A Brilliant Hue of Pain

An Open Video to the OTO - posted publicly

2008-01-06T04:37:02Z

I redid my video after my anger subsided

OTO/Thelema and Religion

2007-12-08T23:37:49Z

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

The current state of the OTO

2007-11-30T13:26:42Z

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.

Oh, but we have the Revolutionaries! Yes, we do...but they don't have to be any more privy to the "inner workings" than the rest of us... Plus, as we see in our own country, revolution isn't an option as long as people have food on their plate and breath in their bodies. Call either of those into question and you might have revolution. Otherwise, it's business as usual. Sure, we may take up our picket signs, but we're not taking up guns.

So, what I see in the OTO is the same thing I see in our country...with one major difference: FOUR MORE YEARS! FOUR MORE YEARS! Yep...term limits. We can elect a bad president....but you know what? After his term is over, he's out of there. In the OTO, he is there FOR LIFE. That's what would be dictators want. They don't want to be voted OUT...they want an appointment for life..and many dictators BECOME dictators over precisely that point...fear of being voted out of office.

So, how can we truly sit here and lend support to an organization that exemplifies everything we speak out against in our own government....an organization that claims to be the model of a "Thelemic government". We've been told the common man doesn't count...without realizing that WE are the common man...that the only way to NOT be common is to toe the line and support a system WE DISAGREE WITH. In order to advance and cause change, we have to stop being true to ourselves! We have to support that which we oppose! That doesn't sound in any way Thelemic to me. It sounds like abasing one's self to me.

Then, when we finally get in those "upper triads" and take our share of government...guess what? We only keep that position as long as we...yep, toe the line! You thought YOU were going to create change? Of course not! You're being expelled! You stopped toeing the line! You're not even part of our citizenry any more! We deport you!

This is beyond reprehensible. But...but...it's what Crowley wanted! Maybe so. Crowley loved the elite...as long as he was in it. But, is this about what CROWLEY wanted, or about what is best? In many things, we see Crowley as a product of his times (social darwinism), but somehow when it comes to his preferred form of government, it's the words of the prophet? I disagree.

Now, am I saying democracy is the best form of government? No...that's absurd. But, I'm saying that the OTO's form of government is even WORSE and more ripe for abuse. It reminds me of an organization I belonged to in my late teens. I don't remember the name of it because I was only a member for a year. Why? Well, you see, when I joined, it was a socialist order. Their words sounded great. Put a great man into power...give him control...put him in for life so he doesn't have to worry about the "common man's" whims and fancies. Then, that great man will do great things! Well, within a year of my joining, that socialist order became a national socialist order....neo-nazis. Yep.

Of course, when I saw all this new stuff coming down the wire, I quit. But, it made me realize...if you set up a system where a good man can't be unseated, you set up a system where a bad man can't be either. I don't think this situation is any different. But, I do think it's time that we own up and either agree with what Bush is doing, or agree that the OTO is no model of government that we'd want to be under.