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5 Hidden Meanings Behind "Love Was The Law And Religion Was Taught"—From Pop Music To Occult Philosophy

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The phrase "Love was the law and religion was taught" has surged into the public consciousness this December 2025, not from an ancient philosophical text, but from the raw, emotional lyrics of a contemporary pop song. This potent line, a core component of Gigi Perez's viral track "Fable," is a modern, skeptical echo of a century-old occult maxim, forcing listeners to confront the complex tension between innate, universal love and the rigid structures of organized faith.

The immediate relevance of the quote lies in its powerful critique of disillusionment, particularly among younger generations grappling with personal loss and the failures of traditional institutions. To truly understand its depth, one must explore both its current context in popular music and its historical, philosophical roots in esoteric thought.

Gigi Perez: Biography and The Context of 'Fable'

The modern resurgence of the phrase "Love was the law and religion was taught" is inextricably linked to the rising American singer-songwriter, Gigi Perez.

  • Full Name: Gianna Brielle Perez
  • Date of Birth: February 4, 2000 (Age 25 as of late 2025)
  • Hometown/Base: Born in New Jersey, raised and currently based in Florida.
  • Genre/Style: Known for blending emotional depth with a raw, folk-inspired sound, often touching on themes of grief, faith, and identity.
  • Viral Success: Gained significant traction with songs like "Celene," "Sometimes (Backwood)," and the breakout hit "Sailor Song," establishing her as an LGBTQ+ icon.
  • Inspiration for 'Fable': The song "Fable" is a deeply personal track written in tribute to her late sister, named after the last song Perez heard her sister sing on stage.

The Lyrical Meaning: A Crisis of Faith and Disillusionment

In the context of Gigi Perez's "Fable," the line serves as a stark, emotional pivot point in a song about grappling with faith and the pain of loss. The full lyric is often cited as: "Capital loss. Love was the law and religion was taught, I'm not bought."

The song explores the singer's struggle with the concept of meeting her sister in heaven, questioning the promises of organized religion when faced with overwhelming grief. The phrase breaks down into two contrasting ideas:

  1. "Love was the law": This represents an ideal state—a world or a childhood where universal, unconditional love was the governing principle and moral guide.
  2. "Religion was taught": This suggests a contrast, implying that religion is an imposed, structured, and potentially limiting system, rather than an innate, spontaneous force. The emphasis is on "taught" rather than "lived" or "felt."
  3. "I'm not bought": This is the punchline, signifying a rejection of the transactional nature of faith—the idea that salvation or comfort can be "bought" through adherence to doctrine. It’s a declaration of spiritual independence and skepticism.

The overall meaning in the song is a powerful lament: the speaker wishes a pure, guiding love was enough, but finds the taught doctrines of religion insufficient or even corrosive in the face of true sorrow.

The Philosophical Origin: Aleister Crowley and Thelema

While the lyric in "Fable" is a fresh interpretation, its structure and theme are a clear, modern inversion of one of the most famous and controversial maxims in modern occultism, providing significant topical authority to the discussion.

The Foundational Maxim: 'Love is the law, love under will'

The original philosophical statement is a core tenet of Thelema, a Western esoteric and new religious movement founded by the English occultist Aleister Crowley in the early 20th century. The full Thelemic Law is stated in *The Book of the Law* (*Liber AL vel Legis*), written in 1904:

“Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law. Love is the law, love under will.”

The similarity is striking: Perez's lyric ("Love *was* the law, and religion *was taught*") directly mirrors the structure of the Thelemic Law, but shifts the tense and introduces a note of institutional skepticism. This connection suggests that the modern lyric is either a conscious reference or a powerful, independent articulation of the same spiritual tension.

Decoding Thelemic Concepts (The 'Religion Was Taught' Counterpart)

In Thelema, the two parts of the Law are inseparable. To understand "Love is the law," one must understand "love under will."

  • True Will (Do what thou wilt): This does not mean "do as you please." Instead, it refers to the individual’s divine purpose or destiny—the unique path that aligns one with the universe.
  • Love Under Will: This principle means that love is the *method* or the *guide* for enacting one's True Will. It is the binding force that connects all the "stars" (individuals) in the universe. Love, therefore, must be directed, intentional, and aligned with one's highest purpose, not merely a blind emotion.
  • Thelema as a 'Taught' Religion: Although Thelema is anti-dogmatic in its core, it is still a structured system involving rituals (Magick) and the pursuit of the Knowledge and Conversation of the Holy Guardian Angel (HGA). Crowley's extensive writings and the establishment of organizations like the Ordo Templi Orientis (O.T.O.) represent the formal "teaching" of this modern spiritual philosophy.

The Enduring Tension: Love vs. Dogma in Modern Spirituality

The contemporary popularity of the phrase "Love was the law and religion was taught" underscores an enduring conflict in modern spirituality. The lyric has become a powerful rallying cry for those who value authenticity, personal spiritual experience, and unconditional love over the inherited doctrines of organized religion.

3 Pillars of the Modern Spiritual Critique

The phrase resonates because it captures three key areas of friction between personal faith and institutional religion:

1. The Tension Between Innate and Imposed Morality.

The line suggests that "love" is a self-evident, natural moral guide, whereas "religion" is an external code imposed by an authority. For many, this distinction is crucial: a morality based on empathy (love) feels more authentic than one based on fear of punishment (taught doctrine).

2. The Rejection of Transactional Faith.

The closing statement, "I'm not bought," is a powerful rejection of the idea that spiritual salvation is a commodity to be earned through rituals, donations, or strict adherence to rules. It speaks to a desire for a relationship with the divine or the universe that is based on merit and truth, not on a contractual agreement with an institution.

3. The Search for 'True Will' in a Secular Age.

The original Thelemic concept of "True Will" is about discovering one's highest purpose. In the modern context, the search for meaning often replaces the search for God. Perez's lyric taps into this—the desire for a simple, universal "law" (love) to guide one's life, rather than the complex, often contradictory lessons "taught" by historical religious bodies.

Ultimately, the popularity of the phrase "Love was the law and religion was taught" confirms that the debate between personal spiritual freedom and institutional control remains at the heart of contemporary culture. Whether viewed through the lens of a grieving songwriter or a revolutionary occultist, the message is clear: the law of love is paramount, but its true meaning must be discovered, not merely dictated.

love was the law and religion was taught
love was the law and religion was taught

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