From its inception, the idealogy of The Open Door society has been centered around the marriage of science and mysticism.  The founders were not only great thinkers in their various fields of science but were also keenly interested in what they felt was a mystical force that propelled the world.  Though none of them were traditionally religious, they were very interested in new thinking surrounding esoteric mysticism.  All of them felt a deep connection to what they felt was a divine energy that propelled the world and the creative mind.  They thought of this energy as a real and tangible thing that could be tapped into with technology.  

Their beliefs were not baseless.  The Society was organized by a strange young man who came to Harvard in the fall of 1918.  His cocky demeanor was turn-off to many of his fellow students.  But he attracted the interests of a group of young men who shared his interests in both technology and the occult.