For those who don't care to click on the links provided, here is a brief summary of the Temple of the Light:
The Outsider's Guide and Glossary to the Temple of Light
The Temple of Light is a recently established religious (many say cult) center, based in San Francisco, California. The center itself is a colorful old Victorian mansion, three stories high, on a tall hill. The religion housed therein, and in locations throughout the world, is known to practitioners simply as "The Light", and sometimes known to others as The Cult of Colors. Members are divided into Colors (some experts describe these as castes, though members of the religion will deny that label, explaining that one member is just as important as another), and based on these Colors, their habits are strictly controlled, from diet to social and sexual activity. Except for Violets, members are given a synonym of their color as a name. As they progress through the colors, as explained below, they are endowed with a new name, though they keep their string of older names.
The Colors
The Temple of Light uses color to divide its members. Color serves not only to determine the role of each member, but the members they are allowed intimate relations with (primary colors-
Blue,
Yellow and
Red- only being allowed to socialize with primary colors, and secondary colors-
Violet,
Orange and
Green- only with secondary colors), as well as the color of the food they prepare for the communal dinners in the Temple, and many other aspects of Temple life.
Because of its focus on colors and the rainbow, the Temple has come under criticism from conservative Christian groups as a "gay cult", which its members deny, saying that they welcome sexual identities of all kinds, but that the group itself isn't a homosexual group. The Temple has also come under fire from racial minority advocacy groups as a white supremecist group, because of its imagery of Black as the color of outcasts, and The Light, or white, at the top, but Temple members are quick to point out that members of every racial group are a part of the Temple, at every color level.
Violet- Uninitiated members of the general public are said to be 'violet'. In this way, everyone has a place in the religion, according to its leaders. Violets are targeted by the religion (see Yellow) and invited to special "Color Dinners", where they are literally seduced into the folds of the temple. (See Blue Dinners) Before their conversion to Blue, members of the Temple are forbidden to have relationships with Violets.
Blue- Once initiated, a Violet becomes a Blue. Blues are introduced to the temple by a Yellow, often through means of seduction. Blues then undergo a period (between a week and a month) of education and indoctrination about the religion. Typical targets for recruitment are those most in need of a sense of place and belonging, including new immigrants, and young members and outcasts of society- people for whom a free meal and roof would be a great benefit.
Green- Once an Orange, or The Light, has decided it is time, a Blue becomes a Green, and enters a period of heavier indoctrination, as well as service to the Temple, performing various duties in its service. Greens bond sexually as well as spiritually with their Orange mentor. Towards the end of their indoctrination, Greens are sent out into the world outside the Temple, and allowed to interact with Violets, as they sell colorful flowers, the main income for The Temple.
Yellow- Yellows serve to recruit Violets into the Temple, by inviting them to the temple, and working with the Blues to educate them as to the ways of the Light. Because they are both primary colors, Yellows are allowed to seduce Blues, but not Violets, who have no connection to the temple.
Orange- Oranges serve as religious teachers within the temple. They work intensely (and are encouraged to have intimate relations) with the Greens under their tutelage, bringing them to a closer understanding of The Light. Technically, they are allowed contact with Violets, but are usually not interested in such activity, prefering to associate with those who understand, appreciate, and want to know more of their ways.
Red- Reds are virtually the highest level of advancement for members of the temple. There are only a handful of Reds, and they serve as administrators of the Temple's various facilities. They take orders only from "The Light". Typically, Reds have little time for anything but dedication to the temple, but they are allowed social and sexual activity with both Yellows and Blues.
"The Light"- The Light, as he is known to Temple members, is the religious leader of The Temple of the Light. Unlike the other colors, The Light is unrestricted as far as social and sexual partners, as He (or She) is said to be composed of all colors. The Light, both as an individual and as a concept, is the focus of the lives of the Temple members.
Black- Violets who reject the teachings of the Temple, as well as those members of the Temple who lose faith in its leaders, and leave, are said to be Black. They are shunned and sometimes threatened.
Gray- Members of the Temple who are in a period of doubt about the teachings of The Light are said to be Gray, or going gray. They are counseled intensely.
In its unknown lifespan, The Temple has seen several generations of members. When two primary colors produce a new Temple member, the child is raised as the color combination of the two parents. For example, a Red mother and Yellow father would produce a son or daughter raised to be an Orange. When a pair of secondary colors, such as a Green and an Orange, procreate, their offspring inherits the color common to both the parents- in this case, Yellow.
Facilities Owned by The Temple:
The Farm: The Temple owns a sprawling tract of land, an unknown location in the North-Eastern United States. The Farm is a major source of food for the other facilities of The Temple, and a place where members, especially new recruits, can be removed from the distractions of Violet life. Facilities on The Farm include a barn, several acres of fields, and the moderately-sized cabin known as The Cottage.
The Temple: A towering Victorian mansion in San Francisco, and the administrative center of The Temple. This is also the main recruiting center for the cult.
The religion is growing, and more facilities may be added as time progresses.
Linear Mode
