Editing Temple of Set (section)

{{short description|Occult religious organization founded in 1975}}
{{redirect-distinguish-text|Setianism|the Gnostic religion [[Sethianism]]}}
{{Infobox religion
| name               = Temple of Set
| image              = [[Image:TOS logo.png|250px]]
| caption            = 
| abbreviation       = ToS
| main_classification = [[Religious organization]], [[magical order]]
| orientation        = [[Western esotericism]]
| type               = [[Occult]]
| governance         = [[Priesthood]]
| tax_status         = [[Tax exemption|Exempt]]
| associations       = 
| separated_from     = [[Church of Satan]] (1975)
| structure          = [[Initiatory order]]
| theology           = [[Set (deity)|Setianism]]
| founder            = [[Michael Angelo Aquino|Michael A. Aquino]]
| founded_date       = 1975
| founded_place      = [[San Francisco, California]]
| leader_title       = 
| leader_name        = 
| headquarters       = 
| area               = 
| scripture          = ''The Book of Coming Forth by Night''
| other_names        = 
| publications       = 
| website            = {{URL|https://xeper.info}}
| footnotes          = 
}}
<!--Basic introduction; name and a description of its defining characteristics-->  

The '''Temple of Set''' ('''ToS''') is an [[Occultism|occult]] religious organization founded in 1975. A [[new religious movement]] and form of [[Western esotericism]], the Temple espouses a religion known as '''Setianism''', whose practitioners are called '''Setians'''. This is sometimes identified as a form of [[Satanism]].

<!--History-->  
The Temple was established in the United States in 1975 by [[Michael Angelo Aquino|Michael Aquino]], an American [[political science|political scientist]], military officer, and a high-ranking member of [[Anton LaVey]]'s [[Church of Satan]]. Dissatisfied with LaVey's [[Materialism|materialistic]] approach, abolition of regional groups, and commercialization of Church degrees, Aquino resigned and &ndash; according to his own claim &ndash; embarked on a ritual to invoke [[Satan]], who revealed to him a sacred text called ''The Book of Coming Forth by Night''. According to Aquino, in this work Satan revealed his true name to be that of [[Set (deity)|Set]], which had been the name used by his followers in [[ancient Egyptian religion|ancient Egypt]]. Aquino was joined in establishing the Temple by a number of other dissatisfied members of LaVey's Church, and soon various Setian groups were established across the United States.

<!--Basic beliefs-->  
Setians believe that Set is the one real god and that he has aided humanity by giving them a questioning intellect, the "Black Flame", which distinguishes them from other animal species. Set is held in high esteem as a teacher whose example is to be emulated but he is not worshipped as a deity. Highly individualistic in basis, the Temple promotes the idea that practitioners should seek [[self-deification]] and thus attain an immortality of consciousness.
Setians believe in the existence of [[Magic (supernatural)#Modern Western occultism|magic]] as a force which can be manipulated through ritual, however the nature of these rituals is not prescribed by the Temple. Specifically, Aquino described Setian practices as "[[black magic]]", a term which he defines idiosyncratically.

<!--Internal structure and demographics-->  
Following initiation into the Temple, a Setian can proceed along a series of six degrees, each of which requires greater responsibilities to the group; as a result, most members remain in the first two degrees. Governed by a high priest or high priestess and a wider Council of Nine, the Temple is also divided into groups known as ''pylons'', through which Setians can meet or correspond in order to advance their magical work in a particular area. Pylons of the Temple are now present in the United States, Australia, and Europe, with estimates placing the Temple's membership between 200 and 500.