You've been reading too many pearl-clutching articles. There's quite a bit that Crowley wrote that was clearly just to separate people who would believe whatev

You've been reading too many pearl-clutching articles. There's quite a bit that Crowley wrote that was clearly just to separate people who would believe whatever they were told or read from critical thinkers who could be expected to handle some light decision-making. It's also clear he really enjoyed the sensationalism of it, so from his standpoint writing something that contained a paragraph you weren't meant to believe and then five paragraphs explaining how much of an idiot you'd have to be to believe it just to watch the dullards run in circles was a jolly afternoon's work.