| Revision as of 03:12, 9 June 2004 editAshami (talk | contribs)253 edits clarification of Liber Legis and the nature of the Law of Thelema← Previous edit | Revision as of 04:00, 10 June 2004 edit undoAshami (talk | contribs)253 editsmNo edit summaryNext edit → | ||
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| '''Thelema''' is the English spelling of the Greek word 'Θελημα' which implies 'will' or 'intention.' | '''Thelema''' is the English spelling of the Greek word 'Θελημα' which implies 'will' or 'intention.' | ||
| '''Thelema''' is also the name of a philosophical/religious system established in 1904 with the writing of ], ]. The three chapters of this small book were received by ] in Cairo on |
'''Thelema''' is also the name of a philosophical/religious system established in 1904 with the writing of ], ]. The three chapters of this small book were received by ] in Cairo on April 8th, 9th, and 10th, respectively. The central doctrine of this system is that knowing and doing one's True Will is the ultimate purpose and duty of every being. This is summed up with the following phrases from Liber Legis, | ||
| *"Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law" (AL I:40) | *"Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law" (AL I:40) | ||
| *"Love is the law, love under will" (AL I:57) | *"Love is the law, love under will" (AL I:57) | ||
Revision as of 04:00, 10 June 2004
Thelema is the English spelling of the Greek word 'Θελημα' which implies 'will' or 'intention.'
Thelema is also the name of a philosophical/religious system established in 1904 with the writing of Liber AL vel Legis, The Book of the Law. The three chapters of this small book were received by Aleister Crowley in Cairo on April 8th, 9th, and 10th, respectively. The central doctrine of this system is that knowing and doing one's True Will is the ultimate purpose and duty of every being. This is summed up with the following phrases from Liber Legis,
- "Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law" (AL I:40)
- "Love is the law, love under will" (AL I:57)
- "The word of the law is Thelema" (AL I:39)
- "There is no law beyond Do what thou wilt" (AL III:60)
Thelema stresses personal Freedom (balanced by disciplined responsibility), the inherent divinity of every human ("Every man and every woman is a star" –AL I:3), and the battle against superstition, tyranny, and oppression.
The Greek Thelema is the basis of the word Thelemite, coined by François Rabelais, the 16th century French humorist-philosopher in his classic work Gargantua, where it is used to describe the dwellers in a sort of anti-monastery, the Abbey of Thélème. The word Thelemite appears in The Book of the Law, and is used self-referentially by the adherents of Thelema.
A number of organizations follow the tenets of Thelema. Primarily, these include Ordo Templi Orientis and the Argentinum Astrum, or A.'.A.'.
Compare with: Wiccan Rede
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