What Is Satanism

Satanism. The cult of Satan, or Satan worship, is in part a
survival of the ancient worship of demons and in part a

still practiced by various groups throughout the world,
particularly in the United States. One of the largest and

revolt against Christianity or the church. It rose about the
12th cent. in Europe and reached its culmination in the

most influential Satanic groups is the Church of Satan
(1966), founded by Anton LaVey in San Francisco. A splinter

blasphemous ritual of the Black Mass, a desecration of the
Christian rite. The history of early Satanism is obscure.

group, the Temple of Set (1975), was organized by Michael
Aquino. Many Satanic groups, including the ones mentioned,

Satanism comprises a number of related beliefs and social

attest that such worship does not necessarily imply evil
intentions, but rather an alternative to the repressive

phenomena. They share the feature of symbolism, veneration
or admiration of Satan (or similar figures). Generally,

morality of many other religious groups. Such groups see no
harm in their indulgence in "worldly pleasures" that other

those Satanists who believe in the Judeo-Christian concept
of Satan are linked into the belief system of today's

religions forbid.

Judeo-Christian religion, as they believe in the same
theology presented in the Hebrew bible. Satan, also called

Other, more severe brands of Satanism likely exist, although
much of the activity pegged as "Satanic" has less to do with

Lucifer in many Christian religions, first appeared in the
Hebrew Bible and was an Angel who challenged the religious

the religion than with various forms of sociopathy. Indeed,
reliable research has found no evidence indicating the

faith of humans and the rule of Yahweh. In the Book of Job
he is called "the Satan" (meaning "the accuser") and acted

existence of alarming, large-scale Satanic phenomena. An
unfortunate mistake is the unfounded-yet common-linkage of

as the prosecutor in God's court. A character named "Satan"
was described as the cosmic enemy of the Lord and temptor of

minority religious traditions, such as the African-derived
voodoo and Santeri'a, with Satanism.

Jesus within many of the Gospels of early Christians. It was
further developed in scope and power as the bringer of

Satanism had plainly declined by the end of the 1970s;

Armageddon and Apocalypse as featured within the Book of
Revelation.

however, in the mid 1980s reports that it had merely gone
underground began to surface. Claims of the existence of a

Cults associated with satanism have been documented, however

massive Satanic underground emerged around a set of reports
concerning ritual child abuse. Amid the heightened concern

sketchily, back to the 17th century. Their central feature
is the black mass, a corrupted and inverted rendition of the

for child abuse generated during the era, children began to
tell horrendous stories of having been abused as part of

Christian Eucharist. Practices are said to include animal
sacrifice and deviant sexual activity. Worship is motivated

forced participation in Satanic rituals, both in homes and
in day care centers. These stories were soon joined by an

by the belief that Satan is more powerful than the forces of
good, and so is more capable of bringing about the results

increasing number of stories of women, and a few men, mostly
in their thirties, who told stories of having been abused as

sought by his adherents.

children and youth, and then having suppressed the memories
until they were recalled twenty years later in sessions with