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Is the Golden Dawn a religion? If so, what is it?

Neophyte

Miranda Kerr Worship
OK, I read a lot of things that say the Golden Dawn is not a religion. I tend to disagree with that though. It deals with gods, ideas of powers, things un-seen, etc. Heck, Wiccia is a religion, Satanism is a relgion, Thelema (OTO) is a relgion, how is the Golden Dawn not a religion.

If you believe it is a religion, what is it called?
 

Skwim

Veteran Member
"The Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn (or, more commonly, the Golden Dawn) was a magical order active in Great Britain during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, which practiced theurgy and spiritual development. It has been one of the largest single influences on 20th-century Western occultism.

Concepts of magic and ritual at the center of contemporary traditions, such as Wicca and Thelema, were inspired by the Golden Dawn.

The three founders, William Robert Woodman, William Wynn Westcott, and Samuel Liddell MacGregor Mathers were Freemasons and members of Societas Rosicruciana in Anglia (S.R.I.A.). Westcott appears to have been the initial driving force behind the establishment of the Golden Dawn.

The Golden Dawn system was based on hierarchy and initiation like the Masonic Lodges, however women were admitted on an equal basis with men. The "Golden Dawn" was the first of three Orders, although all three are often collectively referred to as the "Golden Dawn". The First Order taught esoteric philosophy based on the Hermetic Qabalah and personal development through study and awareness of the four Classical Elements as well as the basics of astrology, tarot divination, and geomancy. The Second or "Inner" Order, the Rosae Rubeae et Aureae Crucis (the Ruby Rose and Cross of Gold), taught proper magic, including scrying, astral travel, and alchemy. The Third Order was that of the "Secret Chiefs", who were said to be highly skilled; they supposedly directed the activities of the lower two orders by spirit communication with the Chiefs of the Second Order.



Most temples of the Alpha et Omega and Stella Matutina closed or went into abeyance by the end of the 1930s, with the exceptions of two Stella Matutina temples: Hermes Temple in Bristol, which operated sporadically until 1970, and the Whare Ra in Havelock North, New Zealand, which operated regularly until its closure in 1978."

SOURCE: Wikipedia
So it appears that whatever the nature of the Golden Dawn, it's now a "was" and not an "is."
 

Neophyte

Miranda Kerr Worship
"The Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn (or, more commonly, the Golden Dawn) was a magical order active in Great Britain during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, which practiced theurgy and spiritual development. It has been one of the largest single influences on 20th-century Western occultism.

Concepts of magic and ritual at the center of contemporary traditions, such as Wicca and Thelema, were inspired by the Golden Dawn.

The three founders, William Robert Woodman, William Wynn Westcott, and Samuel Liddell MacGregor Mathers were Freemasons and members of Societas Rosicruciana in Anglia (S.R.I.A.). Westcott appears to have been the initial driving force behind the establishment of the Golden Dawn.

The Golden Dawn system was based on hierarchy and initiation like the Masonic Lodges, however women were admitted on an equal basis with men. The "Golden Dawn" was the first of three Orders, although all three are often collectively referred to as the "Golden Dawn". The First Order taught esoteric philosophy based on the Hermetic Qabalah and personal development through study and awareness of the four Classical Elements as well as the basics of astrology, tarot divination, and geomancy. The Second or "Inner" Order, the Rosae Rubeae et Aureae Crucis (the Ruby Rose and Cross of Gold), taught proper magic, including scrying, astral travel, and alchemy. The Third Order was that of the "Secret Chiefs", who were said to be highly skilled; they supposedly directed the activities of the lower two orders by spirit communication with the Chiefs of the Second Order.



Most temples of the Alpha et Omega and Stella Matutina closed or went into abeyance by the end of the 1930s, with the exceptions of two Stella Matutina temples: Hermes Temple in Bristol, which operated sporadically until 1970, and the Whare Ra in Havelock North, New Zealand, which operated regularly until its closure in 1978."

SOURCE: Wikipedia
So it appears that whatever the nature of the Golden Dawn, it's now a "was" and not an "is."

The Golden Dawn still exists. It was never a big group, and still is not. There are still temples and solitary magicians. Anyway, I am curious as to what relgion they would be considered.
 

Jacksnyte

Reverend
The Golden Dawn still exists. It was never a big group, and still is not. There are still temples and solitary magicians. Anyway, I am curious as to what relgion they would be considered.

They are an offshoot of freemasonry. This means that they are a lodge (a fraternal order). There are people of quite a variety of religions who are affiliated with these lodges.
 

Skwim

Veteran Member
"The historic Golden Dawn (not to be confused with any current group borrowing the name) was formulated as an official school and extension of the German Rosicrucians in 1887 in London, England. It was based in part on an elusive set of cipher documents."
source


"While the Golden Dawn is not a religion in and of itself, it is governed by a strict creed of respect toward the Lord of the Universe."
source
 

painted wolf

Grey Muzzle
I'd say it's more of an add-on.

Having read some and skimmed the rest of the book of the Golden Dawn, I can say that IMHO it isn't a religion in itself. It's an attempt to control/manipulate the forces thought to run the world.

wa:do
 

Jacksnyte

Reverend
I'd say it's more of an add-on.

Having read some and skimmed the rest of the book of the Golden Dawn, I can say that IMHO it isn't a religion in itself. It's an attempt to control/manipulate the forces thought to run the world.

wa:do

The thing is, there are a myriad of "Golden Dawns" these days, and there is no one central book they all follow to the letter. It is an attempt to learn Greater Magick. What you stated sounds like Illuminati conspiracy fearmongering.
 
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Witch9

Member
Heck, Wiccia [sp :facepalm:] is a religion . . .

You do get caught up on definitions, don't you? Or, rather, not having specific definitions.

Yes, Wicca is a "religion" inasmuchas it is a belief in a supernatural power. And many governments have given it legal status as a "religion". But many Wiccans and most Witches do not consider either Wicca or the Craft to be religions because they are not "organized religions", there is no orthodoxy, no universal set of "rules", no common scripture, ...

e.g. Greencraft Tradition or Pebbles' Spiritual Cave
 
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Jacksnyte

Reverend

Most folks in the occult scene avoid Llewellyn. They are considered a poor source of accurate information. I would recommend The Golden Dawn by Israel Regardie, as well as anything on the subject put out by Falcon Press. I also find the books by Chic and Tabatha Cicero(sp?) to be valuable sources as well.
 

painted wolf

Grey Muzzle
Most folks in the occult scene avoid Llewellyn. They are considered a poor source of accurate information. I would recommend The Golden Dawn by Israel Regardie, as well as anything on the subject put out by Falcon Press. I also find the books by Chic and Tabatha Cicero(sp?) to be valuable sources as well.
Did you check this... It is the book by Israel Regardie.

wa:do
 

Neophyte

Miranda Kerr Worship
You do get caught up on definitions, don't you? Or, rather, not having specific definitions.

Yes, Wicca is a "religion" inasmuchas it is a belief in a supernatural power. And many governments have given it legal status as a "religion". But many Wiccans and most Witches do not consider either Wicca or the Craft to be religions because they are not "organized religions", there is no orthodoxy, no universal set of "rules", no common scripture, ...

e.g. Greencraft Tradition or Pebbles' Spiritual Cave

Quite simple...people ask me what religion I am a lot. I never know how to answer. I am not 100% GD, but I am following that path mostly. I am just looking for a label to give them. I believe in a God...creater of the universe, but I do not believe in any revealed religion.
 

Neophyte

Miranda Kerr Worship
You could just use "pagan"....

Is G.D the core of your spirituality, or is it a tool in that spirituality?

wa:do

A little of both...I don't believe in many Gods...just one.

I think of it as a tool with some spiritual truth to it. Like most religions, I feel there is some truth to them.
 

painted wolf

Grey Muzzle
A little of both...I don't believe in many Gods...just one.

I think of it as a tool with some spiritual truth to it. Like most religions, I feel there is some truth to them.
Then I would suggest going with the catch-all "pagan", "eclectic" or some-such.

wa:do
 

painted wolf

Grey Muzzle
Not always... Pagan generally means "non-christian", "non-abrahamic"... or "country dweller". Depending on how and who is using it. It's fun like that. ;)

I'm glad I could help. :D

wa:do
 
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