THE PSYCHOLOGY OF SATANIC CULT INVOLVEMENT: AN ...

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been known to commit crimes and antisocial acts in the name of Satan (Greaves, 1992;
Ross, 1995).
Level Two: Organisational Satanism
1. Openly practising religious satanic/neo-satanic cults
These are distinguished from Level One Satanism by a religious/metaphysical belief
system, collective ritual obeisance to an anti-Christian deity, hierarchical leadership
structure, public acknowledgement of beliefs and activities, and professed eschewal of
criminal practices. LaVey's Church of Satan and Aquino's Temple of Set are examples
ofthis cult form.
2. Underground cult organisations
The religious satanic cults mentioned above are able to practise openly by virtue of their
declared opposition to criminal behaviour. However, many alleged satanic cult survivors
testify to the existence of highly secretive, underground groups, the members of which
regularly perpetrate ritual crime as an integral part of their satanic activities. Crimes
allegedly committed include drug abuse, paedophilia, rape, bestiality, abduction,
cannibalism and murder.
Members of these organisations appear to compn~e two distinct sub-categories,
differentiated by duration of cult membership, hierarchical status, and commitment to the
cult ideology. The first sub-category typically includes white adolescents who are
neophyte cult members, occupy the lowest rungs of the cult hierarchy, and have little
understanding ofsatanic ritual magic. As recent cult members, their socialisation into the
satanic subculture is incomplete. Consequently, they tend to have ambivalent feelings
toward Satanism, thus preventing their total commitment to, and identification with,
satanic ideology. They may feel uncomfortable with certain ceremonial practices, lack
detailed understanding of the meaning of the rituals, and occupy the lowest rungs of the
cult hierarchy. They frequently report symptoms of demonic possession, even after
leaving the cult, and cite fear ofspiritual or physical retribution as the primary motive for