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be the lack of any belief or true atheism, which is actually very rare indeed. Most atheists carry their non-belief as a religion of its own. They have a religious conviction that is often stronger than their traditionally religious counterparts but based on a very limited frame of reference. Their denial of anything beyond the physical cause and effect universe is their profession of faith. In the Judeo/Christian tradition this 'ultimate' would be God, the I AM, the Father and Creator.

This is something that all who have a religious belief share. There is some ultimate true reality beyond our mundane world that forms the basis of our belief system. An authority that is beyond question and unchangeable. Whether we personify it as the God of Abraham or just know it as the ultimate truth, we believe it exists or our faith would have no reality or substance.

We also all share a belief in some power that binds and moves the universe. Whether it be the Spirit of God, the fates, karma, or magick. Again the shadow side of this archetype would be an atheistic belief in pure causality and random occurrence. But this too is a belief in universal forces of nature, so even professed atheists share in this religious archetype.

Now comes the controversial archetype. Christians who have not already written me off as the anti-Christ, will probably do so now. Of course those of other religions will still accuse me of proselytizing. So be it. My third main archetype must be the Son of God. We see the Son of God, the redeemer, in myths and religious teachings throughout history. In the Norse Thor, to the Greek Hercules, to Jesus of Nazareth. The most striking example is Osiris, Egyptian god of life who is killed and resurrected. There is also Pereclese who is nailed to a cliff for giving man fire or Oden who nails himself to the 'tree of life' in order to attain knowledge and power which he shares with man. Again we find a shadow in the Devil, Set, Loki, and many other accusers/tormentors who appose the Redeemer archetype.

The many occurrences of the suffering god, the son, the hero, the redeemer, elevates it to a religious archetype. A story we all seem to share, sub-consciously, that made its way into myths and religions long before Jesus Christ died on the cross. But our scriptures tell us that Jesus is the Lamb of God slain from the foundation of the universe so we should not be surprised that knowledge of Him has existed in man's psyche from the beginning. Jesus himself said

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