“Do what thou wilt . . . ” is the first part. Here’s an excerpt from a wikipedia article on Thelema.

[The fundamental axiom, tenet, or boilerplate underlying Thelema—known as the “Law of Thelema”—is “Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law”. The traditional corresponding phrase is “Love is the law, love under will.” Other common phrases, coined by Aleister Crowley, which are associated with Thelema are, “It is the mark of the mind untrained to take its own processes as valid for all men, and its own judgments for absolute truth“, and “For pure will, unassuaged of purpose, delivered from the lust of result, is every way perfect.“ These expressions can be characterized as having moral, mystical, and socio-political implications. In the Thelemic worldview or model, each person has a “True Will” and (insofar as each person acts in accordance with his or her Will) the nature of a person’s interactions with the world (or universe) is a form of “love” or harmony. This is expressed further by a third metaphor, “every man and every woman is a star,” which portrays the distinct nature of every individual as residing in a non-overlapping point of space and time; collisions between different persons being infrequent if each is aware of—and acting in accordance with—their true purpose in life.]

If that wiki description is accurate I would have no concern about associating with a Thelamite (as long as he didn’t try to convert me – haha)

” Ostendens credenti, cave ”

“Believer beware”

Got it.

Nice story. I might try taking my shirt off when they arrive.

aMEN!, BROTHER!

AND DM is quaking in his teenie, tiny, handmade, oh-so-expensive boots.

My wife passed by the computer, saw my 11:14 AM comment, and said my reply was unclear and confusing. Thus:

I am certain that SINCERE followers who believe their leaders are holding themselves to a higher standard would be categorically unable to believe that those leaders were insincere or didn’t care about fidelity to that higher power or its decrees. Usually, the lower-level followers are themselves exhorted to hold themselves to a higher standard than non-believers, so OF COURSE it follows that their leaders would hold to an even higher standard of moral &ethical behavior.

That’s for damn sure, jere lull!

I think this touches on a major issue of our times, related to other significant trends, in which there seems to be an ascendant strain of radical belief that anything under cover of religion should be free of any sort of governmental oversight – not even necessarily complying with regulations or even laws. It’s unfortunately supported by influential and even wealthy ministries and evangelists who cynically don’t want their own finances and cash streams scrutinized.

Sadly, I think it’s going to take some major scandals, and probably also a generational change, before even some sort of reasonable compromise can be reached.

OSD:
“”I’ve got some people that would like to start a small war. Maybe that’ll help.”

Sometimes, I like your style, but I’m enjoying my sedentary retirement and you’ve got your required board time.