1. Occult: Neo-Paganism and Satanism RELS 225: Cults and New Religious Movements

2. Slide 2. OccultOccult Important: distinguish among types Not the Middle Ages perception that all witches Worship Satan ritual killing sexual orgies diabolical acts Traditional Christians have spread this stereotype 4 different types of beliefs and practices

3. Slide 3. 1. Religion of Simple Societies sorcery by witch doctors in pre- industrial, nontechnological societies. Africa South America voodoo in Haiti actions including: potions as medicine, but also less palatable actions: grave robbing ritual killing of babies

4. Slide 4. 2. Neo-Paganism pagan path familiar from The Da Vinci Code. “white witches” do not believe in Satan deny intent to harm anyone follow various traditions Practices: worship gods and goddesses honor Mother Earth participate in covens celebrate sexuality in rituals follow the cycles of nature for holy days

5. Slide 5. 3. Church of Satan follow “the dark side” true living involves being self-centered engaging in all the lusts of the flesh Anton LaVey founder of the Church of Satan author of The Satanic Bible. deny traditional Satan Satan a metaphor for a life opposed to Christian virtues: Peace gentleness Love denies involvement in criminal acts such as satanic ritual abuse

6. Slide 6. 4. Satan Worshippers Two kinds: 1.Non-criminal 2.criminal operate as loners or in concert with a handful of others. Some serial killers represent themselves as Satanists. In the 1980’s common claim: 50,000 victims per year in United States. satanic panic unsupported by FBI court investigations

7. Slide 7. Aboriginal religion Trend in neo- paganism Healing, shamanism What can the sweat lodge, vision quest, way of the warrior, healing arts contribute to religion today?

8. Slide 8. Neo-PaganismNeo-Paganism Variety of groups and practices “The ancient gods are not dead; but they think we are” Not virulently anti-Christian Most trace back to ancient Egyptian religion Polytheistic, yet monistic. Not absolute unity, but not pluralistic chaos either. Appropriate diversity (god of wisdom; god of love, etc.) balancing of interactions (male/female; four seasons, directions, etc.) create a totality.

9. Slide 9. Contrast with Conventional Western Religions Christianity & Judaism thought to privilege will, imposing it on human nature and earth’s nature. Christianity and Judaism are religions of history God has a purpose, from beginning (creation) to end (paradise). Neo-paganism favours imagination rather than will. Seeks cooperation with the forces of nature, on a basis of reverence and exchange. celebrates what is A religion of atmosphere instead of faith. A cosmos constructed by the imagination Calling up the gods from within oneself is thought to be true magic.

10. Slide 10. RitualRitual Emphasis on the practical side of religious expression: the rite, gesture, ceremonial act. Teaching is pale in comparison to rites. The magical cosmos is evoked, made by acts done as if it were present. A secondary world is created in a special time and place, far different from the outside world. Magic circle, wand, sword, flowers, dance.

11. Slide 11. Relationship to other movements In the Western tradition Eastern yoga and meditation are thought to be too foreign for westerners Relationship with occult Kabbalah, Tarot cards, astrology, etc. But use rite instead of intellectual/psychological exercise. More concerned with human relationship with nature

12. Slide 12. BackgroundBackground Roots in romanticism Eliphas Levi (1810-1875) France, applied romantic feeling to magic. Papas (1865-1916) France, founded an Order. Some Masons (1888) founded Order of the Golden Dawn led by S. L. MacGregor Mathers. (1854-1917), who claimed occult contact with 3 “Secret Chiefs” in Paris. Aleister Crowley (1875-1947) expelled from the Golden Dawn founded his own Order (Argentinum Astrum), then joined Ordo Templarum Orientalis (1912). Wrote on “magick”, poet, heroin addict, exaggerator, dramatic. “Do what you will shall be the whole of the Law” Practiced sex magic.

13. Slide 13. Categories of neo- paganism Magical groups Influenced by Golden Dawn, Crowley Antiquarian Concerned with evocation Nature groups Romantic Influenced by Robert Graves, White Goddess. Concerned with celebration of existing goddesses. Wicca Between these two: combines ritual magic and nature-oriented neo- paganism.

14. Slide 14. WiccaWicca Aligned to nature’s cycles. Moon, seasons. Typically worship Horned God and Triple Goddess (Maiden, Mother, and Crone). May attempt to evoke the God and Goddess through dance, chant, gestures. Styles of ritual in American Wicca:ritual Gardnerian: energetic, nude dancing Traditional: clothed, slower-paced; homey implements Alexandrian: adds Kabbalist-occult astrology, magic, etc.

15. FeminismFeminism 1.Why call themselves “witches”? They insist the stereotypes are wrong (4:10).stereotypes are wrong They identify with women who found power outside of male-dominated religion and society.

16. Slide 16. FeminismFeminism Even many Christians and Jews could not accept a God referred to exclusively with male pronouns (“He”). Mary Daly, Beyond God the Father Judith Plaskow, Womanspirit Rising. Some Wiccan groups shifted the emphasis to the Goddess, away from the Horned God. Some groups were mainly lesbian.

17. Slide 17. Neo-Paganism: Summary Variety; many trace roots to ancient Egypt; Polytheistic, yet monistic. favours imagination rather than will, what is rather than what should be. Emphasis on ritual rather than teaching Roots in romanticism, influence from Masons,Crowley, Categories: Magical; Nature; Wicca (combination) Wicca: nature + evoking God&Goddess; 3 main styles of ritual: Gardnerian, Traditional, Alexandrian Feminism: “witches” were liberated women; some wiccans emphasize the Goddess rather than the Horned God. Aboriginal religion appreciated in neo-paganism Seek to recover a sense of wonder and respect as religious feelings toward nature.

18. Slide 18. History of Satan Old Testament: One reference to a personified Satan. The story of Job originally did not have the Satan prologue, which was added centuries later. A handful of Jewish writings from the time between OT & NT. A few references to personified evil rarely called “Satan”. New Testament: Jesus casts demons out; Devil as tempter of Christ; “Belial”, “Beelzebub”, “the evil one”

19. Slide 19. History of Satan 19th Century French images by Eliphas Levi show Satan as an opponent to Christ since the dawn of time. Not true. Where does Satan crop up? 15th Century Catholic inquisition: wishing to persecute remnants of non-Christian pagans.

20. Slide 20. How bad is Satanism? All Satanic practice is an inversion of Christianity – an act of mockery. Most Satanists don’t want to be malevolent; they want to justify the pleasures Christianity prohibits. This can be damaging.

21. Slide 21. Church of Satan Hundreds of sites with serious info. Many fewer by well- organized Satanists. They’ll refer to The Church of Satan Founded in 1966 by Anton LaVey (8:22) Anton LaVey Black cape, goatee, red. Black panther on a chain. Called a press conference to open it. A publicity grab.

22. Anton LaVey: Church of Satan 8:22

23. LaVey on Satanism Founded it as a profession. Had been: musician, lover of Marilyn Munroe, circus worker, college course, crime photographer, saw hypocrisy of Christian culture.

24. Slide 24. Church of Satan, continued. 1969: published the Satanic Bible. – paperback, Ballantyne books. Sells several 100,000 copies per year. A series of statements and doctrines: Indulgence, vital existence, undefiled wisdom, kindness to those who deserve it, vengeance, responsibility to the responsible, man is another animal, sins of physical or mental gratification kept church in business. LaVey disbanded it, but it’s been reconstituted. He lost most of his money, got fat, & tried to eke out an existence. Died in 1998.

25. Slide 25. Temple of Set Came out of Church of Satan. 1975. Exclusive. 500 members. The model for Satan as an entity is the Egyptian god Set. By a protégé: Michael Aquino – completely different character.Michael Aquino Disgusted by LaVey’s clown antics. Born 1946. Aquino is still a member, but high priest is now Patricia Hardy. Aquino has PhD in psychology from U. California. Lieut. Colonel in US army. Teaching psychological ops, intelligence, foreign relations, many honours as a soldier.

26. Temple of Set (7:36) 1.Also

27. Slide 27. Temple of Set, cont’d The Book of Coming Forth By Night Founding Charter of Temple of Set. The god Set has been involved in history for centuries and seeking a new enhanced human species. Practices greater black magic (to create the awakening of powers within). Repudiates lesser black magic (curses) as beneath people in his group. They all abide by laws.

28. Slide 28. SatanismSatanism Satanism scare. Blend of: What Satanism is The Scare as a social phenomenon. All cults produced social panics, but this one more than any, even though it is the most imaginary. “A social problem” Practices – 2 groups Sociological studies show the problem is a constructed problem (not a self-existent one).

29. Slide 29. Satanism as a Social Phenomenon Randy Lippert, Canadian sociologist “Construction of Satanism as a Social Problem in Canada” CJS 1990. Jeff Victor, Dynamics in Satanism Scare, 1992.

30. Slide 30. Emergence of Satanism as a Social Problem In the 1980’s (mid to late 80’s, early 90’s peak) Because the ACM were losing ground and attention in their battle against boring old cults. ‘86, ’87 moved to Satanism. Still 2 source points: A long cultural tradition of Satanic mythology & conspiracies, going back 500 years and more. Popular culture – Hollywood produced self-styled Satanists (crazies, adolescent dabblers) Legal Satanic organizations

31. Plus an new source in the ‘80’s – more serious: 1.Reports of women undergoing satanic ritual abuse (14:49) as children satanic ritual abuse 2.“False memory syndrome”

32. Slide 32. Claims of Satanic Activity ACM put adolescent reports, ritual abuse, crazies all together and generated an international Satanic conspiracy. They claimed the victims were brainwashed so they don’t remember it. Thousands (50000 children kidnapped every year in US & ritually sacrificed every year) or women baby factories for sacrifice. 30 years ago, Hamilton kids reported cannibalism, eating feces, desecrating cemeteries.

33. Slide 33. Rumour panics data collected on 31 rumour panics in US 1984-1989. Also, 1989 Lethbridge panic. Reminiscent of War of the Worlds (H.G. Wells’ novel narrated by Orson Welles): Mars invades earth, done as a news cast. All 31 had the following characteristics: Trigger event: discovery of graffiti, vandalism, mutilated animals, teenage suicides (3 in Lethbridge) People keep children home from school, others rush to sites of Satanism Police inundated with calls (cat gone, graffiti, strange neighbour behaviour) Newspaper reported: here are pictures of what to look for. Public meetings – educational, calls to action. Churches hold special classes, bring in outside “experts” Attacks on unconventional members of society (old ladies in dilapidated house).

34. Slide 34. Official Responses At height of the scare, police forces got drawn into investigations. FBI formed special task force – 3 years on all reports of Satanic crime in US Found no evidence of any satanic crime ever in US. Not even circumstantial evidence to warrant a trial. British 16 years ago went to the leading proponent of Satanic Ritual Abuse and asked them to write a scientifically credible report and document it. The deadline passed 4 times with no report.

35. Slide 35. Media reports it all Bandwagon effect. Report it because everyone else is doing so. Lippert reports: New reports in 1980’s: all in Canada. 100’s of discussions of Calgary RCMP report on the number of Satanists in Calgary Back-pedalled it to one single RCMP constable taking a course, in his paper, he guessed at the number. Lippert: Who benefits from making the claims? Local Police, Child Welfare, Media, also psychological professionals, ACM, church leaders. Victor: Why are others receptive to them? Every panic happened in small towns in decline: suicide, alcohol abuse, etc., higher in rural areas.