Satanism's and Occultism's Rise to Sensationalism

 Throughout the middle ages and Renaissance, the concept of Satan developed into the popular culture vision we have today. "A long serpentine tail with a heart-shaped tip, long claw-like fingernails, the leathery wings of bats, and a trident" (Panati 374). As soon as God became differentiated from Satan, all activities of spirituality outside of Christian doctrine were construed as Satanic. These attitudes flourished throughout the middle ages, as the Cathars were perceived to be devil worshippers and were rapidly exterminated in the 13^th century. The mass killing of the Knights Templar in the 14th century followed this up soon after. The Church contrived ideas about fraternities of people signing their souls to Satan and thus dedicating their lives to debauchery and harm and murder. The church, as a single establishment, played off of people’s fears to anger them, and drive them to these witch-hunts. Although some cases of mentally ill people committing terrible acts nurtured these beliefs, no assemblies to the effect described above actually existed.

An important question prompts this essay and investigation: Why are so many people fascinated with Satanism and occult practices? This is certainly the source of contemporary feelings against these practices. No one really understands them, and therefore everyone fears them. Because of the "hidden" nature of the occult, and the immediate sense of danger that the word invokes, it seems only natural that people want to know more about it, and want other people to share their fear of it as well.

Of course observing the public views of Satanism, and watching its pop culture roles change is worthless if viewed from an objectivist standpoint. To accept the notions that all child abuse cases are driven by Satanic cults, and that heavy metal lyrics are influencing today’s youth as fact, is to assume an objective reality. We must look upon each claim of Satanism, and demonstration of occult practices through constructivist eyes in order to see the real reasons that claims are even being made. By looking at claimsmakers’ interests, the root of the spread of Satanist or anti-Satanist rhetoric is made clear.

James Richardson accounts for the sudden rise in reports of Satanism, and ritual abuse in the 1980s when several unrelated social movements converged: "Fundamentalist Christianity, the anticult movement, development of ‘Satanic churches,’ the new wave of child saving, and the survivor/recovery movement" (Richardson, et al. 5)

<--Reverend Jerry Falwell Politicians invited fundamentalists into the political arena in the 1970s because they shared common interests, and sought political advancement. Jerry Falwell began the Moral Majority in 1979, and this group burst into the political scene endorsing candidates, registering new voters, etc. Fundamentalist Protestants, Catholics, and Mormons found they shared some views and offered support. This support gave fundamentalist Christians a unified power, which they used to ignite concern over issues such as rock music, abortion, prayer and Satanism.

Fundamentalists take Satanist scares matter-of-factly because the scriptures themselves predict Satanism’s spread and Satan’s rise to power. There was an increase in the belief of the devil from 1964 over the next 10 years. This was mostly in people who attended church regularly. The real problem, though is not when fundamentalist leaders talk about the growing threat, rather when the press, law enforcement or psychiatrists speak of it. Rabid media coverage of accusations of Satanism works to conceal it’s fundamentalist origins, and places fears on the fringes of society into the norm of it, rapidly convincing everyone that the beliefs of few should become the beliefs of many.

The ACM exchanged information with politicians and the press, who were in search of human interest stories that labeled the leaders of these organizations as "Pied Pipers" who "Turn political recruits into ‘mental captives’" (Richardson, et al. 7). Thus "brainwashing" was an oft-heard cry and was used to exonerate parents and the recruits from responsibility for their actions. According to a 1990 survey, cults are the most despised groups in America.

It is easy to dismiss all claims by anti-Satanist movements as purely illusory, but the truth is that Satanists do exist. Although claims made by anti-Satanists are often grossly exaggerated (i.e. that there is a vast underground criminal conspiracy), there are an estimated 2000-5000 active members of the Church of Satan. Groups such as the ACM use these small numbers to serve as the "tip of the iceberg" argument. Anton LaVey, founder of the publicity surrounded Church of Satan started in 1966 in San Francisco, CA, was drawn into the spotlight as a "colorful character with a flare for the dramatic" (Richardson, et al. 9). The media hounded his public Satanic marriages, and Satanic baptisms, and Satanic last rights for one member who died. LaVey supposedly sought out celebrities as members for more media attention.		As a result, many believe that the Church of Satan stands merely for rejection of Christian beliefs than adherence to anti-Christian ones. If that doesn’t make sense, it can be noted that it may have been done simply to upset the Christians and fundamentalists. The writings of La Vey: The Satanic Bible discusses more of a cynical view of Christianity than anything else. It rejects all mysticism and spirituality in place of elitist, materialist and basically atheist philosophy. More than anything [Church of]Satanism appears to consist of worshipping oneself and one’s ego (Truzzi). The Church of Satan is the most highly visible of all others although the Temple of Set is gaining in numbers. It is important to note, however, that there are very few active members in any of these churches; the simple rejections of Christian philosophy, combined with spotlighted ceremonies contribute to feelings of a growing threat.

Merely looking at these posters gives some idea as to the showmanship, and attention that the Church of Satan wishes to attract.  Its circus poster-esque feel demonstrates the cynicism for which LaVey was so famous--It almost looks like a joke.

Another cult that sensationalizes its rituals is the Nightstorm Coven, a sect of female wiccans whose origin is based in pre-Common Era Irish mythology.   Whether these women actually practice what their website suggests seems debateable after seeing what they look like.  One wonders whether they are actually wiccans or whether they are simply models hired to increase the hit count of the website.

The sensationalism of Satanic, and occultic groups plays off of people's fear of what they don't know.  To those in the academic circles of this topic, talk show host Geraldo Rivera is universally considered the worst - playing into the hype, and creating panic across the country.  Back in the mid 1980s and early 1990s Geraldo had as many as three shows with topics such as: "Satanic Cults and Children," and a two hour prime-time "documentary" entitled "Devil Worship: Exploring the Satanic Underground" (Richardson 12)(OCRT).  As a result of this documentary, at least one man was accused by his daughters shortly thereafter of killing as many as 25 different people ritualistically.  One of his daughters had apparently watched him ritualistically abort and dismember her fetus.   In spite of a complete lack of evidence, and a medical exam proving that she had never been pregnant, the man was convicted and sent to prison anyway.*  This proves how the sensationalism of Satanism as fed by the media can lead to gross misrepresentations of reality.

It is my opinion that what is so attractive about these groups is the way they afford isolated or ostracized individuals an identity.  Satanism is an identity unlike any other, to be sure.  The idea of being connected to secret underground groups is attractive to those who lack a clearly defined identity, and gives them a sense of purpose, a sense of knowledge that few else have.  Devil worship helps single one out the way affiliation with other religious groups cannot.  If one were to run around committing "acts of Protestantism," no one would turn a head, but the idea of Satanism, especially in light of the hype surrounding it, seems very dark, mysterious and attention worthy.  The sensationalization of Satanism is an important issue and needs to be discussed, and analyzed in depth.  If we can discover the factors associated with the creation of demonologies, we can determine ways to prevent misconceptions and accidents like the one in the paragraph above.