Was Aleister Crowley a Satanist or just a controversial magician?

Question

Btw, how did he die?

There was some really informative answers to this question thanks.

Answer 1

He was a ceremonial magician with an interest in Egyptian, Enochian, Kabbalistic and sex based magick. (BtW, he was the man who introduced the -k in magick to differentiate his variety of magic from all others. Pity it's since been used by every tin-pot magician and his brother.

He certainly did not worship satan as this would have to imply that he was a christian. He did however use the God forces of just about every god he could remember and that includes Pan (the nearest thing in some ways to satan). (See his master work - 777).

much of the time though he was really mostly a practical joker. Much of his writing is "tongue in cheek" and his works should be read with that in mind.
As well as being a magician, he was a poet and playwright. Much of his work is very fine although not up to "old master" levels. ometimes he would shock society by writing a book of extreme pornography as well - look up "Leah Sublime" on the web.

I thinkg history will probably remember him as the greatest mystic and magician of his time.

For further info, read the following of his books:

The Equinox
777
Magick (Incl. Magick in Theory and Practice)
The Book of the Law
The Book of the Heart Girt with the Serpent
The Tao Te Ching
The Book of Thoth
the Book of Lies (Falsely so-called)
Moonchild
The Fish
The Star in the West ( by Capt. J.F.C. Fuller)
The Autobiography of the Beast

Answer 2

I wouldn't say he was a Satanist, as he didn't worship 'Satan', or even accept the existence of such an entity as described in the bible. His description of himself as the great beast and the wickedest man in the world probably gained him the satanist label.
He was an occultist, and a libertine. Something of a self-obsessive, and certainly a hedonist, I've often wondered just how much of his own publicity he really believed. Was 'Do what thou will shall be the whole of the law' a profound bit of moral philosophy, or just a licence to indulge all his vices in a consequence-free environment?
I've read several of his books, and they can be a real struggle, as they are turgidly written and often pre-suppose a Victorian classical education and a familiarity with obscure literature. He certainly but a huge amount of work into trying to create a school of magik that was a true discipline . But sometimes I think I detect and almost self-satirising tone, as if it were all a huge joke.
The story is he died in poverty, in agony from cancer, denied pain-killing drugs by his Christian doctor.

BTW, I know some one whose dad claimed to have known Crowley. He said that had many conversations, all about art and literature, the occult never came up once. He knew my friends dad had no interest, so never even mentioned it.

Answer 3

Aleister Crowley was by his own admission and writings an occultist.

'He was involved as a young adult in the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn. He said that a mystical experience in 1904, while on vacation in Cairo, Egypt, led to his founding of the religious philosophy known as Thelema. ' (Wikipedia)

He was careful to market his own image and various rumours going around about him and the types of ceremonies he performed only added to his fame.

If nothing else he was one of the key figures promoting the revival of 'magick'.

'Aleister Crowley died of a respiratory infection in a Hastings boarding house on December 1, 1947, at the age of 72. According to some accounts, he died on December 5, 1947. He was penniless and addicted to heroin, which had been prescribed for his asthma and bronchitis, many years prior.' (Wikipedia)

Answer 4

Crowley was a controversial magician because first of all he claimed no religion that I know of. Also he used a large combination between Solomon's Keys and Egyptian magiks to accomplish what he wanted. He used a lot of destructive energy in all his spells thus becoming a more destructive person himself. I don't remember how he died. Sorry.

Answer 5

If you believe in magic and dark arts, you could say Crowley was a magician or Satanist. During his lifetime he has been linked to several cults.

If you don't believe in these things then you'll say he was just a very bad person, or "the wickedest person alive". His nickname.

He died of a respiratory infection while addicted to heroine.

Answer 6

I believe he wasa a satanists.
Aleister Crowley died of a respiratory infection in a Hastings boarding house on December 1, 1947, at the age of 72. According to some accounts, he died on December 5, 1947. He was penniless and addicted to heroin, which had been prescribed for his asthma and bronchitis, many years prior.

Biographer Lawrence Sutin passes on various stories about Crowley's death and last words. Frieda Harris supposedly reported him saying, "I am perplexed," though she did not see him at the very end. According to John Symonds, a Mr Rowe witnessed Crowley's death along with a nurse, and reported his last words as, "Sometimes I hate myself." Biographer Gerald Suster accepted the version of events he received from a "Mr W.H." in which Crowley dies pacing in his living-room. Supposedly Mr W.H. heard a crash while polishing furniture on the floor below, and entered Crowley's rooms to find him dead on the floor. Patricia "Deirdre" MacAlpine, the mother of his son, denied all this and reports a sudden gust of wind and peal of thunder at the (otherwise quiet) moment of his death. According to MacAlpine, Crowley remained bedridden for the last few days of his life, but was in light spirits and conversational. Readings at the cremation service in nearby Brighton included one of his own works, Hymn to Pan, and newspapers referred to the service as a black mass. Brighton council subsequently resolved to take all necessary steps to prevent such an incident occurring again.[22]

Answer 7

Crowley was both a Satanist and a 'magician'.
He was described as 'the wickedist man alive' (sic).
Crowley died as we all hope to do, in his bed.

Answer 8

A hedonist who was into ritual magic. He believed he was the "Beast" of the Bible. I'd say he was a Satanist, simply because he used things from the Bible. But he was a member of the Golden Dawn, OTO and a couple of other groups. He used what info he found there and started his own group.

I could be wrong on this, but I think he died of syphillis.

Answer 9

He was a ceremonial magician. I think you will find this link very interesting.
http://www.controverscial.com/Aleister%20Crowley.htm

Blessings )O(

Answer 10

He wasn't a Satanist, he was simply controversial.

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