Editing Temple of Set (section)

===Set===
[[File:Set speared Apep.jpg|thumb|Set spearing the snake [[Apep]] ([[Egyptian Museum]], [[Cairo]])]]

Aquino's understanding of [[Satan]] differed from the atheistic interpretation promoted by LaVey,{{sfn|Schipper|2010|p=109}} and the Temple's theology differs from that of the Church of Satan.{{sfn|Harvey|2009|p=32}} The Temple states that the name ''Satan'' was originally a corruption of the name ''Set''.{{sfn|Gardell|2003|p=390}} The Temple of Set promotes the idea that Set is a real entity,{{sfnm|1a1=Petersen|1y=2004|1p=436|2a1=Harvey|2y=2009|2p=32}} and accordingly has been described as being "openly [[Theism|theistic]]".{{sfn|Faxneld|Petersen|2013|p=7}} It further argues that Set is ageless and is the only real [[god]] in existence, with all others having been created by the human imagination.{{sfnm|1a1=Granholm|1y=2009|1pp=93–94|2a1=Granholm|2y=2013|2p=218}} Set is described as having given humanity—through the means of non-natural [[evolution]]—the "Black Flame" or the "Gift of Set". This refers to humanity's questioning intellect which sets the species apart from other animals and gives it an "isolate [[self-consciousness]]" and the possibility to attain divinity.{{sfnm|1a1=La Fontaine|1y=1999|1p=102|2a1=Gardell|2y=2003|2p=291|3a1=Petersen|3y=2004|3p=436}} Aquino argued that the idea of the Gift of Set was inadvertently promoted to a wider audience in [[Stanley Kubrick]]'s 1968 film ''[[2001: A Space Odyssey (film)|2001: A Space Odyssey]]''. According to Aquino, the [[Monolith (Space Odyssey)|black monolith]] which imparts human-level intelligence onto prehistoric apes in the film was a symbol of Set.{{sfn|Introvigne|2016|p=349}}

While Setians are expected to revere Set, they do not worship him, instead regarding him as a teacher and a guide.{{sfn|Granholm|2009|p=94}} He is portrayed as a role model on which Setians can base their own deification.{{sfnm|1a1=Petersen|1y=2004|1p=435|2a1=Granholm|2y=2009|2p=94}} According to Webb, "we do not worship Set - only our own potential. Set was and is the patron of the magician who seeks to increase his existence through expansion."{{sfn|Drury|2003|p=205}}

Embracing the idea of aeons from Crowley's [[Thelema]], Aquino adopted the Crowleyan tripartite division between the Aeon of Isis, Aeon of Osiris, and Aeon of Horus, but added to that the Aeon of Satan, which he dates from 1966 to 1975, and then the Aeon of Set, which he dated from 1975 onward.{{sfn|Dyrendal|2012|p=382}} Despite presenting these chronological parameters, Aquino also portrayed the aeons less as time periods and more as mind-sets that can co-exist alongside one another.{{sfn|Dyrendal|2012|p=382}} Thus, he stated that "A Jew, Christian or Muslim exists in the Æon of Osiris, a Wiccan in that of Isis, and a Thelemite in that of Horus".{{sfn|Dyrendal|2012|p=382}}