Perception, as Webster defines it, is "An immediate or intuitive cognition or judgment, often implying nice observation or subtle discrimination." It makes one think of how others perceive ideas which differ from their own. Religious beliefs and practices evolve originally from our perception of that which is greater than ourselves. Later, they tend to become institutionalized with the original motivations forgotten. Then, when comparing accepted dogma with others, one runs into the danger of righteousness by saying: "My beliefs [perceptions] are correct, as your beliefs differ from mine, so your beliefs must be wrong. My beliefs are also very holy, therefroe yours are evil [or ignorant]." This stems from an insecurity that lies deep in the subconscious of someone who is not sure of himself or his Will.

I was brought up in a town owned and operated by the center of everything, the Methodist church. I also went to a school which was run in the basement of a Baptist church. Christianity was taught with a spoonful of sugar and a wooden board with six holes in it. I am sure many have had the pleasure of spending time in a perocial school, and many fine men and women have grown from these into intelligent individuals. However, I found at an early age that when I was told not to go into the cookie jar, the exact opposite always seemed more attractive. In "born again" christianity, Christ must be begged to come into your heart or you will go to hell and burn forever in eternal damnation. If Christ is in your heart, then forgiveness is only for the asking. Eventually, I found that comitting sin was a lot easier with Christ in my heart than when I went to public schools.

According to the Bible, Christ is "the way, the truth, and the life," and only by way of the Son [correlate this to TIPHARETH of the Sephiroth and the symbolism will become evident - that's my perception] may one reach the Father. Did the Bible's implications in it's teachings mean to portray Christ as God and also the Son of God to be worshipped for his death on the cross and his resurrection? Or was Christ's whole life one big parable with hidden symbolism opening ways for the initiate to begin climbing the Tree of Life himself and ultimately become what the church says it wants you to be, "Christ-like," a true child of God.

God is sometimes described as omnipotent, omnipresent, and omniscience. This brings up the question that if God has everything, then why, as some preachers assert, does he need such a great deal of money in order to have His Will done? A rather famous Christian religious leader captured the answer to this question profoundly with: "If Jesus were alive today, he wouldn't want His people driving in Volkswagens and living in apartments." [Rev. Robert Tilton] This is yet another perception.

Satanism is a way of perceiving for every Christian whose conscience does not wish to let the burden of sin fall at the foot of the cross. This is also the child who decided to take the cookie jar, and smash it on the floor in rebellion against his parent's wishes. By a denial of God, Christ, and the church, the satanist/humanist is re-examining his perceptions by way of negation. Still others sink deep into their insecurities and find other ways to drop cookie jars. Of course, this blurs their ability to perceive. These may be groups who join together to weed out "the impurities of religion" and always seem to find confidence in Ordo Templi Orientis to fulfill their need for a common enemy.

"AWAKE!" is a semimonthly newspaper published by the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York. In issue #20, volume 70, October 22, 1989, the following can be found on page six: "One of the early founders of Satanism in this century was an Englishman named Aleister Crowley. In 1905, in Los Angeles, California, Crowley organized a Satanism group named "Ordo Templi Orientis." Soon he became the accepted leader of a growing cult. In his Book of Law {note: correction - The Book of the Law }, Crowley advocated a new formula of religious belief: 'Do what thou wilt shall be the whole law.' {note: correction - Do what thou wilt shall be the whole -of the Law. } It was from this philosophy that Crowley advocated the violation of every moral code and Bible principle known to man. Murder, violence, rape, and human sacrifice thus became a part of religious ritual." This 'newspaper,' full of it's misquotes and slander then continues with: "It was Aleister Crowley who said that he wanted, as part of the cult's religious doctrine and practices, 'blasphemy, murder, rape, anything bad.'"

Trying to exist(or rather co-exist) as a star in the company of stars, I believe in the first amendment to the American Constitution wholeheartedly. I find it difficult, however, to swallow the rather large quote above when it is accompanied by a small insert on page five of the same issue which explains, "WHY 'AWAKE!' IS PUBLISHED: AWAKE! is for the enlightenment of the entire family. It shows how to cope with today's problems. It reports the news, tells about people in many lands, examines religion and science. But it does more. It probes beneath the surface and points to the real meaning behind current events, yet it always stays politically neutral and does not exalt one race above another. Most importantly, this magazine builds confidence in the Creator's promise of a peaceful and secure new world before the generation that saw the events of 1914 passes away."

Evidently, the concern with 1914 e.v. is with the start of WWI. War in any form is sparked by some form of hatred. Why then, is there so much hatred in the hearts of people who desire a "peaceful and secure new world?" The answer lies at the end of the section in the newspaper on "Satanism" where the reader is instructed that they must hear the truth about what is wrong with other religions, so that they might worship the one true and only god, Jehovah.

Perceiving is quite a difficult task when one's eyes are closed (especially the third eye.) Yet, I found it enervating to see that a Gnostic Mass could be performed by PIAP at a Unitarian church recently. It was an event that will surely not be forgotten by all who attended. It's good to know that others outside of O.T.O. believe in the fundamental doctrine of "Do what thou wilt."