While I personally think this is a horrible way to start a study, it is an unfortunate necessity when it comes to any serious thelemic topic of discussion.
Christians usually start out their discussions on theology by debating the existence of their God. If their God exists then everything else in their religion falls into place nicely. The bible is valid because their God inspired it. Therefore if the bible is valid and inspired by their God then everything in it must be truthful. That's the abbreviated version, but it hits the highlights fairly if reductively and from there it merely rolls downhill gathering speed and moss.
I find it to be an interesting study by its own right that any religion necessitates discussing the validity of its sacred text before any discussion of its core beliefs. For if a god or set of gods or merely an intelligence higher than humanity is capable of communicating with man, then it seems that should be one of the first assumptions of a religion. When it comes to Thelema, however, it is my assertion that we approach our hierology very, very badly.
Personally speaking, I think that most Thelemites are backwards in their approach to religion and spirituality more than just about any other religion on the planet. But because there are so many that are caught up in the necroguruism of the last six decades, sometimes it takes a backwards approach to open the doors of the mind and soul to a different way of looking at Thelema.
The question was submitted to me by an outsider: what constitutes a thelemic worldview? I shall begin to endeavor to answer that question with as much direct evidence as I can.
