Getting Thelema officially recognized in the US military
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I'm in the US Army was reading through the U.S Army Chaplain's handbook and it has a listing on Wicca, Rastafarianism, and even the Church of Satan and Temple of Set. But it has no listing for Thelema. Now I know there is a debate on whether Thelema is really a "religion", but let's put that aside for this purpose. The military recognizing it as such would help protect Thelemic servicemembers from discrimination and give them accomodations for rituals and holidays.
I know from all the ordeal Wicca went through that a big part of a religion getting officially recognized by the military is having a firm, government -recognized religious organization to sponser it, such as the Ordo Templi Orientis. I know there are other Thelemic groups as well, but the OTO is the largest and most active so I think it would have the best chance. I go to an OTO lodge in Buffalo and I've been talking to the Lodge Master about getting the OTO to sponsor Thelema as an officially recognized religion in the US Army. He's pretty high-ranking within the order and has frequent contact with the people who run the US Grand Lodge. He supports this idea and said he will write the OTO's leaders about it, but he needs more info on how the whole process of the Army recognizing Thelema would work.
So I'm asking anyone here if they know of any useful resources. In particular I'm looking for what requirements a religious group needs to be recognized in the Army, and who I should get in contact with. I'm going to talk to my unit Chaplain about it as soon as I get the chance. I've talked to him before about some of my personal issues, and even though he doesn't agree with the beliefs of Thelema I think he'll be supportive.
Any helpful info or resources I can bring to my lodge master or Chaplain would be greatly appreciated.
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It seems, from your post, that this is a matter between you and the O.T.O. and would better be discussed in sites somehow linked to O.T.O.
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@Jim Eshelman said
"It seems, from your post, that this is a matter between you and the O.T.O. and would better be discussed in sites somehow linked to O.T.O."
This isn't just about the OTO this is something that would benefit Thelema in general, regardless whether they're part of any particular group or not. I am simply asking if anyone knows any websites or resources that would be helpful.
If the Temple of Thelema is willing to step up to the plate as a sponsor or give any other kind of support then I would gladly go with that too. The more groups and individuals we can get to support it the better.
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@Infernal Seraph said
"If the Temple of Thelema is willing to step up to the plate as a sponsor or give any other kind of support then I would gladly go with that too. The more groups and individuals we can get to support it the better."
I thought about suggesting that, and noted that, though we are a non-profit religious corporation, we aren't legally incorporated as a church. That could be a "line in the sand." We also are specifically non-political as an organization (though often highly political as individuals).
Nonetheless, if there is anything specific we can contribute to help on this, please feel free to ask.
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.......trust me.....the little government know about these goings on are already too much...
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The military does not include OTO the same reason it does not include Masons. That is that these are fraternal organization that require official lodges, since the US armed forces are not such a lodge, they are not equipped or authorized to perform the complex rituals necessary. I mean imagine a chaplain having to himself be an initiate and having to gather a full mass team so that one soldier might attend a Mass before going out on his mission.