Existentialism and Buddhism: Dostoevski, Kierkegaard and Nishitani

[Phavonic]

Has no one ever considered the similarities between Kierkegaard and Aleister Crowley? There is a lot on Kierkegaard and Nietzsche already written, but I think SK and AC are much more profoundly striking in comparison.

Consider Crowley's "the only sin is restriction" and Kierkegaard's "sin is the lack of faith"....and Crowley's "magical will" and Kierkegaard's "teleological suspension/ethical leap" etc. etc....so much the nominal "satanist" can learn from, for one.

[robbymvb]

@Phavonic Isn't Crowley far more Nietzschean than Kierkegaardian?

[Phavonic]

@robbymvb That's a good point. The thing is is that in philosophy there is already a debate of how Keirkegaard and Nietzsche are two sides of the same coin, I just modified that suggestion a bit. The way AC describes the magical will always has similarities in SK's description of Christian faith.

Another example I just found was AC's Liber 2, speaking of not having two wills but one will, and then SK's discourse "Purity of Heart is to Will One Thing". All besides whether it is Christ or Beast

[Barklord]

@Phavonic I was just reading Purity of Heart is a Will to One Thing a few minutes ago and thought of Crowley too.

[Phavonic]

Great. I found loads of other likenesses since then. Kierkegaard has another book called "Works of Love" which is a commentary on Romans 13:10 "Love is the Fulfilling of the Law" and he makes it sound again like Crowley's "Love is the Law, Love under Will".

His emphasis is loving one's neighbor *as oneself* (every man and woman is star, etc.). Very good.

I'm sure there is only one true religion in all this.

[freedomtrain007]

Great job. Christ's teachings are amazing and never fully preached in church. The sad truth is that most don't want to stand on their own or take that leap of faith. "Know Thyself." If one doesn't learn to hold their own, one will surely own their hold. God bless :)

[ichingedina]

gREAT Video - smart girl