Below are the 4 most recent journal entries recorded in knight_of_pan's LiveJournal:

Thursday, December 24th, 2009
1:34 am	(32 Comments |Comment on this)
Saturday, January 5th, 2008
10:32 pm	An Open Video to the OTO - posted publicly I redid my video after my anger subsided (7 Comments |Comment on this)
Saturday, December 8th, 2007
5:33 pm	OTO/Thelema and Religion Sometimes I'm a bit dense, but I finally get it. It took the argument with thiebes in the last post and analyzing what I said/my position as well as what he said/his position. First, I would like to say that I find the position of the OTO, as I see it, to be repulsive and anti-Thelemic. It appears to me that they're attempting to canonize Thelema while ignoring the dynamic and very individualistic current that IS Thelema. They are also attempting to religion-ize Thelema in ways that I think are very harmful. Add to that the silencing of critics, attempted secrecy in their dealings with members, etc. and I think we are witnessing the birth of a cult. But, on to the real matter at hand: is Thelema a religion? I've stated many times that I consider Thelema to be a religion in much the same way I consider Buddhism a relgion. In other words, I clarify the definition of religion. The argument, I've come to realize, is not over whether Thelema can or cannot be considered a religion. The argument is actually over the definition of religion. You see, if you call Thelema a religion, you place yourself at the mercy of the person's definition of religion. There are those in the OTO, I believe, that would LOVE for you to do that. Why? Because you add to the perception of Thelema as a religion and the OTO, as the most visible Thelemic body out there, gets to define HOW it fits that definition. With an organization that seemingly values blind faith, unquestioning loyalty, the devaluation of criticism, etc. we can readily understand how they would like to define religion. So, the question is not "Is Thelema a religion?" but is rather "Does Thelema fit their definition of religion?". The answer is, of course, no. So, seeing the true issues at stake here, I am going to stop defining Thelema as religion. Thelema, as I see it, does not include worship of any diety, does not value blind faith, but instead discourages it. Thelema does not encourage blind obedience, but rather free action. Thelema does not encourage superstition, but rather scientific inquiry and not believing something as fact without sufficient proof. I would love to attack the vulgar definition of religion and redefine it in a more proper way. However, I don't believe Thelema should be that battleground when we're watching the most visible Thelemic organization apparently reject Thelema and descend into cult-like status. Instead, I shall start saying my philosophy is Thelema and my religion is Gnosticism. Anything else just further drags Thelema through the mire. "Thelema is a law of nature. It does not require faith, service, devotion, worship, commitment, institutions, attitudes, practices, conformity, causes, principles, or beliefs. (See dictionary definition of religion.) Christianity requires most (if not all) of these things. … Thelema is not a religion. The confusion arises because religious praxis (i.e. practice) is often used in order to understand Thelema and to live in harmony with it. … The Mass has all these things. Thelema does not require them. The fact that the Mass has these elements does not mean that those elements must be present in order to "typify" Thelema … Ecclesia Gnostica Catholica is a religion which celebrates Thelema by way of the Gnostic Mass. Thelema is not a religion." – Joe Theibes from An analysis of the Gnostic Mass" 93 (20 Comments |Comment on this)
Friday, November 30th, 2007
6:45 am	The current state of the OTO As many of you who will be interested in this post know, T Allen Greenfield's book on his expulsion from the Order has been silenced, presumably by the Order in question. This brings up some things I've said/thought for a while and adds to it: First, the OTO's system of government is not Thelemic. The OTO's system of government favors this kind of action. Sure, it's running parallel with the government of the US, but look at the differences: We've got a bad president in the US....one that would love to be a dictator. He's stacked the courts (higher degrees) in his favor and is attempting to run things as he alone sees fit. We're all up in arms over that. We're raising our voices about how horrible that is...yet, we support an organization that claims to be a model for society...which makes that type of thing EVEN easier. Freedom of Information Act? Yeah...there's not one in the OTO. The OTO doesn't have to claim state secrets. All they have to say is "we're not telling you". Boom...done deal. You're not gonna know. As a matter of fact, in the OTO the "common man" is considered TOO common to have a say in anything! Basically, we're told that we shouldn't try to think...we're not paid to think (governance is a part of the second triad). Yet, we support them! YES! We're blind sheep! Yes, tell us what to do, Grand Poobah! However, when Bush or his office claim state secrets, listen to us yell! Not only that, there's also this absolutely crazy idea in the Order that if you're not working FOR the Order (running a body, recruiting, etc) that you're not worthy of speaking out for change. Excuse me, but if I don't like the slaughterhouse operating next door, I don't have to round cattle up for them in order to have a valid opinion. As a matter of fact, if I'm busy supplying cattle for them and making sure they pay their bills on time, my hands are dirty too. I would attach more value to the person who says "This is horrible. I ABSTAIN!" Of course, we've been conditioned in the Order to think of that person as a sore loser. They couldn't "handle" it. It's all sour grapes. So, no one has anything worth saying but the SUPPORTERS? I really don't know how this happened. I've been in the Order for about 16 years...and this has just crept up on us. It was those small changes...little by little..that got us. Small changes in perception...small changes in government.. and shazzam, here we are now. ( Read more... ) (25 Comments |Comment on this)