The unknown God W. T. Smith and the Thelemites / Martin P. Starr.
| Author/creator | Starr, Martin P., 1959- |
| Other author | Oxford University Press. |
| Format | Electronic |
| Edition | Second edition. |
| Publication Info | New York, NY : Oxford University Press, [2024] |
| Description | xxii, 415 pages : illustrations ; 24 cm. |
| Supplemental Content | Full text available from Oxford Scholarship Online |
| Subjects |
| Series | Oxford studies in western esotericism |
| Abstract | "This book is the first documentary study of Thelema, a 20th Century new religious movement in the magical family, founded by the occultist and prophet of a new age of personal freedom, Aleister Crowley (1875-1947). The history of the Thelema movement is recounted through the biography of its leader, Wilfred Talbot Smith (1885-1957), who was an early convert to Crowley's revealed religion, a unique brand of apocalyptic esotericism. Smith established Crowley's occult orders primarily the Ordo Templi Orientis (OTO) in British Columbia and in California. Crowley provided the concepts; Smith and his associates made them take flesh, applying Crowley's doctrine of "Do what thou wilt" and the sex magic teachings of the OTO, cementing them as an essential part of the esoteric religious underground of the 20th century. This study provides a contextual overview of the elements of Crowley's novel bricolage, which includes Freemasonry, Theosophy, Rosicrucianism, Neo-Gnosticism and other related forms of Western Esotericism, demonstrating the considerable overlap between apparently disparate ideologies, groups, and participants. The book reconstructs Smith's social network, which included Cal Tech rocket scientist Jack Parsons, the Rosicrucian leader H. Spencer Lewis, the Hollywood film star John Carradine and gay liberationist Harry Hay"-- Provided by publisher. |
| Bibliography note | Includes bibliographical references and index. |
| Access restriction | Available only to authorized users. |
| Technical details | Mode of access: World Wide Web |
| Genre/form | Electronic books. |
| LCCN | 2023057362 |
| ISBN | 9780197744512 (hardback) |
| ISBN | (epub) |
Availability
| Library | Location | Call Number | Status | Item Actions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electronic Resources | Access Content Online | ✔ Available |