Temple of Set

Did You Know?

• The Temple uses an inverted pentagram called the Pentagram of Set, derived from the Church of Satan's Sigil of Baphomet but stripped of overtly Satanic additions.
• The Temple also uses a trapezoid symbol featuring a left-facing Egyptian sceptre and the number 666 stylized in geometric shapes.
• In 2000, the Temple had thirteen pylons operating in the United States, Australia, Germany, Sweden, and Finland.

Definition

The Temple of Set is a new religious movement rooted in Western esotericism. Scholars disagree on whether it qualifies as Satanism: some, like Asbjorn Dyrendal, Massimo Introvigne, James R. Lewis, and Jesper Aa. Petersen, classify it as Satanic due to its origins in the Church of Satan and its use of satanic mythology. Others, such as Kennet Granholm, argue it should not be considered Satanism because it does not emphasize the figure of Satan, though he acknowledges it as part of the Satanic milieu and the left-hand path. Granholm suggested it could be seen as a form of Post-Satanism. The Temple is far more esoteric than the Church of Satan and has been termed Esoteric Satanism, contrasting with LaVeyan Rational Satanism. It presents itself as an intellectual religion, with founder Michael Aquino drawing on Western philosophy and science.

History

Michael Aquino joined the Church of Satan in 1969 and rose rapidly, becoming a Magister Templi of IV° by 1973. While serving in the Vietnam War in 1970, he wrote a tract titled Diabolicon that reflected his growing doctrinal divergence. By 1971 he was editor of The Cloven Hoof and sat on the Council of Nine. Aquino became disaffected with LaVey's abolition of regional grottos and commercialization of degrees, viewing the priesthood as spiritual and irrevocable. He resigned on June 10, 1975. According to his own account, he then performed a ritual invoking Satan, who revealed a sacred text called The Book of Coming Forth by Night, in which Satan disclosed his true name as Set. Aquino was joined by other dissatisfied Church of Satan members, and Setian groups soon formed across the United States.

Ideology

Setians believe Set is the one real god who gave humanity the Black Flame, a questioning intellect that distinguishes humans from other animals. Set is esteemed as a teacher to be emulated, not worshipped. The ultimate goal is self-deification and immortality of consciousness. Magic is believed to exist as a force manipulated through ritual, though the Temple does not prescribe specific rituals; Aquino described Setian practices as black magic in his own definition. The central concept is Xeper (from the Egyptian kheper), meaning becoming or coming into being, described as the Word of the Aeon of Set. Members seek to preserve and strengthen their isolate, psyche-centric existence through the left-hand path, opposing the traditional Hermetic goal of ego surrender. The true self is considered immortal, and those who reach sufficient development may experience an afterlife in their subjective universe; others dissolve at death. The Temple encourages celebrating one's own birthday and prescribes no other religious calendar.

Structure

The Temple's internal structure resembles that of the Church of Satan in the 1970s. All members must belong to a pylon, and membership requires application and an evaluation period. Non-initiates are forbidden from participating in rituals, which are considered dangerous. The degree system, based on the Church of Satan and ultimately the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, comprises six degrees: Setian (First), Adept (Second), Priest/Priestess of Set (Third), Magister/Magistra Templi (Fourth), Magus/Maga (Fifth), and Ipsissimus/Ipsissima (Sixth). Progression is called recognition, as the Temple holds that members initiate themselves. The priesthood consists of third degree and above; first and second degrees are lay members. Full membership comes with the second degree, and most members do not advance beyond it, as the priesthood involves greater organizational responsibilities.