THE PSYCHOLOGY OF SATANIC CULT INVOLVEMENT: AN ...

What made you decide to leave Satanism?
Natural meanin2 units
75. Because I felt less and less in control of
myself emotionally 1 got depressed. 1 felt
helpless, like 1 could do anything and not be
in control. 1 lost control ofmyselfso many
times, you know, ...so many times.
76. One night 1 went into a trance and
started doing things that 1 would never have
done to my friends - attacking them,
screaming, carrying on like an animal.
77. This is what they told me. 1 ... 1 don't
remember much, but 1 do remember being
scared ofmyself.
78. 1 was tired of being controlled by
demons - sick and tired ofit. 1 hated myself
even more, and was thinking a lot about
suicide. Killing myselfseemed the only way
to get out of this situation that I'd been in
for three years already.
79. But, 1 remember talking to one of my
sister's friends, and they were telling me
about God - how God has the power to heal
everyone ... to put everything right. This
made me think that maybe ... maybe Jesus
might be able to help me, so 1 went to a
churchfor help.
80. After hearing the gospel ofJesus 1 went
after church and spoke to a counsellor at the
church. He prayedfor me, and told me to
do the "Sinner's Prayer", so 1 did.
Central themes
75. As S experienced increasing loss of
control over his actions he became helpless
and depressed.
76. In a dissociated state S launched a
frenzied attack on his friends, behaving in a
manner totally alien to him.
77. All that S recalls of the attack is the
experience ofbeing afraid ofhimself
78. S's persistent experience of demonic
control and self-hatred gave rise to despair,
and thoughts ofsuicide as the only escape.
79. An acquaintance's statement that God is
capable of healing everyone prompted S to
go to a church and seek help from Jesus
Christ.
80. After attending a church service, S
disclosed his situation to a Christian
counsellor, and willingly followed
instructions to pray to God.
81. 1 meant every word 'cause 1 was so 81. S, desperate to be free of Satan's
desperate for Satan to leave me, and felt influence, was sincere in his pleas for God to
that only God could help me.
rescue him.
82. He told me to get active in the church, 82. S enthusiastically obeyed the Christian
and because 1 was so scared ofSatan, 1 went counsellor's instruction to become active in
to every church meeting andprayer meeting the life ofthe Church.
that 1 could - everyday. In this church, it
was fourteen times a week! (lauf?hs). I'm
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