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From: Balanone@tefnut.astaroth.sacbbx.com (Balanone)
Date: 15 Feb 95 20:27:18 
Newsgroups: alt.satanism
Subject: K@os FAQ and the good sense you were born with.
Message-ID: <9ab_9502160601@astaroth.sacbbx.com>
X-FTN-To: TOKUS
Lines: 56

On Feb 10, 1995,
responding to kfilan@delphi.com quoting nemoiii@aol.com
TOKUS wrote 
Re: K@os FAQ and the good sense you were born with.


 T> |[Setians] are _far_ more similar to Thelemic groups like
 T> the O.T.O. than  |to LaVey's C.O.S.  

T> I'm curious as to why you say this.  The degree system
T> derived of masonic secrecy-mongering?  The hierarchy?  The
T> principle-centrism and relative dogmatism while allowing for
T> variation of opinion within membership?  The centering upon
T> a single scripture?  I don't know enough about both orgs to
T> understand your comment here, but I'd be grateful for
T> elaboration. 

Is that a tongue I see in your cheek?

The degree system of the ToS parallels the original CoS degree system
of five degrees (novice, adept, Priest, Master, Magus) rather than the
more complex and convoluted systems of the Thelemic and pre-
Thelemic groups.

The ToS and CoS both carry the same basic hierarchy, centered in the
High Priest. The main differences between them are the checks and
balances in the ToS (where the High Priest doesn't own the
organization). But then until his death Crowley's organizations were
all run by Crowley, no?

The ToS is principle-centered (what a phrasing!) on Xeper, and the
CoS is centered on Indulgence. Both are relatively dogmatic in that
they firmly hold the value of Indulgence and/or Xeper, and relatively
undogmatic in how they pursue that central philosophy. But the OTO
could claim the same concerning Thelema, no?

Yes, the ToS has its _Book of Coming Forth by Night_, but it also has
the /Word of Set/, and a few other central documents. The CoS has its
_Bible_. The OTO has the _Volume AL_ and its own limited set of holy
scriptures written by Crowley.

All of the points you bring out are similarities between the ToS and
CoS, not differences, and all but the first also apply equally to the
OTO as I see it. You'll need to be more creative than that.


Balanone
   PP

FidoNet:  Balanone at 1:203/444.15
Internet: Balanone@tefnut.astaroth.sacbbx.com


... Dogmatism: Puppyism come to its full growth.                               

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