From: locklin@titan.ucc.umass.edu (SCOTT C LOCKLIN)
Subject: More Temple of Set
Organization: Campus Crusade for Cthulhu
Date: Wed, 6 Jan 1993 02:05:08 GMT
X-Posted-From: titan.ucc.umass.edu
NNTP-Posting-Host: sol.ctr.columbia.edu



Here is an introduction to the reading list describing some of its contents.
-Scott
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"Temple of Set Reading List - Introduction"
Reprinted from: _The Crystal Tablet of Set_
(c) Temple of Set, January 1, 1989 CE
Weirdbase file version by TS permission

by Michael A. Aquino, Ipsissimus VI* Temple of Set
Electronic mail: MCI-Mail 278-4041

[This file introduces and explains the Temple of Set reading list. The 
various categories of that list are provided as separate Weirdbase files in 
various WB file areas as appropriate.]
 
The magical and philosophical interests of the Temple of Set span a wide 
range of disciplines. Use of commercially-published reference works, despite 
their respective drawbacks, is thus both essential and economical. It 
enables the Temple to concentrate its internal publications in areas in 
which critical information is either seriously substandard or altogether 
lacking.

When using this reading list, keep in mind that the Temple is not a book 
club, but rather a religious institution in which Initiates are expected to 
be practicing magicians. These books are recommended not merely to entertain 
[though many of them are good at that too!], but more importantly to impart 
principles which may be applied and to provide facts which are helpful or 
essential to an understanding of these principles.

Ideally this list should contain only those works which are currently in 
print or which are generally available through libraries. Unfortunately the 
unusual and exotic directions of our interests frequently necessitate titles 
which are neglected, suppressed, and/or out-of-print. Some of these works 
are available only at excessive prices through rare-book dealers; others 
seem to have vanished altogether. If you keep your eyes open while browsing 
through new/used bookstores, however, and if you make maximum use of library 
and inter-library-loan services, you should be able to track down the 
materials of greatest interest to you.

In earlier editions of this list, notations were made as to whether a given 
book were in or out of print, including foreign editions. Experience has 
shown that this information, as well as pricing, changes so frequently as to 
be unreliable. Setians seeking a particular book should check with 
libraries, bookstores, or book-search services for current availability. 
Lending-library options are particularly to be recommended, as prices for 
many of these works - particularly the out-of-print ones in "collector's" 
fields - may be excessively high. If you have doubts as to the worth of a 
given book at a price quoted to you, check with the source recommending the 
book.

The reading list is not intended to be doctrinal or dogmatic. The inclusion 
of a book in it should not be taken to mean that all or even most of its 
premises and conclusions are endorsed by the Temple of Set. Most have been 
written by very wise people. A few have been written by flakes who just 
happened to blunder into something that we want to know about. Hence your 
own discernment is critical. Bear in mind that few if any books are written 
for the disinterested transmission of facts. Every author necessarily writes 
with a motive [besides the profit one] and from a point of personal 
perspective and/or bias.

The reading list is selective but not exclusive. For each book on the list, 
many alternatives may have been considered and rejected for one reason or 
another over the last two decades. On your own you may - and probably will, 
if you pursue your initiation aggressively and conscientiously - discover 
works which appear preferable to some of those on the list, or which you 
think should be added to it. In such cases you are invited to send 
particulars. If the book is or has previously been rejected, we will tell 
you why. If your recommendation is adopted, however, the book will be added 
to next year's edition of the list.

Each January any category of the list to which changes have been made is 
sent out to all Setians with the rest of the Crystal Tablet updates. We have 
dated each category, so that you can know at a glance whether you've got the 
most current update.

After each book title you will see one or more letter codes, which identify 
the book as relevant to a particular initiatory system currently embraced by 
the Temple of Set. "TS" = Temple of Set generally. "CS" = Church of Satan 
(1966-1975CE). "OT" = Order of the Trapezoid. "OV" = Order of the Vampyre. 
Other codes may be added at any time to identify works pertinent to specific 
orders of the Temple.

Before the comments to each book are either my initials (MA), the initials 
of Anton LaVey (AL), or the name of whoever else wrote the comments. If you 
have questions concerning a particular book, and the annotator is not Anton 
or myself, send your questions to that person. Anton LaVey is unlikely to 
respond to queries, and constraints on my time make it difficult for me to 
respond as promptly or thoroughly as I would like, so in "MA" or "AL" cases 
you should use the IMC roster and consult one of the Initiates whose 
reading-list interests include that category as a high priority.

Research Level Numbers

You will see a research level number attached to each letter code. These 
numbers are explained as follows:

-1:
The specific information contained in this book is generally essential to 
Initiates of all degrees. The book's treatment is unique, and substitution 
of another book on the same subject is not recommended.

-2:
The topical information contained in this book is generally essential to 
Initiates of all degrees. The book's treatment is not unique, and other 
books covering approximately the same material may be substituted.

-3:
This book should be considered supplementary to -1/-2 books in the same 
category. It is not essential, but is recommended rather for those who have 
a special interest in the topic.

-4:
This book is suitable primarily for highly-specialized, technical research 
and is liable to be confusing or misleading to readers without previously-
acquired, basic knowledge of the field in question. It should be considered 
supplementary to any -1/-2/-3 books in the same category.

-5:
The contents of this book may be dangerous if applied by inexperienced 
magicians. Priesthood of Set consultation and guidance strongly recommended.

CATEGORIES (most current update)

1. Ancient Egyptian History - 3/1/86CE
2. Ancient Egyptian Philosophy - 1/24/87CE
3. Religion and Daemonology in Historical Perspective - 7/1/87CE
4. Occultism in Contemporary Perspective - 6/1/88CE
5. Atlantis - 3/1/86CE
6. Satanism - 6/1/88CE
7. H.P. Lovecraft - 3/1/86CE
8. Vampirism and Lycanthropy - 1/24/87CE
9. The AEon of Horus - 7/1/87CE
10. The Golden Dawn and its Predecessors - 3/1/87CE
11. John Dee and the Enochian System - 3/1/87CE
12. The Pythagoreans - 3/1/87CE
13. Sex in Religion and Magic - 3/1/87CE
14. Fascism, Totalitarianism, and Magic - 1/24/88CE
15. Cybernetics and Artificial Intelligence - 3/1/87CE
16. Good and Evil - 1/24/87CE
17. The Gift of Set - 3/1/87CE
18. Life and Death - 3/1/87CE
19. The Metamind - 1/24/88CE
20. The Four (?) Dimensions - 7/1/88CE
21. The Future - 1/24/88CE
22. Toward the Unknown Region - 1/24/88CE
23. Lesser Black Magic - 1/24/88CE

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