study guides
study guide for superdomain05b ["universe"]
Pasi, M. (2003). The neverendingly told story: Recent biographies of Aleister Crowley. Aries, 3, 2.
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1. Know whether or not it is true that, a century after Yeats’ letter, moral boundaries seem to have shifted to such an extent that Crowley does not seem to attract the same kind of public damnation that was levelled at him during his lifetime. Know whether or not Crowley figured in 2002 in a top-100 list of “greatest Britons”, based upon a BBC poll. Know whether or not, whatever one’s judgment upon his morality and behavior, Crowley obviously did have some literary and intellectual genius.
2. Know whether or not Crowley, independently from his achievements or failures in other fields, should be considered, as far as the history of Western esotericism is concerned, as an important and influential author. Know whether or not Hutchinson, in fact, had found the Scotland Yard dossier on Crowley, of which many suspected the existence, but no one had as yet seen. Know whether or not Symonds had at his disposal all that was needed in order to produce a definitive biography.
3. Know whether or not Symonds was the first biographer to write on Crowley. Know whether or not Symonds’ assessment of Crowley appears tendentious and one-sided. Know whether or not all three biographies considered here are the result of patient research, involving several years of work in each case. Know whether or not, among the three biographies reviewed here, it must be said that Booth’s is the most disappointing, at least from a strictly scholarly point of view. Know whether or not, when Booth briefly discusses the relationship between Nazism and the occult, he surprisingly adds that “the Gestapo even maintained their own black magical lodges.”
4. Know whether or not Crowley left Germany in 1932, returning to England and not leaving the country again until his death in 1947. Know whether or not two aspects have been treated with considerable sensitivity by Sutin: Crowley’s homosexuality and his relationship with Christianity. Know whether or not the Crowley depicted by Sutin is much less self-confident, both in his religious and sexual choices, than the one described in earlier biographies. Know whether or not Sutin rightly dismisses Crowley’s “irrefutable” rational arguments for proving its authenticity, pointing out – if need be – that they convince only those who wish to be convinced from the beginning.
5. Know whether or not Sutin seems to suggest in various places that Crowley was influenced by original Tantric practices or ideas, and that the origin of his sexual magic is to be found here as much as in Theodor Reuss’ O.T.O. teachings. Know whether or not Sutin seems uneasy (much like Booth and Kaczynski, it must be said) with classical culture.
6. Know whether or not the authors [of the reviewed works] share some common characteristics: they are all based in the United States; they are in close contact with, or members of, the Caliphate O.T.O., whose archive is naturally one of their main research facilities. Know whether or not Kaczynski provides an excellent list of manuscript collections that hold material related to Crowley, which is obviously of great practical use for the student.
7. Know whether or not Kaczynski seems sometimes insecure when he discusses occultist organizations or groups, such as the Golden Dawn, the O.T.O., Crowley’s A\A\, and the Stella Matutina. Know whether or not there is any evidence that William W. Westcott or Annie Besant were ever members (or even "supporters") of the O.T.O. Know whether or not Kaczynski shows a tendency to present Crowley’s activities, and discuss them, in a way that is most favorable for him. Know whether or not, regarding animal sacrifices, the only reason Kaczynski offers appears to be the fact that, in his eyes, these “rumours” are too “wild” to be credible.
8. Know whether or not, on controversial points Crowley’s statements should not be taken as decisive, and further evidence should always be looked for. Know whether or not Kaczynski is right in remarking that there was probably some real religious sentiment behind Crowley’s poems. Know whether or not Crowley was a man of strong passions and whether “hate” was certainly one of them, and “blasphemy” (in the specific context we are referring to) one of its effects. Know whether or not secret societies were banned in Italy only in 1925, two full years after Crowley’s expulsion.
9. Know whether or not it is true that Crowley was certainly not seen as a concrete danger by Mussolini’s regime, but rather as an embarrassing nuisance to get rid of as soon as possible. Know whether or not, according to Sutin, the negative publicity of Crowley’s presence in Italy, while British tabloids were attacking him relentlessly, was viewed by the Fascists as reflecting poorly upon their regime.
10. Know whether or not Sutin is the only one of the three biographers to drop Symonds and his secret societies theory altogether, tackling the matter afresh the way it should have been. Know whether or not we need more studies on specific aspects of Crowley, and whether any general biography will ever be able to answer all questions concerning him. Know whether or not it is true that perhaps it is time to move on, from a neverendingly told story to a search for as yet untold stories.
"As Below, So Above"
