as symbolized by crying tears from the eyes), but rather to spiritual growth through experiencing the entheogenic secretions (DMT) of the pineal gland, or Third Eye.

Some feel that lachrymology was actually made up by Tool in order to make fun of L. Ron Hubbard and scientology, either as a satire or an antithetical. Tool cited scientology as a factor in lachrymology's hidden nature, saying that while L. Ron Hubbard found success in his movement, following was drawn away from Ronald P. Vincent. Also of note is the fact that both of their names have a letter in them as well as some form of Ronald. This comparison of the two movements supports the idea that lachrymology is actually just an elaborate satire. In spite of this, some Tool fans might cite themselves as "lachrymists" and claim to believe in the so-called religion.

References

• Blair Blake, Let Not My Tears Fall Unnoticed: Being The Secret Joys Of a Lachrymist

External links

• The Tool FAQ contains a brief overview of and quotes about lachrymology in Sections C6 and C7.

• First appearance of Lachrymology on Usenet - First appearance of the term in the Google-maintained Usenet archives.

Lakrymologia

Tool | Hoaxes | Pseudoscience