The Thelemite in general has only the loose framework provided by Liber AL vel legis, the Holy Books and those things written by Aleister Crowley that he happens to understand and like.  The individual Thelemite tends to supplement this rough framework with pieces from divers philosophies and religions that they might find appealing or that are required by whatever group with which they may be affiliated.  The L'lithian current is an extension of this tendency and is attempting to provide a larger set of common symbology for the use of the aspiring magus.  Parallel to this is the desire of the Temple to also provide a common socio-political service to facilitate the binding of a group of people into a community.

Normally, mages and scholars  tend to focus on the negative aspects of religion - and there is quite a bit of negative expression in human history on which to focus.  Some even go so far as to posit that religion is nothing more than an instrument of the "state's" control.  What is so amusing is that these people are normally very intelligent and are usually capable of measured, reasoned dialog.  On religion, they are so busy reacting to Pat Roberson¹ and Rush Limbaugh² to think.

I ask this, if religion were so unnecessary, or purely a mechanism of State Control, why does some form of religious ceremony always manage to reintroduce itself?

I find the answer to be simple and logical. Let us -- for a moment -- assume that there is actually no spiritual fulfillment to be found from religion³.  What purpose then does religion hold?  Simply put, religion is a method by which a community is brought together for celebratory purpose, despite any personal differences there may be in the community.  Thus, strengthening of the community is the primary reason for religion.  If not for this reason, all spiritual activities would be adequately performed in solitary or in familial units.

As the vulgar year 1999 begins its move to the "End of the Millennium"⁴ -- we, as a community, are plagued by a host of social ills for which we cannot seem to implement a cure or in some cases even identify the cause.  A prerequisite for a functioning society is to have a society.  The Temple is one external and obvious method for achieving this goal of manifesting a functioning society.  The next step of the Temple is to provide a "central" source to be utilized in the implementation of the Thelemic Ideal of "Light, Love, Liberty and Life" as dictated by the needs of the community.

The Temple wishes to stand at the forefront of a socio-political and spiritual revolution that will enable every person to confess who they are and to actually initiate and fulfill those actions that arise from whom one is.  The Temple thus supports any action that fulfills an individual (so long as that fulfillment is not at the expense of another unwitting individual).  The Temple also hopes to build a society where such a statement is so unnecessary as to be considered humorously passé.

Add to this the spiritual qualities intrinsic to most any religion:

1. Contact with the divine for the non-magus and non-mystic;
2. A framework for utilization in magickal and mystical endeavors;
3. The creation of an ambient "magickal energy" which can be utilized by members for the good of the community;
4. The guidance and protection of tutelary deities (who, in our case, are opposed to subservience); and
5. The collective merging of all members of the society in spiritual endeavors, thus providing greater momentum for each participant.

Thus the need for a L'lithian Temple.

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1.  One of the more successful marketers of the corrupted Christian religion (circa 1999).  This will need to be updated periodically to reflect current examples.  { Return }

2.  A rather loud and bigoted "shock" jock (Radio Commentator) for the Conservative Christian Right.  This will need to be updated periodically to reflect current examples.  { Return }

3.  A position directly opposite that held by the Temple.  { Return }

4.  Despite the fact that the year 2000 is the last year of the Millennium.  { Return }