Thelema and other religions
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I remember reading somewhere (was it on this forum?) that, in the New Aeon, the old religions would survive, but become slowly Thelema-tized. "For the masses, conventional religions are provided" supports this in particular (I think that was from the Mystical and Magical System of the A.'.A.'., correct me if I'm wrong).
I've also heard much discussion about the slow death and decay of Christianity (and, presumably, other Osirian religions as well).
What do you think will happen over the course of the New Aeon?
Will the monotheistic religions become more Thelemic? Will they be literally overthrown?
Will "entirely new" religions pop up that are in an entirely Thelemic vein? (Of course, "new religions" build heavily on older ones, but I think you get my point). -
Blythe- that is the most sensible idea I have heard on the Thelema forum in a while.
Thank You
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Blythe, I agree.
I use to correspond with an individual I was giving spiritual guidance to. One evening he had a dream that he was waiting in a long line that led to a pyramid. On top of the pyramid was a large mirror where I stood, seeing one person at a time. When it got to his turn, i gave him a magickal pen and said, "draw your own God" and he drew his vision of the HGA on the mirror. What he took away from the dream was that essentially, over time, the priest craft will be largely removed as each individual makes contact with the divine within, negating corporate religion. I see it this way too and I see thelema as a path that can provide this reality for a sub-set of the populace that can seed this notion into the collective unconscious.
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Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law.
This is a really interesting thread.
Is there an intrinsic need for an attainment of a personal religion? Is this decided from the conditioning of an Old Aeon and older religions? Is Thelema a reaction to older ways of pursuing individual Paths, because those "original" ways became muddled with dogma?
Does anybody think that maybe Christianity (or, perhaps, the Gnosticism that allegedly spawned it) was a form of Thelema that eventually became perverted? If so, will this happen again?
Thelema, amongst other things, teaches one to control their own psychological imprinting. It seems there are forces out there that are pretty efficient at coercing humanity away from that. I really hope that Blythe's vision can become a reality.
Love is the law, love under will.
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Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law.
@Ash said
"I agree, I hope that Blythe's vision becomes a reality.
I think that the desire to have some kind of "label" to attach to oneself is a very devious trap that is very common, especially in my case."
That desire is a very devious trap indeed...I personally battle it everyday, too...
Our ego-identity "labels" are interesting. It seems as if those desires of belonging are based on acceptance from our peers. I believe these are imprints based on wanting to be accepted by ourselves ("divine" or otherwise) and that gets muddled along with the rest of our desires...which seems to set the stage for "corporate religions".
I'm probably leaving this comment because I just want to be accepted by myself?
Or, I could just be bored at work...
Love is the law, love under will.
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An examination of historical religious development provides (at least) some sort of framework upon which to base speculations such as these. But again, these are just speculations.
"What do you think will happen over the course of the New Aeon?"
That, my friend, is entirely impossible to say. One may conjecture, however, that what we call "modern civilization" will collapse unless steps are taken to rectify such matters as environmental imbalance, industrial pollution, and existing political dichotomies.
"Will the monotheistic religions become more Thelemic? Will they be literally overthrown?"
Panta rei. Notice that during the development of Christianity the fundamental truths of the religion sprung slowly from a single seed, gradually usurping existing social structures. However, from the advent of the "religion" itself (which really began as a minor provincal cult), there was a span of some hundreds of years.
"Will "entirely new" religions pop up that are in an entirely Thelemic vein? (Of course, "new religions" build heavily on older ones, but I think you get my point)."
Again using Christianity as an example, religion can never replace local customs. Hence we find traces of Greek mystery cults and their practices in Christianity: for example, the sharing of the sacrament of wine and bread; also, Paul's epistles fairly reek of Sophist and Platonic influences.
Then again, the principles of Thelema aren't those of Christianity. For instance, Jesus instructed his disciples to "spread the word," and hence we find throughout history hordes of wild-eyed believers intent on systematically indoctrinating illiterate savages, for the purpose of ensuring their "eternal salvation" (or perhaps their gold.
) Thelema has no such doctrine of conversion, and so we may expect it to gain power by other means.All in all, the advent of the Aeon of Horus will be something entirely new, novel, exciting and unpredictable. What matters most, as Sir Blythe points out, is that each individual concentrates on the development of his own particular Will.
However, a good case could be made for simply "trampling the heathen." However, every "Thelemite" to whome I've mentioned the possiblity (just the possibility, mind you.) of armed Thelemic conquest (or even the aggrandizement of land and wealth) has reacted with complete aversion or indifference. As though the idea were my own, and not a concept inherent in Liber AL.
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I think the shift towards this burgeoning consciousness will be more rapid than that of the early gnostic pre-Christian cult. I say this because information travels much faster today what with the internet and the slow democratization of technology (cable industry crashing, being replaced by webtv for instance). The network is in place and there are people searching. You don't need to convert others, a simple website with information can do the job that draws people into social interactions, such as this board. Islam doesn't believe in proselytizing either and the conditions were perfect to spread that message.
Anyway, I think thelema is just the seed that will serve to propogate the next level of consciousness we seek.
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@Alrah said
"Not sure about that. There were different social mechanisms working for the ancients. Doesn't seem like we're ahead... comparitively. These things are organic, no matter what technology of comminication we have."
I agree and disagree. While there is certainly a huge infrastructure surrounding technology, and one that should be tapped, this infrastructure rides on the success or failure of situations dependent of the structure itself. We all remember that Y2K business, don't we? That light bulb don't light itself.
Then again, while it lasts, technology should be used in much the same way as a cheap whore: use it, but don't get too comfortable! One day you'll wake up with a strange itch and you'll be begging for a tiny comb.
