THE PSYCHOLOGY OF SATANIC CULT INVOLVEMENT: AN ...

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of Magick: "a way of perfecting the various faculties of Man and raising him in stages to
Godhead" (Suster, 1989, p.28). Accompanying this more metaphysical interpretation of
Satanism was a declared rejection of any behaviour or attitude considered "undignified,
sadistic, criminal, or depraved" (Aquino in Tate, 1991, p. 149). The Temple's main
objective is "to awaken the divine power ofthe individual through the deliberate exercise
ofwill and intelligence" (Melton, 1992, p. 114).
3.4 Satanic ideology and practices
The satanic movement is not a monolithic entity, and various personal and ideological
schisms have resulted in at least six groups in America alone, breaking away from the
Church to form their own organisations (Melton, 1978).
However, although different
satanic groups may adhere to slightly different beliefs and practices, there is a high degree
of subcultural heterogeneity and a common magical world view (Katchen & Sakheim,
1992). Alfred (1976) identifies six general aspects of satanic ideology: (1) hedonistic
gratification of worldly desires; (2) the ceremonial use of magic for gaining personal
power and manipulating others; (3) the worship of Satan as a symbol of that which is
religiously forbidden and heretical; (4) the iconoclastic desire to free oneself from
conformist social norms, expectations and institutional restraints; (5) the millenariast
belief in the overthrow of Christianity, and the coming of a new world order; and (6) the
imputation of charismatic authority and magical power to the religious leader, or high
priest. These, and other, characteristic features of satanic belief systems will be
considered in detail below.
3.4.1. Magic ritua}
The Satanic world view begins from the assumption that all living organisms contain a
spiritual power or energy which can be transferred and absorbed through the enactment of
certain magical rituals (Katchen & Sakheim, 1992). Magic may thus be simply defined as
"the science and art of causing change to occur in conformity with will" (Crowley quoted
in Suster, 1989, p. 97). 'Greater' magic refers to the ritual harnessing of supernatural
energy, while 'lesser' magic refers to the psychological manipulation and control of