The “Cosmic Chessboard” describes the way in which world events unfold. The chessboard has visible pieces, but the game is played by invisible hands. It is the hand of Sammael that moves the Blackmen, striving against the hand of God which moves the Whitemen. But God has limited the power of Sammael, inasmuch as the pieces can only move according to the rules of the game. And by the same token God has limited Himself to the same set of rules. Furthermore, authority is needed for hands to move the chessmen, and this authority is granted according to the responses of human beings. Obedience to God is known as faith, whereas obedience to Sammael might conveniently be called antifaith. Acts of faith and antifaith are the authorities for moving pieces on the board. Small acts of faith might be reflected in the moving of a pawn, whereas greater acts of faith could initiate the moving of horse, castle, bishop or even queen. [Read more…]