THE PSYCHOLOGY OF SATANIC CULT INVOLVEMENT: AN ...

17. Anyway, it began I was nineteen. I used
to go club-hopping, you know, and that's
where 1met this guy, who got me involved in
Satanism.
18. At that time ... at that time I was just
existing. Nothing really meant anything to
me. I didn't have any purpose in life,
nothing.
19. I didn't know Godpersonally, and didn't
want to know him. What had He ever done
forme?
17. S's introduction to Satanism began with
a social encounter with another man at the
age of 19.
18. S, expenencmg life as meaningless,
lacked purpose and direction.
19. S felt alienated from, and resentful
toward a God who had never helped him in
anyway.
20. I didn't have muchfriends either ... I was 20. S was friendless and alone.
a loner.
21. This guy that I met ... as I got to know 21. S was intrigued to see that his new
him at the clubs, I noticed that he had acquaintance exuded a power that attracted
something about him, you know. Something people to him.
powerful that attracted people to him. He
could get anything he wanted ... girls.
People kind oflike flocked around him.
22. And so, we became goodfriends, and he 22. S became friends with his new
noticed that I was this confused guy that acquaintance, who soon noticed that S was
wanted, needed some type of control in his confused and unable to control his life.
life.
23. I could talk to him, and he'd listen. He 23. S's friend listened empathically to S's
understood my problems, and told me that I self-disclosures and assured S that he too
could be just like him. I could have power could acquire power and influence over
and influence over people, power to get others.
what I wanted
24. He told me that he was involved in 24. S's friend disclosed his satanic
Satanism, and through Satanism he was able involvement, and promoted Satanism as a
to get anything he wanted, absolutely spiritual path which brought him success and
anything he wanted. He said ... he said it gratified all his needs.
was the most wonderful, successful kind of
life serving Satan.
25. Unlike God, who doesn't care, Satan 25. S's friend presented himself as living
took care of those who served him, and he proof that Satan, unlike God, cared for his
was living proof
worshippers.
26. He told me that if I joined Satanism I 26. S's friend reassured him that he would
wouldnever be lonely or unhappy af(ain. cease being lonely and unhappy ifhe became