2.3 Philosophy: Satanism
Description
This article is from the Temple of Set FAQ, by balfaq@xeper.org.
2.3 Philosophy: Satanism
Is the Temple of Set a Satanic organization?
The Temple of Set as an organization was founded in 1975 by Dr. Michael
Aquino, in San Francisco. Its initial membership came from the Church of
Satan (that infamous "Satanic" organization of the carny Anton LaVey),
composed of CoS members who felt there was something real and important
about the magic they were exploring, and felt that Anton LaVey's antics of
that year were in contradiction to their own experiences. The Temple of Set
has grown a lot in scope and maturity in those twenty years.
Because of this history, and because of the many antinomian pursuits
followed by Setians, many people will call the Temple of Set "Satanic."
Many Setians do, too, but not all.
"Satan" is a name given to the Prince of Darkness, just like "Set" is a
name given to the Prince of Darkness. However, "Set" is a name given by a
religion which found Setian principles attractive and noble, and which
honored the Prince of Darkness. "Satan" is a name given to the Prince of
Darkness by Christianity out of fear and revulsion. The Christian Satan is
a twisted bastardization of the true Prince of Darkness.
"Satanism" is a term used by many to describe the Left Hand Path in the
West. We are a proud part of the tradition of spiritual dissent, differing
philosophically from the Church of Satan. Their take on the Left Hand Path
is the Immanent Path wherein godhood is achieved by the worship of the
carnal ego with no possibility of personal immortality save in some vague
connection to the organic stream. We are followers of the Transcendental
path, wherein person immortality is achievable by a strengthening of the
idealized Self. In an increasingly post-Christian world, the term
"Satanism" will become irrelevant.
More discussion concerning the Temple of Set and Satanism can be found in
the REF document. You may also be interested in essays concerning the
Prince of Darkness provided by Balanone
(http://www.bigfoot.com/~balanone/pod.html) and "Concerning our Patron" by High
Priest Don Webb (http://www.bigfoot.com/~balanone/patron.html).
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