Aleister Crowley borrowed the idea of
Thelema from the
16th century writer,
Francois Rabelais.
Rabelais' book, "
Gargantua and
Pantagruel," describes the contruction of a
monastery, the
Abbey of Theleme for a new
religious order "contrary to all others".
The Abbey of Theleme admitted women and men on a basis of equality. Rather than taking vows of chastity, poverty, and obedience, the monks and nuns of the order were at liberty to marry, be rich and to leave at any time. The order had one rule, strictly observed: do what thou wilt.
Crowley repeated this commandment in The Book of the Law, and even attempted to create Rabelais' utopia in Italy under the name of the Abbey of Thelema.