A Word on Cults
A cult, is best described as a group that associates their beliefs and practices with ideas outside the mainstream beliefs held by society. A cult differs from religion by this simple fact: a religion is usually considered a tradition, while a cult is created for a group purpose. Cults are made of a group of people that follow the dictates of a leader. A cult leader will condition the followers with emotional abuse, making them believe in him at whatever cost. Some cults, such as Doomsday Cults, have a belief that the end of the world is coming, so they take their own life in preparation, or the lives of others.
Jim Jones, and the "People's Church"
Some people who lead cults begin with a life of religion and take it to the extreme.
One such example, is the Jonestown cult, which started out as a Christian social
reform group, and turned into one of largest mass-suicide cults of the 20th century.
The cult leader Jim Jones was a charismatic person who was very passionate about religion and idealism. He became an ordained minister in 1950. He founded a church group in Indiana, called the "Peoples Temple Full Gospel Church". He created a social belief
system, called Apolistic Socialism, a type of Communism. His claims that he was the incarnation of Jesus, Buddha, Lenin and, Father Divine brought him many believers who believed in his supposed powers of healing. He catered and accepted members of the African-American community, and the group became more cult-like and less Christian over time.
Back in 1978, Jim Jones, organized a group of followers and called it "The Peoples Temple Church". (1)The Peoples Temple Church was eventually moved to San Fransisco. By then it had over a thousand followers. These people believed in Jim, they believed in what he said. They even saw him as a father figure and called him "Dad". When the church was investigated by the IRS, it moved to Guyana where he created a settlement named Jonestown.
This settlement was to be a racist-free society based on agriculture, and the principles of communism. He was even praised for helping out the poor, black community as a benefit. Some people had been outcast or they left the group. Sadly, when people who had left the cult went to the authorities revealing information about beatings, brutality and the Plan of taking their own life, they were not believed.
The Fall of Jonestown
After the move from San Fransisco, the organization began to fall apart, as Jone's schemes and his drug addiction to Phenobarbital was discovered were uncovered by members of the group. Finally, in 1978 the US congress lead a delegation team to investigate the claims of violation of human rights within the Jones cult. For three days, members of Jonestown were interviewed, and on the third day the team pulled out, after an assassination attempt was made. They talked about 20 members of the cult to leave with them, but as they were boarding the plane, bullets were flying as they were being shot at by some of the Jonestown compound guards.
Five people died as they were trying to board the plane. Later on, all 914 people in the Jonestown cult committed suicide by drinking cyanide punch. Jones had shot himself in the head while sitting in his chair.
History reminds us that the human will is easily lead astray by our hopes and desires to have something to believe in. A cult leader will operate the group based on mind control to serve their own personal agenda, be it power, money, glory or just to feed a maniacal ego. When the cult leader has gained control through suggestive members the group is then like a unit - an extension of the cult leader's will.
Dispelling the myths of Satanic Cults
The most common myth is that people who claim to be in a "satanic" cult participate in unlawful acts. This denies those who take satanism as a serious path the respect they deserve. There have been many fake cults which use satanism as a front to disguise their personal agenda. One thing you will find in common with these type of groups, is that the leader really has no background in (traditional or modern) satanism, they are usually self-styled to an extreme and have no education on the real aspects of satanic history. Some have never even heard of LaVey or the church of Satan, or even the Satanic Bible.
Placing the Blame
Most often they are self-proclaimed devil worshipers, which shows their ignorance. "Devil Worship" is a derogatory term used by Christians to describe people who they accuse of any type of non Christian belief or worship. However the Christian religion is not the authority on satanism, and in fact has nothing to do with satanism in general. A satanist who actually has a background in (historical) satanism would be offended at this term, and being called a "devil worshiper" is an insult to a Satanist's intelligence and personal heritage.
The Satanic magician is cautious to a degree. It would do the magician no good to do activities that would lead to incrimination or arrest. This is because magick will not be as efficient behind the bars of a jail cell, now would it? There is no need to harm animals or children or perform sacrifices to gain access to magick or energies. There are many, infinite sources of (metaphysical)energy to be had, all around us at all times. Killing and abuse is a crime, punishable by the law, in (almost) any part of the world.
Geraldo and the Satanic Panic
In the early 80's the Talk-show host Geraldo, interviewed people who underwent
regressive, hypnotic therapy. Regardless of the validity and non scientific
technique of this type of therapy, people believed that it worked. During this therapy, false memories of ritualistic satanic abuse during their childhood created the "Satanic Panic"(2)
Geraldo Rivera had this to say about the Satanic Panic:
"Estimates are that there are over 1 million Satanists in this country...The majority of them are linked in a highly organized, very secretive network. From small towns to large cities, they have attracted police and FBI attention to their Satanic ritual child abuse, child pornography and grisly Satanic murders. The odds are that this is
happening in your town." (3)-Geraldo Rivera
Afterwards, rumors spread of satanic ritual activity, and animal sacrifice. However, upon the FBI's investigation of these claims, no evidence of abuse was uncovered. On Halloween,(no less) in 1988, Geraldo hosted a prime-time special which spotlighted this supposed "Satanic "underground". This television broadcast was based on the book by the same title which claimed that there was an extensive underground network of covens and grottos. Later on, the book was exposed as a fraud, both by Neo-pagan and Christian organizations alike.
Exposing the Lies
Three women were interviewed during the show, and they spoke about a type of therapy that was used to bring out memories that were supposed to be suppressed. This technique, called "Recovered Memory Therapy" has since been debunked as a false science. It has been proven that false memories can be planted through tone of voice or the phrasing of a question. These false memories are the result of a person's need to place blame for emotional issues in their life. One of the women who underwent therapy, claimed that she abused many children and even killed up to 40 children in the presence of her family. Other patients described ritualistic murder, sacrifice of animals and children and other horrible acts.
When the FBI investigated these incredible claims, and absolutely no evidence was found, the cases were dropped. During these interviews, nothing was mentioned about the reality of Satanism. Not even the Church of Satan was mentioned, and the (COS) Church of Satanism does not advocate ritualistic abuse. One of their quotes, is "Do not kill any non-human animal except for food". Although a Satanist will not turn the other cheek to an enemy, destruction, true destruction of the Satanist's enemy is performed through rituals of Destruction and acts of black magick.
A genuine (knowledgeable) satanist, will not participate in ritualistic murder or abuse, knowing that these things are against humanity and that they are illegal. Satanism is about knowledge, self sufficiency, intelligence, not barbaric inhumanity. Acts of desecration that are committed are usually performed by dabblers, and teenage satanists and by those who have mental disorders. But, satanism in general will always be the scapegoat and blame for these things as long as the attitudes of satanism are not changed within society.
Ancient Cults and their Beliefs
Social attitudes about sacrifice were not always like this; in ancient times, sacrifice
was accepted as a part of daily life. For example, many cultures have used sacrifice as
a way to appease the gods or to pay tribute to their religion. Even in ancient Judiasm,
a sacrifice was demanded to "God". The Caaninite god, Moloch demanded many sacrifices,
and in fact this is what their whole culture was based on.(4)
In 6-8 BCE in the days of pagan idol worship, the Caaninite Sun god Moloch "demanded" the sacrifice of children to it's huge bronze statue. Once a year parents would line up with their firstborns to offer them as a sacrifice to the Bull-Headed god.
The statue looked like huge bull man, and the sacrifices were placed in the hands of the statue and raised to the mouth and dumped into the fires inside the statue, as if the statue were eating them. People danced around below the statue, and played flutes and tambourines to drown out the sounds of screaming. At one time it was acceptable to live this way. In today's society it is not.
Cults are not for Everyone.
Satanism is associated with individualism. Part of individualism is to be able to recognize the external influence,(the world around you)- and how it effects the internal influence,(the subconscious). This process of realization helps to build originality in thinking, actions, attitudes and living. Examples of this are TV ads which tell us us what to buy or what to eat which influence society on every level. It is not possible, at least, in my opinion, to be totally free of external influences, but at least knowing what they are can help you to identify them.
The Advanced Bonewits Cult Danger Evaluation Frame [The ABCDEF Scale]
The ABCDEF scale was a document written by Isaac Bonewitz. In this well-written document he outlines the different social and political means by which cult leaders use to create, control and maintain a cult. It has become a useful tool to many who wish to have an objective view on a cult's activities and to judge if a cult is potentially dangerous. Please give it a read. The scale is available from this link here.. [opens in new window]. Although Bonewitz is no longer a Satanist his wisdom may bring you some insight.
IRC Satanic Chat
Come and visit the IRC chatroom for Theistic Satanism and Magick. Visit the IRC chat page for more information on how you can chat with and learn from other people of the left hand path. Come meet with Venus Satanas in the chatroom!
Learn More..
