CHURCH OF SATAN VS. TEMPLE OF SET by: Diane Vera I appreciate the high praise given to me

CHURCH OF SATAN VS. TEMPLE OF SET  
by:  Diane Vera


I appreciate the high praise given to me by _Abrasax_Õs editor, James Martin, in last issueÕs ÒPublisherÕs PageÓ.  However, itÕs a bit of an exaggeration to say that IÕm Òwithout sectarian bias or prejudiceÓ.  ItÕs more accurate to say that I have mixed feelings about the various Satanic groups.  In terms of basic occult philosophy, I am in much closer agreement with Anton LaVey than with Michael Aquino.  And I person-ally donÕt feel drawn to the god-form of Set, or to any Egyptian god-form.  But in other ways, IÕm far more inclined to sympathize with the Temple of Set than with the Church of Satan.  For those who donÕt know the background of this occult soap opera:  the Church of Satan, the first above-ground, legally recognized Satanic religious organization, was founded by Anton LaVey and Diane Hegarty in 1966 C.E.  (Many Satanists date their calendar from this year, e.g. 1992 C.E. = XXVII Anno Satanas.)  The CoS thrived for nine years, after which LaVey burned out on running the CoS as it was then structured, with active ÒGrottoesÓ (chapters) all around the country.  In 1975 C.E. (X A.S.) there was a schism caused by the disbanding of the Grotto system.  The largest and longest-lived of the resulting splinter groups was the Temple of Set, headed by Michael Aquino.  The Temple of SetÕs philosophy differs from the Church of SatanÕs in many ways.  Most notably, ToS equates Òthe Prince of DarknessÓ with the ancient Egyptian god Set, whom it regards as a literal, sentient being who was invoked in a magical Working and gave Dr. Aquino a ÒMandateÓ to found the ToS.  The Church of Satan has tended to see ÒSatanÓ _not_ as a literal entity but as a symbol for the dark forces in Nature and/or a symbol for our own individuality.  Dr. Aquino claims that LaVey was not always consistent about this; that before the schism, LaVey did at times seem to believe in Satan as a literal entity of some sort.  (A debate about the schism can be found in the now-defunct Satanic zine _Brimstone_, Vol.II, no.2, October XXV A.S., which printed a letter from a CoS member titled ÒPretenders to the ThroneÓ and a rebuttal by Dr. Aquino.  Back issues of _Brimstone_ can still be obtained from P.O. Box 660, Marstons Mills, MA 02648.  See also the book _Satan_Wants_You_ by Arthur Lyons, and see also the ToS ÒGeneral Information and Admissions PoliciesÓ document.) . Dr. Aquino says that ever since the 1975 schism, the Church of Satan has consisted of just Anton LaVey and a handful of cronies and has not functioned as an organization at all, but is merely a vehicle for LaVeyÕs Òpersonal expression and financial incomeÓ.  CoS denies this.  CoS claims to be a vastly though subtly influential cabal of elite people who are doing all sorts of wondrous things behind the scenes.  (See, for example, Blanche BartonÕs book _The_Church_of_Satan_, pp.29-30, 45, 68, 89, 105, and 123-124.) Dr. Aquino says this is just a lot of bluff and bluster, a part of Anton LaVeyÕs ÒOz the Great and TerribleÓ act.  Of course, the rest of us have no way of knowing what is or is not happening behind the scenes É.

This past year, IÕve gotten to know some Setians via computer network on the BASE OF SET echo.  Though I have many disagreements with their philosophy, IÕve come to like and respect a lot of them as people.  Also, I highly recommend the Temple of SetÕs reading list, available on some occult-oriented computer bulletin boards.  It lists many fascinating books on a wide range of subjects, with brief comments by Dr. Aquino and others.  I disagree with the Temple of SetÕs philosophy regarding ÒNatureWorshipping ReligionsÓ vs. ÒPsyche-Worshipping ReligionsÓ, with Christianity somehow classified as a ÒNature-Worshipping ReligionÓ.  IÕm disinclined to accept the identification of Satan with Set; and IÕm disinclined to believe in either of them as literal entities who talk to people and give ÒInfernal MandatesÓ.  Fortunately for most new ToS members, ToS does not require rank-andfile members to share these beliefs.  (Only the Priesthood and higher degrees are required to believe in SetÕs literal existence.)  ToSÕs emphasis is on the study of magic(k)al techniques, to which members are expected to take a highly individual approach.  Despite ToSÕs emphasis on individuality, Dr. Aquino is also Lt. Col. Aquino, a military intelligence officer; and, in the Temple of SetÕs style of interaction, his military background definitely shows.  A common complaint about ToS by ex-members is that it is too ÒhierarchicalÓ and ÒauthoritarianÓ.  I donÕt condemn this, but itÕs not for me.  Most of the Setians IÕve corresponded with do find ToS membership very rewarding, despite its structure and protocol.  And I doubt itÕs possible for a large magic(k)al organization, especially a Satanic one, _not_ to be as hierarchical as ToS, or nearly soÑ especially if the groupÕs aim is to transmit a specific magic(k)al energy current, not just be a gathering of people with a common interest.  At least the ToS does interact with its members.  The Church of Satan, in contrast, has very little to offer its rank-and-file members and doesnÕt even introduce them to other CoS members.  _Black_Flame_ editor Peter Gilmore says in the most recent issue (Fall/Winter XXVI A.S.), ÒWe have made it a policy not to place our members in communication.Ó  Frankly, I donÕt see any benefit to be gained by paying $100 to join the Church of Satan as it is now functioning, unless youÕre what the CoS calls a ÒproductiveÓ person, e.g. a professional writer, publisher, or recording artist who is actively promulgating Anton LaVeyÕs philosophyÑwhich, alas, increasingly seems to mean promulgating LaVeyÕs political views.  The CoS publication _The_Black_Flame_ contains a review section which is an excellent source of information, but you donÕt have to be a member to subscribe.  What I dislike most about the CoS is LaVeyÕs involvement in extreme right-wing politics and, worse yet, the repeated insinuations in recent CoS literature that you have to agree with his political views to be a true Satanist.  It seems CoSÕs main function these days is to be a soapbox for right-wing political views, judging by the latest issue of _Black_Flame_ (Fall/Winter XXVI), which contained more articles about politics than about magic.  One of the several explicitly neo-Nazi/neo-fascist groups that advertise in _Black_Flame_, the Abrasax Foundation a.k.a. Storm Productions (no relation to _Abrasax_ the occult zine), is mentioned in Blanche BartonÕs book as one of several groups Òdirectly allied with LaVey, considering themselves arms of the Church of SatanÓ and as taking a Òconstructive, active part in the Satanic hierarchyÓ (_The_Church_of_Satan_, p.49).  Dr. Aquino has a far saner attitude toward politics.  The ToS ÒOrder of the TrapezoidÓ does study Nazi occultism, but makes it clear that this does not imply political sympathy.  Dr. Aquino is politically active, but in a very sensible cause: civil rights for minority religions.