Is Thelema a Religion?
By Tau Amphion.
Thelema is not a religion as commonly understood.
Whilst most religions wish to control man, Thelema (Will) is a magickal
system which works to set him free. "Every man and every woman
is a star" (AL, I: 3) - the old idea of a priesthood which
presumes to mediate between Man and 'God' is dead. "There is
no god but man". This implies a self-responsibility on man's
part which has not been a function of religions in the past.
The Ecclesia Gnostica
Catholica (U.K.), or Gnostic Catholic Church, offers an environment
wherein each may find this freedom for themselves. The Priest and
Priestess (who operate equally in the Temple of Thelema) manifest
the magickal current within the Church to the Congregation. The
participants will benefit according to their openness, aspiration
and devotion.
The word Religion comes from the Latin religio
piety, and is allied to di-ligens diligent, the opposite to negligens
negligent. The Greek root also has the meaning 'to heed' but also
'to have a care for'. So insofar as we, as Thelemites, 'take heed'
of The Book of the Law,
and 'have a care' to further the idea of Thelema in the world, one
could see Thelema as a religion. On the other hand Thelema is a
magickal system, and Magick is opposed to Religion.
Our Church is Gnostic as it puts experience, and
the knowledge gained thereby, as above mere faith or belief. Higher
Magick (e.g. Trance) testifies that Experience is all there is,
and that all 'beliefs' must change in the face of experience. A
major strength of Liber AL, the main Holy Book of Thelema, is that
it admits its tenets are only valid for the Aeon of Horus, after
which "Another prophet shall arise…another king shall
reign…" (AL, III: 34.) It is most refreshing to read within
a Holy Book its own philosophy's demise predicted, and not the usual
mantra of "we are the only true religion and 'last' Prophet"
etc - as if such a thing were either desirable or possible.
Also Liber AL proclaims "…argue not;
convert not; talk not overmuch!" (AL, III: 42.) All of this
is most unusual for a "religion", and certainly does not
resemble any of the major religions of the past. So is Thelema a
religion? As Crowley noted, it may in fact cloud the issue to call
it such, as it is no more a religion than Gnosticism is. It offers
humanity a 'way out' of the religious controversies of the past
by helping man understand that "God is within", which
is very different to a denial of 'God' or religion. Man has an inherent
need to worship, and it is right that this takes the form of true
devotion to man's Source, rather than towards petty tyrants or rulers
upon the earth. Thelema restates the case for devotion in a magickal
sense, and therefore the Church gains a new role, which is really
its original role, which is to manifest and celebrate the Will of
its devotees. And the Will of the devotees is ultimately identical
with that of the Goddess, known to us by the Name of Nuit.
We can do no better than leave the last words as
those of the Goddess Nuit, who speaks to Her Children in the First
Chapter of our Holy Book;
"These are fools that men adore; both their
Gods & their men are fools. Come forth, o children, under the
stars, & take your fill of love! I am above you and in you.
My ecstasy is in yours. My joy is to see your joy…With the
God & the Adorer I am nothing: they do not see me. They are
as upon the earth; I am Heaven, and there is no other God than me,
and my lord Hadit…For I am divided for love's sake, for the
chance of union…Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the
Law. The word of Sin is Restriction…Be goodly therefore: dress
ye all in fine apparel; eat rich foods and drink sweet wines and
wines that foam! Also, take your fill and will of love as ye will,
when, where and with whom ye will! But always unto me…This
shall regenerate the world…Invoke me under my stars! Love is
the law, love under will…I give unimaginable joys on earth:
certainty, not faith, while in life, upon death; peace unutterable,
rest, ecstasy; nor do I demand aught in sacrifice…But to love
me is better than all things…Sing the rapturous love-song unto
me! Burn to me perfumes! Wear to me jewels! Drink to me, for I love
you! I love you! I am the blue-lidded daughter of Sunset; I am the
naked brilliance of the voluptuous night-sky. To me! To me!"
All those who understand this, or aspire to this,
are welcome to participate in the rites of the Ecclesia
Gnostica Catholica (U.K.)
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