Aleister Crowley lived a life of rebellion
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Aleister Crowley (1875-1947) was perhaps the most controversial personality to figure in the new era of modern day witchcraft. Born in England, the son of Emily and Edward, he was brought up in an atmosphere of strict religious piety. His parents were devout Christians and staunch members of the Plymouth Brethren sect. His whole life seems to have been a revolt against his parents and everything they stood for. (Wikipedia, the online encyclopedia)
He was educated at Trinity College at Cambridge where he first became interested in the occult. In 1899, Crowley is reported to have become a member of a coven, but was dismissed after a time due to his contemptuous attitude toward women, his personal ego and his sexual perversion.
Crowley travelled much, especially in the East studying Eastern Occult systems including Buddhism and the ‘I Ching.’ As he delved deeper into the occult, he became infamous as a Black magician and Satanist. He openly identified himself with the number 666, the biblical number for the antichrist.
Toward the end of his life, a friend introduced Crowley to Gerald B. Gardner. A certain Leo Ruickbie has said that Crowley played a crucial role in helping Gardner establish a new pagan religion called Wicca. Wiccan initiation rituals are lifted directly from Crowley’s “Gnostic Mass” written for the Ordo Templi Orientis in 1913.
The sordid details of his life are far too lurid to repeat here, but suffice it to say that the British press dubbed him the “Wickedest Man in the World.”
His philosophy of life was: “Do as thou wilt shall be the whole of the law.”
Crowley died penniless and a drug addict. Unrepentant and unbowed, he left this world with a final snub at the society that he had rejected. He left instructions that he was to be cremated and instead of the usual religious service, his “Hymn to Pan” and other extracts from his writing were to be proclaimed from the pulpit.
Wilbur M. Smith once said, “Men who are going to be disciples of these lords of naturalism must expect never to come into the experience of joy for which their very hearts were created.” Crowley undoubtedly had times of pleasure in his sinful way, but real joy surely eluded him.
For much more on this influential Satanist, type in Aleister Crowley in Google or some other search engine. It is said that Crowley’s ideas had a part in the throwing off of moral restraints in the 1960’s as many musicians and popular personalities, including the Beatles, picked up on his ideas.
How to account for such aberrant behavior? Unfortunately, there are some who rebel against the Christian religion for any number of reasons. Then there just seems to be a group of people who want to be different and spout some esoteric ideas in order to impress people. Then, there are unstable, disordered and unthinking people who are taken in by these weird ideas.
Raymond F. Smith is a deacon at Fellowship Bible Church in Victoria and President of Strong Families of Victoria.
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Aleister Crowley was a show man with an ego that craved constant attention, and something a a media darling of his day. He called himself the Great Beast and the whole 666 bit to shock people and gain attention. It worked rather well. But a Devil worshiper, there is no evidence of that. He certainly was an occultist and a scholar, among many other things. Wickedest man alive, hardly, in fact he would not come close to a Stalin, a Hitler, or a great many modern day drug king p[ns, or many of our politicians for that matter. Certainly he become addicted to drug and probably was bisexual and likely liked arranging orgies. You probably would not want to bring him to the church social or to visit you Aunt Molly.
There is no evidence that he met with Gardner more than a few times and no evidence that they were ever close or that Crowley even thought much about Gardner. Interesting that he does not mention him in his diary.
As for Gardner borrowing from Crowley, Gardner also borrowed heavily from the Masons and every other magical society. Still true today, Wicca borrows from anything that can't run fast enough to get away. But then it keeps a bit and throws away a lot as well like every other religion, and that includes Judaism, Christianity or Muhammadanism when they were forming.
July 15, 2008 at 11:16 a.m.Most excellent article. Thanks for the read.
July 13, 2008 at 8:40 p.m.Just as point of historical accuracy. While Crowley did know Gerald Gardener. Crowley sold gardener a charter to bring a then fledgling Wicca into the Thelema. However Gerald never used it and more importantly when the charter was discovered. It was surprise to Doreen Valiente as well as to others who had worked and study with Gerald.
Crowleys influnce is more of a case of Gardener using the familier rituals. Rather than any direct influence of Crowley. I refer you to this url to help clarify and to understand a bit of Wiccan history as well as some the controversy that does surround the mans life.
http://www.geraldgardner.com/
Blessed Be
July 13, 2008 at 8:25 p.m.Well I think the legend is probably bigger than the man but he was certainly an interesting character. But the most evil man in the world I don't know about that. what about Hitler or Amin or Stalin even. And he wrote some really erotic and disgusting poetry. In fact, he was a lot of things including a British secret agent and also a friend with L.Ron Hubbard who stole some of the beliefs of Crowley and started Scientology! He was also a womanizer and a closet homosexual. Hmm, And he died in a London boarding house when the doctor refused to give him heroin(which he was addicted to). Is this all fact? Maybe.
July 13, 2008 at 7:44 p.m.Psalm 69:
This is the Holy Hexagram.
July 13, 2008 at 8:30 a.m.Plunge from the height, O God, and interlock with Man!
Plunge from the height, O Man, and interlock with Beast!
The red Triangle is the descending tongue of grace; the Blue Triangle is the ascending tongue of prayer.
This Interchange, the Double Gift of Tongues, the Word of Double Power - ABRAHADABRA! - is the sign of the GREAT WORK, for the GREAT WORK is accomplished in Silence. And behold is not the Word equal to Cheth, that is Cancer, whose sigil is 69?
This Work also eats up itself, accomplishes its own end, nourishes the worker, leaves no seed, is perfect in itself.
Little children, love one another!
- Aleister Crowley, The Great Beast, The Wickedest Man in England.
Agape!
93 93/93
July 12, 2008 at 6:56 p.m.every man an woman is a star
July 12, 2008 at 3:10 p.m.