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I kinda figured that we had "Ask a" everything else. 
And I often end up answering questions about Thelema if I mention my religious affiliation, so I thought I'd knock some of them out...
To start things off, I'll answer the common question - What is a Thelemite?
A Thelemite is a follower of Thelema.
Thelema is the Greek word for "will."
Thelema is two tiered - it's both an esoteric philosophy, and a religion.
The philosophical part is based on Thelemic law, which goes as follows:
"Do what thou wilt be the whole of the law."
"Love is the law, love under will."
"There is no law but do what thou wilt."
We've got Thelemic law thanks to Aleister Crowley, who was one of the Thelemic prophets...though not necessarily the best example of Thelema.
"Will," in Thelemic terms, does not mean "Whatever you feel like doing," but "What your highest aspirations are." The catch is that you aren't to interfere with anyone else's will, because to do so would be in violation of your will.
Thelemites are also really big on love and unity. All things are to be done in love. Sin, in fact, is only defined as the restriction of love. The prophetic book, Liber AL vel Legis, instructs Thelemites "Also, take your fill and will of love as ye will, when, where and with whom ye will!"
Liber AL is the central book of Thelema. Study of it is discouraged. We more read it every once in a while, and go "Hey, I never noticed that before!" and continue on our way.
It's actually impossible to be anything but a Fundamentalist Thelemite, as the fundamental belief is that everyone is individual and able to make their own decisions as to how to apply Thelema to their lives.
Religious Thelema revolves around the worship of deity (however the Thelemite may see said deity), under various names. The best known are Nuit, Hadit, and Ra-Hoor-Khuit, which are taken from the Egyptian pantheon, and are taken to represent infinite possibility, infinite realization, and the moment of contact between them, respectively. Another popular Thelemic deity name pair are Babalon and Therion, which represent a Tantric Shiva/Shakti principle, and tend to be highly accessible...especially Babalon, for various reasons.
The chief agency for Thelemic religious worship is the Ecclesia Gnostica Catholica, aka the Gnostic Catholic Church, via the Gnostic Mass. This is closely aligned with the Caliphate O.T.O., which is the "official" magickal lodge founded by A.C.
And I often end up answering questions about Thelema if I mention my religious affiliation, so I thought I'd knock some of them out...To start things off, I'll answer the common question - What is a Thelemite?
A Thelemite is a follower of Thelema.
Thelema is the Greek word for "will."
Thelema is two tiered - it's both an esoteric philosophy, and a religion.
The philosophical part is based on Thelemic law, which goes as follows:
"Do what thou wilt be the whole of the law."
"Love is the law, love under will."
"There is no law but do what thou wilt."
We've got Thelemic law thanks to Aleister Crowley, who was one of the Thelemic prophets...though not necessarily the best example of Thelema.
"Will," in Thelemic terms, does not mean "Whatever you feel like doing," but "What your highest aspirations are." The catch is that you aren't to interfere with anyone else's will, because to do so would be in violation of your will.
Thelemites are also really big on love and unity. All things are to be done in love. Sin, in fact, is only defined as the restriction of love. The prophetic book, Liber AL vel Legis, instructs Thelemites "Also, take your fill and will of love as ye will, when, where and with whom ye will!"
Liber AL is the central book of Thelema. Study of it is discouraged. We more read it every once in a while, and go "Hey, I never noticed that before!" and continue on our way.
It's actually impossible to be anything but a Fundamentalist Thelemite, as the fundamental belief is that everyone is individual and able to make their own decisions as to how to apply Thelema to their lives.
Religious Thelema revolves around the worship of deity (however the Thelemite may see said deity), under various names. The best known are Nuit, Hadit, and Ra-Hoor-Khuit, which are taken from the Egyptian pantheon, and are taken to represent infinite possibility, infinite realization, and the moment of contact between them, respectively. Another popular Thelemic deity name pair are Babalon and Therion, which represent a Tantric Shiva/Shakti principle, and tend to be highly accessible...especially Babalon, for various reasons.
The chief agency for Thelemic religious worship is the Ecclesia Gnostica Catholica, aka the Gnostic Catholic Church, via the Gnostic Mass. This is closely aligned with the Caliphate O.T.O., which is the "official" magickal lodge founded by A.C.
