Esoteric Orders?

[EliPledge]

May seem an unusual question, but which occult/esoteric order would be the best to join: Rosicrucians, Freemasons, Golden dawn, any other?

[Noneck]

Spanish Inquisition.

[TommyC]

Best in what terms...? Like everything else, I think it must depend on exactly what you're looking for. Personally, I never understood the purpose of a secret society (except, obviously, under occupation in wartime) and from what I understand, in our very secular world today these organisations (and many others) are little more now than groups of shopkeepers, small businessmen and police officers, who want a social life away from the masses and with the possibility thrown in of some unspecified career advancement. But they all have roots in various pagan religions, and having just watched a very unpleasant documentary about two deranged German satanists who cold-bloodedly murdered an acquaintance for no obvious reason, I must say that I'm relieved that I've never been involved with any of these strange remnants of the middle ages on the fringes of society. Sorry if that's not the answer you're looking for.

[EliPledge]

Well, Satanists can't be Pagans since Satan is a Christian construct. Dennis "Killing for Company" Nielsen was a member of the SWP and the Anti Nazi League - does that make all Leftys psycopathic serial killers? I was really wondering which Order's "course" give the best and most comprehensive insight into various kinds of esoteric systems.

[tartanwiz]

There is no need to join an occult circle. You can buy books on the subject from large city bookshops or check out the net.

[Janetex]

Epicurians.

[Bob...]

Did someone mention the Spanish Inquisition ?

[Lyn]

I don't like to join any order really, because somewhere down the line ther is always some deeds to do tht we don't agree with, it then becomes a battle of sorts. All these Orers ahve their own set of rules and practices, some are, indeed, questionable. bye

[woofgang]

red hat society

[wayland]

These orders are all closely related, so their teachings are likely to be based on a similar mix of Qabalah, Egyptian myth, etc. (My father was the master of a freemason lodge, and friends of mine were in a branch of the Golden Dawn). The Golden Dawn did more teaching, I think. Personally, I wouldn't waste your time. The idea that the ancients possessed great secrets that can make us powerful or wise was popular in the 17th C. It chimed with an equivalent determinism in the physical sciences at the time (Newton, et al). A lot has happened to undermine that world view, both in the physical world and for those with spiritual beliefs.

[saffstar]

If you could find any surviving Knights Templars, they'd probably be cool to join. Do they count?

[pustule]

the way to go would be to join an upto date order say the teletubbies or the boobars failing that the Young Farmers union always know how to have a good booze up and if you are agile you might win the greased pig