I think the views below show this  is where the magical 
practitioner/academic issue begins to bite. In current Pagan studies the 
idea of magic/religion being separate is generally seen to be outdated, in 
the anthroplogy of ritual (ie Catherine Bell) there seems to be such a 
porous understanding of what "ritual" might be that the arguments become a 
matter of semantics rather than  research, but I am sure there are those in 
religoius studies, such as a couple I have seen on this forum discussing 
conversion to Wicca, who would welcome such a dichotomous framework and 
indeed endorse it. That said  I  agree when you say "I just think that it is 
useful to define magick that is focused on self development as secular and 
distinct from magickal rites performed as part of a religious observance.", 
that is something that has been defined and redefined for ever, ie operative 
vs ceremonial magic, low vs high magic etc, and proably needs to be 
redefined according to each writer.

Thelema is a funny thing, it can be so much to so many people, as someone 
who  has written on the Book of the Law your opinion is obviousy a carefully 
considered one. I'd just say that if you do write more academically using 
this framework you would perhaps want to  explain your own reflexive stand 
point and give it a few academic references to support it, whilst showing 
that you are aware of some of the more recent paradigms in the study of 
religion, particularly magical religion within the field of religious 
studies as this is where such concepts are most intensively discussed (Susan 
Greenwood, Christopher Partridge,  Wouter Hannegraaf).

My own point of view as to whether Thelema is religion is simply that it can 
be if the practitioner wants it to be. I have known people within Thelemic 
Orders, body officers etc, who came to Thelema as a philosophy, or a way of 
life, or even because they loved its cultural heritage, but were not 
practising magicians or religiously inclined. I have seen ardent self 
proclaimed atheist anarchist Thelemites who do seem to worship Aleister 
Crowley. Within an academic context I do like Mogg Morgan/Caroline Tully's 
comments on Thelema as Khemetic religion, and do  know of people today who 
have an eclectic Pagan practice that includes "khemetic rites" that are 
based on Crowley rather than historical Egyptian religion.

regards

Melissa.


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "D G Mattichak jr" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Monday, September 05, 2011 10:08 AM
Subject: Re: [ACADEMIC-STUDY-MAGIC] Is Thelema modern?


Perhaps it is outmoded but as a very experienced practioner of magick I see 
it as separate to any religious beliefs that I hold. Having said that I 
appreciate that often the practice of magick does cross over into religious 
observance. Egypt is the most obvious example of this but it was by no means 
the norm, nor is it now. I just think that it is useful to define magick 
that is focused on self development as secular and distinct from magickal 
rites performed as part of a religious observance.

As to the Gnostic Mass, I find that I am unable to agree with using so much 
of Crowley's personal spiritual interpretation in my own beliefs.  Neither 
Chaos, Baphomet nor Babalon appear in the text of the Book of the Law and my 
own investigations of the Holy Books leaves me unconvinced of their 
veracity. They are inspired works of literature but I do not feel that they 
are the inspired words of a prophet.

When I first began to study magick I was told by more experienced occultists 
to beware of Crowley's works and my own experience is that that was good 
advice. I hold no taboos about the title religion but I don't think magick 
has been about religion, for myself anyway. That said I cannot understand 
why it is such an emotive issue among magicians and Thelemites generally.