When I undertook to write this Temple of Set, therefore, I knew immediately that its focus would need to be more a personal perspective, more an overview of what during the adventure of the Temple to date has seemed to me to be particularly notable: not just because of drama or colorfulness, but because it played some necessary or significant part in the unfolding of the adventure. It will, I think, also be my initiatory testament. As a comprehensive history, The Church of Satan can be read by anyone - Setian, Satanist, or profane - and be expected to reasonably communicate its story in proportion to the intelligence of each such reader.

The Temple of Set presents a somewhat different problem. While I intend that this book be as direct and unambiguous as possible, Setian philosophy requires "initiatory consciousness" - not only an interest in the subject matter but both the intellectual and metaphysical capacity to comprehend it in its ultimate sense. Within the Temple, persons possessing such capacity are referred to as "Elect" and are deemed to have potential for initiation. Those lacking it, best intentions notwithstanding, would find the initiatory experience bewildering, frustrating, and meaningless. Accordingly the Temple endeavors to not admit them, or to disaffiliate them as soon as possible if accidentally admitted. It is much the same with this book. There are aspects of it that may either enter your mind like flame or just leave you confused and annoyed. My pleasure in the former case my apologies in the latter.

[Non]finally, The Temple of Set, like The Church of Satan for many years/editions, will be a "living book", subject to any number of changes, additions, corrections, and updates as various knowledgeable readers comment upon it and/or I refine my own information and opinions. Check "www.xeper.org/maquino" occasionally for updated drafts/editions.

The Church of Satan was not made available as a printed/.pdf ebook until it was a completed project [which took several years]. I have decided to handle The Temple of Set a bit differently. It will be uploaded to my webpage in .pdf format in successive piecemeal drafts until the whole thing is finally there. Along the way I will probably be updating, correcting, and revising earlier parts as appropriate. Accordingly I welcome readers' questions, suggestions, and comments - though I must plead in advance that I may not be able to answer each personally. I can promise that each will be carefully read, and if appropriate used to improve the next update.

Dr. Michael A. Aquino

About Author:

American founder of the Temple of Set and one of America's leading Satanists. Though the temple was formally incorporated in 1975, its magical and philosophical roots are ancient. Set is considered the supreme personification of evil, the Prince of Darkness and his worship can be traced to predynastic times. Images have been dated to 3200 BC with inscriptions dated to 5000 BC. A few Satanic groups have survived to carry on the tradition of Satan (Set-hen). Aquino states that through the Renaissance alone, some 13 million accused Satanists were tortured and burned to death, considered infidels and heathens. In modern day, Aleister Crowley carried on the work until his death in 1947, and in 1966 Anton Szandor LaVey founded the Church of Satan in San Francisco.

In 1975, Dr. Michael Aquino and his wife Lilith resigned from the Church of Satan and established their own group, founded as a church and incorporated as a non-profit organization with both federal and tax-exempt status. Aquino, formerly a Lt. Colonel in the U.S. Army, believes his to be a more sophisticated form of Satanism. He is the author of "The Coming Forth by Night" and publishes a newsletter, "The Scroll of Set."

Rumors began to emanate from the several hundred members of the sect regarding child molestation in satanic rituals. However Aquino vehemently denied such claims, stating that they were harassment by opponents. He states on Oprah and other TV talk shows that Satan is more an energy force than a person so he is not an embodiment. He claimed that the entertainer Sammy Davis Jr. was a member of good standing in his church.