Symbolic act of Christ
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@Foolster said
"Mormonism added onto xianity and teaches the concepts of eternal evolution to godhood and employs some other interesting mystical concepts. Now they are 15 million strong and have some clout, be it financial or cultural. "
Yeah, but they were started by a prophet who claimed some angel came and gave him a book. What do we have to compete with that?
"What is the next mythos."
What's wrong with the one we have? (It need not look like old fashioned mytgh-making. For example, it need not have a story element.) You don't have to have aliens to have an archetypal framework based on a vision of space.
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@Foolster said
"What is the next mythos. Does Thelema expect a prophet/s to follow after crowley?"
There is some talk of a child, yes.
And as far as the development of Thelema is concerned: no major religion became wide-scale overnight. It is a long and tedious process, and often involves blood.
"what is the next mythos?"
I think there is plenty of mythos surrounding Thelema to satisfy the average mortal.
The D & D shit is only the mainstream perspective.
And since when has any Hermetic school or system adhered to the conceptions of the masses?
The Mysteries of Thelema are for the kings, and it is best kept that way. The masses are already manipulated in ways none of us here will probably ever comprehend. Christianity cannot last more than a couple more generations, at most.
The "conerstone" spoken of in the gospels is starting to look more like a sphere.
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@JPF said
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@Foolster said
"What is the next mythos. Does Thelema expect a prophet/s to follow after crowley?"There is some talk of a child, yes."
But there's no indication that the child is another prophet - just that he (and it is specified as a he) is a child.
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@Jim Eshelman said
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@JPF said
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@Foolster said
"What is the next mythos. Does Thelema expect a prophet/s to follow after crowley?"There is some talk of a child, yes."
But there's no indication that the child is another prophet - just that he (and it is specified as a he) is a child."
True. But he will explain the mysteries. And looking at the variety of opinions and doctrines and utter BS surrounding Thelema, it would be nice if somebody would take charge and clear things up. Divinely inspired, of course.
There is also some talk of a prophet to come at the end of this Aeon, if I am not mistaken.
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@JPF said
"There is also some talk of a prophet to come at the end of this Aeon, if I am not mistaken."
One might, perhaps, better say, "at the beginning of the next." Every new aeon needs its prophet to launch it.
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"I think there is plenty of mythos surrounding Thelema to satisfy the average mortal."
i think you're out of touch with the average joe then. I run an international business and meet all sorts of individuals; most of them are "christian" but have little real interest in their Dog or what it means for them. The embody the corpse they grew up worshipping. Thelema is a niche product, and thats why it appeals to a niche group.
Anyway, no more prophets please! Haven't we had enough!?
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@Jim Eshelman said
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One might, perhaps, better say, "at the beginning of the next." Every new aeon needs its prophet to launch it."Isn't every end a new beginning?
"i think you're out of touch with the average joe then. I run an international business and meet all sorts of individuals; most of them are "christian" but have little real interest in their Dog or what it means for them. The embody the corpse they grew up worshipping. Thelema is a niche product, and thats why it appeals to a niche group. "
Well, that's your perspective, and you're entitled to it. But I'm inclined to think of Thelema not as a "product," per se, or something to be mass marketed, but as what it is: infinite, empty, omniform. The desire to classify, distinguish, interpret and dogmatize is the same desire that created the same horrors you see in Christianity. Why would we wish to install Thelema in its place? To create a fresh tyrant for willing sheep? There will always be sheep, at least as long as the current gene pool remains un-chlorinated. You speak of enlightening the average man. What makes you think the average man wants to be enlightened? How do you know it is even his Will to be enlightened?
No matter how many veils you tear away, your average mortal will still refuse to comprehend the divine.
"Some are born to sweet delight..."
All is every as it has been and should be.
(A glance at Liber AL vel Legis might dispel certain of your notions regarding Thelema.
)"Anyway, no more prophets please! Haven't we had enough!? "
There will always be prophets.
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@Foolster said
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"I think there is plenty of mythos surrounding Thelema to satisfy the average mortal."i think you're out of touch with the average joe then."
I'm absolutely uninterested in the average joe - as they exist at this point in time. My point is, in part, that Thelema will not mainstream until the mainstream changes. I once thought this would take a thousand years or more, but (with accelerations occurring) I think this might be able to happen in half that time.
We have lots of time.
"Anyway, no more prophets please! Haven't we had enough!?
"We'll need one to overthrow Thelema in a millennium or two, and foster in whatever comes next.
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Christianity took 300 years to start becoming serious. Thelema has 500 years if you count Rabelais, but counting from Crowey just 100 years. This is still a very young concept. You gotta give it time to unfold…
The way i see Thelema taking hold is not as a religion or anything like that. It's by changing the consciousness of people, and that happens slowly without people ever noticing. And it's happening.
Look at Jay-Z at 15s or the lyrics on the song.
There are signs everywhere.About Christianity, it's already slowly eroding. Every country that legalizes abort or homosexual marriage kills a little bit more Christianity. Every christian who pays lip service instead of taking the commandments seriously or that believes in "my own vision of God" stab Christianity another wound. It's a matter of time.
PS: I still fear Thelema's Council of Nicea
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JayZ is doing it for $$. Go to a tool concert. Laser unicursal hexagrams, star of babalon banners and 15 minute intermissions where they lower 10' decagons from the ceiling that are inscribed with sigils.
Their studio is arranged according to the tree and Maynard sings from Ain Soph when recording.Anyway, I think my original point was lost and I didn't clearly communicate it because I liked hearing opinions. Talking about hastening the collapse of the abrahamic religions by attacking from within their ranks. You can let a building become delapidated or pack it full of explosives. Speaking purely metaphorical btw.
I want to see these fuckers go down, make no mistake; it's what I think about everyday. Anyone who would like to do some group work pm me because there is alot we can get done sitting right where we are.
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@Foolster said
"I want to see these {shaggers} go down, make no mistake; it's what I think about everyday. Anyone who would like to do some group work pm me because there is alot we can get done sitting right where we are."
Perhaps you are translating your internal strife to external matters.
The most effective changes come from within.
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@Foolster said
"Talking about hastening the collapse of the abrahamic religions by attacking from within their ranks. You can let a building become delapidated or pack it full of explosives. Speaking purely metaphorical btw."
There's another way. Unfortunately, it involves work, and not enough people have been willing to commit to the years of work needed.
In your building metaphor, the biggest way that old structures are being removed today is that somebody else builds something newer and cooler and better that people want to move relocate to. Eventually the old places are empty and then someone buys them to tear down and build a parking structure or mini-mall.
The metaphor is solid: We need people (lots of people! lots of groups! lots of ideas!) to build new cool stuff - visibly, creatively, intelligently, with follow-through and decades-long commitment to them as emergent institutions. When the new "architectural" standards become evident, people will "move into them" and vacate the old spots.
To make a perhaps unnecessarily uncompassionate comparison: Rats do not flee a sinking ship as long as it's still floating, even if it's only drift wood. They need someplace else to flee to.
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Jpf- your assessments are shallow and do not add anything to the conversation.
Jim: I like it. Having built up a an international business from nothing to something while taking out other corporations, I can say I know a bit about bringing a vision to fruition. I think there enough of us for some to handle demolition and others man the new construction. I think operating in silence or through proxies is a good idea too.
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@Foolster said
"I think operating in silence or through proxies is a good idea too."
Useful in business. I think, though, that it is not a very Thelemic approach (simply because it's not a very honest approach).
My only concern in this whole conversation is that we would end up changing ourselves more than our targets. You know, the old "you've become what you hated" principle. Intending to act without integrity of self is a treacherous path - not unmanageable, but clearly treacherous.
The truer path is to be "most ourselves."
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@Foolster said
"Jpf- your assessments are shallow"
Indeed, it can be difficult to penetrate the paper-thin!
As regards your war with Christianity:
Observe the nature of the Dao!
"He that, desiring a kingdom, exerteth himself to obtain it, will fail. A Kingdom is of the nature of spirit, and yieldeth not to activity. He who graspeth it, destroyeth it; he who gaineth it, loseth it.
The wheel of nature revolveth constantly; the last becometh first, and the first last; hot things grow cold, and cold things hot; weakness overcometh strength; things gained are lost anon. Hence the wise man avoideth effort, desire and sloth. "
Thelema was not created as a new toy for the masses. The law is for all, but the Light and the Liberty remain for the Kings, who know naught, do naught, and are naught.
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@JPF said
"Thelema was not created as a new toy for the masses. The law is for all, but the Light and the Liberty remain for the Kings, who know naught, do naught, and are naught.
"I think uou miss the whole point: Everyone is intended to be a king!
Hence my take, mentioned above: It's absolutely for the masses... but down the road, when the masses are ready for it!
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@Jim Eshelman said
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@JPF said
"Thelema was not created as a new toy for the masses. The law is for all, but the Light and the Liberty remain for the Kings, who know naught, do naught, and are naught."I think uou miss the whole point: Everyone is intended to be a king!
Hence my take, mentioned above: It's absolutely for the masses... but down the road, when the masses are ready for it!"
But what of the verse:
"Yea! deem not of change: ye shall be as ye are, & not other. Therefore the kings of the earth shall be Kings for ever: the slaves shall serve. There is none that shall be cast down or lifted up: all is ever as it was."
?
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@JPF said
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@Jim Eshelman said
"I think uou miss the whole point: Everyone is intended to be a king!Hence my take, mentioned above: It's absolutely for the masses... but down the road, when the masses are ready for it!"
But what of the verse:
"Yea! deem not of change: ye shall be as ye are, & not other. Therefore the kings of the earth shall be Kings for ever: the slaves shall serve. There is none that shall be cast down or lifted up: all is ever as it was."
?"
Trying to make an essay length answer concise...
The first part of that verse doesn't deny change. The universe is nothing but change. Change is! Change occurs. - In observing human behavior, it seems that the main practical meaning of the first sentence is that we shouldn't waste our time trying to change other people and other circumstances - we should be ourselves, period!
As for the rest... It is often mistaken as defining a two-tiered caste system. I don't read it that way at all. Truly, "all is ever as it was." But the key thing here, I think, is that the difference between a "slave" and a "servant" is not in the acts they do but in how they approach it - whether an act is done under suppression or by choice, under will. This phrase promises that slaves shall become servants - shall be of service! - shall be free.
And - as anyone who has had top ranked position in anything knows from experience - there is no more ultimate servant than the king. In the central, sublime premise of service, they are equalized.
(PS - Liber L. uses "king" as a metaphor or title for "adept.")
Kings rule. Servants serve. Carpenters build. Teachers teach. Merchants sell. Everybody does the thing that is inherently theres to do.
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@Jim Eshelman said
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The first part of that verse doesn't deny change. The universe is nothing but change. Change is! Change occurs. - In observing human behavior, it seems that the main practical meaning of the first sentence is that we shouldn't waste our time trying to change other people and other circumstances - we should be ourselves, period!"Then I think we agree.
Each of us is to attend to our own work, and change ourselves from within, always enslaved to the necessities of Will. In holy service is perfect freedom, and the road to mastery is one of utter servitude: always Under Will.
It remains, however, that not all desire this mastery, and ineveitably wind up supporting the higher ranks. The masses deserve Thelema, as the "Law is for All," but not all will "chance to abide in this bliss," as the vast majority of mankind enjoys its yoke, and would feel uncomfortable with the great resposibility (service) that comes with Kingship.