does anyone know who?

[jillkirby]

who aleister crowley was?

[incitatus]

Early 20th century british satanist, magician, orgiast and wierdo who would do anything to get his name in the papers. Think Geri Halliwell's evil grandfather. (that's merely a description. I don't think they are related.)

[SRAYN1]

Two Answerbank features have been written about Crowley. Click here: http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/Article.go?id=1605
Or here: http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/Article.go?id=3050

[HotWireD]

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Aleister Crowley was born in the late Victorian Era in England. His parents were members of an obscure religious group. His parents being particularly overbearing. At a young age, he discovered he was the Great Beast '666' He went to university at Oxford and played chess for his college. He was an accomplished mountaineer & walker, climbing many mountains & holding a record for walking quickly uphill. He walked extensively in China & cast the I'ching (a divinatory technique every day). He studied many religions & philosophies & authored many books about his findings, which are scholarly but can be a trifle obscure. He dropped out of university before completion,. On an excursion to Egypt he (states) he was contacted by a Holy Guardian Angel, predicting a New Age and Mr Crowley as its first prophet. He wrote the Book of the Law, a text explaining the morality & behaviour required for the New Aeon. The centenary of this New Aeon was 2004. He rarely had any money, but was supported by donations from his friends and colleagues. He became a herion addict, wrote a book about it, & also wrote a treatise on how to get off herion addiction. He died a herion addict. He was pilloried by the press of the time. He was respected (whether he was liked or not) by the occultists of the time. It is reputed that he inflenced the founder of Scientology and Wicca. From recordings of his voice (made on ancient recording devices) his voice was similar to Winston Churchill's (my opinion). When he died, one of his poems was read at his funeral.
KEYWORDS Thelema, Hermetic, Golden Dawn, Silver Star, O.T.O. Age of Horus, TAROT.
PS Adding up the numerical values of the letters (in one particular system) of his name equaled 666, however, only after he changed the spelling of his name by adding an 'E'.

Incitatus is also completely correct in his reply.

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