DANGEROUS
CULTS
Greetings! Enter!
This chamber is devoted to dangerous cults on the DARK SIDE. BE
WARNED! It contains disturbing information regarding the dangers that
might befall anyone seeking contact with such cults. The information
is thoroughly researched. The first installment is an article about
satanic cults. There is some historical background about witchcraft
and satanism and the differences between the two are discussed. Witchcraft
and satanism are two separate belief systems. Do not confuse the two.
The majority of witches are harmless. The same cannot always be said
regarding satanists. We suggest you read the article here and any future
information included in this section plus do further research elsewhere.
We will include a list of suggested readings in this section. Check
back for further updates.
WITCHCRAFT AND SATANISM
IN MODERN AMERICA
by
Lucinda MacGregor
Orignally published in our NEWS FROM THE
ABYSS & ABYSS
FORUM:
NOTE: Some words will show a letter missing and an
underline mark in its place. Anyone will understand what the words
are but it should help keep children from understanding the words as well
as to confuse the search engines so they won't list this article as some
kind of sleasy material. We don't want the "powers that be" (the BIG
BAD thought-police on the net) finding it and removing it!--(we wouldn't
put it pass them in these oh so politically correct times) so we did a bit
of our own censoring. This article is STRICTLY a RESEARCH PAPER with
social and historical significance. It contains worthwhile and informative
material. If the "powers that be" have their way too many informative
and significant materials will be made unavailable to readers on the net.
The Internet is supposed to be an educational tool as well as having
endless resources and entertaining. The foundations of our fundamental
rights of freedom of speech in today's America is being constantly eroded
away. If the "thought-police" types have their way, we will all be
watching nothing but Disney movies and reading children's stories.
The practice of witchcraft has always been
part of mankind's history. Primitive man believed in the use of ceremonial
magic to combat fears or to aid in his desires and dreams. These
included chanting, dancing, rituals and fertility rites. Early man
worshiped various gods and later sacrificed animals and/or humans to appease
the gods to keep away threatening weather, to give Man strength to hunt and
kill animals, to defeat his enemy in battle and to make crops
grow.
The use of magic was widely used in ancient civilizations.
The ancient Egyptians wrote the Book of the
Dead to aid them with their magical beliefs. Mesopotamia
used astrology. The Jews (much later) had their
Kabbalah, a book of magic and mysticism.
In classical Greece and Rome, there were various cults of gods and
goddesses. Early in Man's history, women became more readily identified
with magic and witchcraft.
The early witch was probably not related to the witches of the Middle Ages,
did not worship any god of the witches and did not belong to any group.
She was generally young and beautiful. Classical literature frequently
contained such beautiful witches.
The horned god was the earliest known deity to be represented
by Man. Archaeologists discovered some of the earliest cave drawings in Ariage,
France of the horned god. This deity was also represented in various
forms in Egypt, India, Mesopotamia, Greece, Rome, the British Isles and
Scandinavia. By the Middle Ages, the same deity was being referred
to as the Devil and became firmly entrenched in Europe.
Witchcraft in the Middle Ages emerges, for the most part, as
a direct descendant of the Paleolithic fertility cult. It also contained
ideas adopted from religions current to the period.
It did not take long for Christendom to direct its energies
toward combating paganism. During the thirteenth century, the Catholic
Church instituted the Holy Inquisition of St. Dominic. This was the
first time organized persecution of men and women accused of practicing
witchcraft occurred.
A medieval European legend that concerned witches involved
Walpurgis Night (celebrated on May lst). It was when witches traditionally
rode their brooms to meet with the Devil in the Harz Mountains on the Broken,
the highest peak. The residents of the villages started fires to keep
the witches away.
The Knights Templars was a medieval order of knights accused
of witchcraft. The Church charged them with heresy. The Knights,
though wealthy and powerful, were suppressed and their land holdings taken
by the Church. "The accusations against the Templars included sod_my,
immorality, renunciation of Christ, the worship of an idol named Bahomet
and obsc_ne kisses. The leaders were tortured until they 'freely' confessed
their guilt and then burned alive." (Maple, 1966: p. 73).
During the Middle Ages, witches were tortured and burned at
the stake throughout Europe. There was a papal degree issued in 1233
to initiate the Inquisition. It was an official part of the Vatican.
The Church felt tremendously threatened by the emerging popularity
of Devil worship. Prior to this period, pre-Christian paganism had
not presented any threat, but now the Church hunted down witches throughout
medieval society. For the next five hundred years, they tortured heretics
and witches to extract confessions of heresy and then they burned them.
Hundreds of thousands died. They justified their witch hunting
with Biblical passages. "Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live." (Exodus:
Chapter 22 - Verse 18).
Witch finders devised many terrifying forms of torture to extract
the confessions from witches: bone-crushing apparatuses, instruments to remove
limbs or tongues, joint-pullers, spiked metal chairs, stretching racks, head
crushers and more.
The Church's fear of witchcraft became mainly rooted in their
fear of heresy with the advent of Protestantism. The age of Reformation
was not an easy period for the Church. Various sects and individuals
were preaching against the Church throughout Europe. By the age of
Enlightenment, people were generally skeptical of the Devil and his worshipers.
"However, there was an increasing interest in self-conscious Satanism--that
is, in the worship of Satan, not as a horned, pagan god, but as the evil
power recognized by Christianity. In France especially, the Black Mass
became a popular form of amusement for young men in serious pursuits of
decadence." (Paulsen, 1970: p. 19). And, "there were a number of elaborate
dens of vice dedicated to Satan himself, set up in Britain to provide s_x_al
stimulation." (Maple, 1966: p. 143).
With the advent of science during the Enlightenment, Man changed
his attitude toward the Church. He no longer took the Devil nor the
concept of evil so seriously. Satanism became basically an excuse for deb_uchery.
The Hellfire Clubs, founded in the early eighteenth century in England,
was a group devoted to satanic rituals and s_x_al excesses. Membership
was confined to the aristocracy. "These men were seeking the assistance
of Satan to institutionalize their perversions, to give them that extra touch
of uniqueness without which they would quickly seem insipid and boring."
(Lyons, 1988: p. 55)
During this period, frequent rumors of Satanism were linked
to Freemasonry. A number of writers, as well as ex-Masons, wrote books
to expose the secret practices of some Masonic groups. The highest
degrees in membership were targeted as the culprits. The Church was
the archenemy of Freemasonry. A papal bull issued by Pope Clement XII
forbade Catholics to have any association with Freemasonry whatsoever. Freemasons
were considered suspect of heresy and depraved. They were also suspected
of political conspiracy and some groups (referred to as "lodges") were indeed
used for political intrigue.
Some of the Masonic groups (lodges) were interested in the occult.
There were other groups linked to Satanism during the Enlightenment
and the nineteenth century: Rosicrucians, the Kabbalists, Order of
the Golden Dawn and more.
The next scene of witchcraft hysteria was situated in the New
World in Salem, Massachusetts. It occurred infrequently in the colonies
of the late 1600's, but the 1692 episode in Salem stands out. By the
end of it, nineteen men and women were hanged and over a hundred were
arrested.
It started with two girls' involvement with a West Indian slave
named Tituba. She told them about voodoo and witchcraft. After
that, the girls began acting possessed. The witch craze spread to areas
outside of the village. Hundreds of people were questioned and many
imprisoned. Frequently, they could not handle their predicament and
confessed to anything and everything. Historically witchcraft epidemics
occurred during periods of social tension. Any society where the social
structure was rigid and there was no method by which anyone could relieve
the stress associated with such a structured society experienced these
problems.
Cotton Mather, though a leading advocate of the Salem witch
trials, commented that there was a striking similarity between the attributes
given to the Devil by the Salem witches and those given to "our Savior or
His Prophets, or the saints of the Kingdom of God." (Erickson, 1966:
p. 22)
The reason for this is explained in Kai T. Erikson's book,
Wayward Puritans--A Study in the Sociology
of Deviance. "If deviation and conformity are so
alike, it is not surprising that deviant behavior should seem to appear in
a community at exactly those points where it is most feared. Men who
fear witches soon find themselves surrounded by them; men who become jealous
of private property soon encounter eager thieves. And if it Is not
always easy to know whether fear creates the deviance or deviance the fear,
the affinity of the two has been a continuing course of wonder in human affairs.
Observers of a later age may look back and understand that the witches
and the magistrates were using the same cultural vocabulary and moving to
the same cultural rhythms, but on the whole this secret is not known to the
people of the times, to them, deviant behavior seems to come out of nowhere,
an uninvited, perverse thrust at the very heart of the community." (Erikson,
1966: p. 21-22)
In the twentieth century, witchcraft and Satanism has taken
a different turn. Today's society is racked with violence and bizarre
and deviant behavior. It has created a new breed of witch. The
1960's bred the hippie movement and a revived Interest in occultism. Out
of these developments, and along with the violent trend in society, some
bad things occurred. The Manson Family, under the guidance of Charles
Manson, committed a series of brutal murders that outraged American society.
Serial killers have become commonplace. Child abus_ and murder
and child p_r_ography, sometimes involving Satanists, has created fear in
families across America. Ritual murders of individuals involved with
Satanists or kidnaped by them have repeatedly turned up in police reports.
There has been a series of recent books and television shows discussing
the real and imagined abuses of modern day Satanists.
Recent novels and movies about witchcraft and Satanism, while
these sometime have condemned the practitioners of the occult crafts more
frequently have tantalized society, particularly impressionable youth. In
the past few years, there has been a series of bizarre satanic murders committed
by teenagers. The majority of youth seriously involved in witchcraft
and Satanism are male. They are also intelligent but frequently loners
who were attracted to occultism out of loneliness, a desire to be different,
and to impress, attract and influence their peers. The Sean Sellers
case is such an example.
Sean, a lonely teen, whose parents frequently moved around
the country, did not allow time for him to live a normal home life and develop
longtime friends. Out of his loneliness (his parents were rarely home--they
were long distance truckers) and alienation (he developed only a few long-term
friendships), he found witchcraft and Satanism. A baby-sitter introduced
him to witchcraft and out of his growing interest, he went further--into
Satanism. From that point it was the typical case. Sean withdrew
from his fellow students and became increasingly stranger. He attempted
to impress fellow students and did. Then he recruited them and formed
his own satanic coven. Eventually, he convinced one of them to assist him
in the murder of a convenience store clerk. Next, Sean murdered his
parents. Since 1986, he has been on death row in Oklahoma, the youngest to
be given the death sentence. Sean has been only one in a series of
such recent cases.
In Devil Child, a book about
the Sean Sellers case, the authors Nickie L. Dawkins and Nina Higgins stated
that, "Crime statistics of up-and-coming generations reveal that a vast number
of teenagers search more diligently than ever before for that ultimate quick
fix to rescue them from the problems of their formative years. Vowing to
alleviate their disciplinarian problems aid in peer acceptance, a forked-tongue
'savior' awaits on street corners, back alleys, movie houses, and in public
schools. "His name is Satan." (Dawkins & Higgins, 1989: p. 1)
In Cults That Kill Probing The Underworld
of Occult Crime by Larry Kahaner, the author covers a variety
of topics and includes much outstanding evidence from police sources and
reports. He accomplishes more with his book in presenting a total picture
of today's occult scene than any other author with theirs. While there
have been some other reliable books published, the writers only covered some
aspects of today's occultism. There were also some seriously unreliable
books written by those who would readily launch a modern day witch hunt.
Larry Kahaner, in his book, gave an explanation about what
is modern witchcraft. This has always been a confusing issue. While
some cults and covens have cross membership, or members have drifted from
one group to another, mostly practitioners of witchcraft are not involved
in Satanism. Kahaner stated, "Most modern day practitioners of witchcraft
cringe when the words of Satanism and witchcraft are used in the same sentence.
Witchcraft means different things to different people, and unfortunately
for followers of the "old religion," it's of ten taken to be synonymous with
Satanism.
"The reason for that is simple. During the Middle Ages,
the term witch was often used to describe anyone who was a heretic and, to
the thinking of church clergy, in league with the Devil. That notion
still sticks today." (Kahaner, 1988: p. 97) He further explains how
those who follow witchcraft view their religion as a legitimate alternative
religion that has a foundation that predates Christianity. There is
no main system of beliefs. Each coven operates independently and set
up their own rules. They all do, however, believe in the power of nature
and therefore worship it with their own special set of rituals.
During the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, there have
continually been various pagan cults and witchcraft covens connected through
a kind of underground network. (Many satanic cults have created their own
network. If you know where to look, they can be found.) The average
witchcraft group might encourage n_de participation ("skyclad") at ceremonies
(and some encourage open s_xual encounters). More deviant type groups (more
likely to be involved in Satanism) encourage drug use, hom_s_x_ality,
bi-s_x_ality, sad_-mas_chism, blood-drinking rituals, ped_philia, or necr_philia,
etc. Some American groups have ties to Canadian or European and even
South American groups. Some groups claim to trace their history back
thorough several generations of families practicing varieties of witchcraft
or Satanism. The famous anthropologist, Margaret A. Murray agreed with that
idea. She was also convinced that witchcraft can be traced back through
Europe to the ancient Middle East and early Man. In
The God of the Witches, she discusses
the cult of the Dying God. It could be traced back to pre-Christian
Europe and beyond. Sacrifices were made. The victim was killed
by fire, shedding blood or asphyxiation. "The incarnate god was originally
the king or chief of the tribe, later his place was taken by a substitute,
who was often for a time allowed the status and insignia of royalty. Mock
kings, who were put to death at the end of a given term, are a well-known
feature of early religions." (Murray, 1631: p.160-161)
Murray further explains that the ultimate meaning of the practice
was that since the spirit of God would choose to reside in the victim selected
for sacrifice, the victim then became a representative of fertility for the
land. This is all part of the idea of the Dying God. The belief
was prevalent throughout the Old World. Pre-Christian religions believed
in It. It was practiced as part of a cult.
Murray continued with further evidence to conclude that the
cult of the Dying God continued into medieval Europe. There has been
much confusion about the sacrifices practiced by old and modern witchcraft
groups. Generally they denied, and still do, that any ritual murders were
or are performed. It was mock sacrifices or animal sacrifices. There
has been a very thin line between where witchcraft ends and Satanism begins.
Historical evidence has often been vague, confusing and even untruthful.
Or has It? If today's cults or covens are a repetition of the past
(and, surely there is no reason to believe that today's witches or Satanists
are necessarily a now phenomenon), then surely some of the older groups were
guilty of ritual murders and other abuses.
Though two and a half decades have shown a tremendous increase
in violent crime, witchcraft and Satanism have probably been around for hundreds
of years. Some practitioners (more likely Satanists) may have adapted
to contemporary society by engaging much more frequently in numerous criminal
acts: ritual murder, child abus_ and po_n_graphy, drug trafficking, etc.
But, surely, they, generally being part of a deviant subculture, have
always been more inclined toward unscrupulous behavior.
Kahaner defined Satanism accurately by stating that it consists
of ideas taken from several religions which predate it. Originally,
gods who represented either good or bad may have been worshiped.
However, the practice of Devil worship did not occur until
the emergence of the Christian church. In nineteenth century Europe, there
was a renewed interest in occultism--a combination of mysticism and witchcraft.
Eventually modern day Satanism would be the outcome.
Some modern witches, like their ancestors, may be victims of
too much bad press. However, as a movement, they nearly always remained
secretive. Only more recently have they instead come forth to disavow
any connection with satanic groups and make a thorough effort to publicly
disassociate themselves from these groups. Unfortunately, witchcraft
spokesmen have often spoken out against Christianity and seriously advocated
occultism in various guises. The late Dr. Leo Louis Martello, founder
of Witches International Craft Association and the Witches Anti-Defamation
League repeatedly condemned Christianity in his book, Witchcraft The Old
Religion. So does Margot Adler, a neo-pagan, in her
Drawing Down The Moon--Witches, Druids,
Goddess-Worshippers and Other Pagans in
America Today, though she is more subtle about
it. Laurie Cabot, the official witch of Salem, Massachusetts; Selina
Fox, founder of Circle Sanctuary; the late Gerald Gardner, founder of the
Gardnerian tradition; as well as many others have seriously criticized
Christianity. Now, it might seem reasonable that they would do such
a thing since, after all, it was Christianity that persecuted them in the
past. But, in the case of the Satanists (not wiccans) there could be
another reason on their agenda--they oppose Christianity in its entirety.
What, then, would be the implications in that? For good, for
evil or what else? Since there is a variety of satanic groups in existence,
and the majority of them operating independently, then can it be assumed
that they might be doing just about anything?
On the surface, today's witches and Satanists promote their
beliefs to recruit converts, sell books and ceremonial objects from shops
devoted to the occult arts or through mail order (even witches and devil
worshipers have to earn a living) and practice their faith. The majority
of witches are harmless, but it is some of the Satanists that society should
worry about.
Whether one believes in possession or not, there has been a
big increase during the past few years in exorcisms performed by the Catholic
Church and others (that is not to say that all exorcisms are necessary or
even legitimate). Perhaps too many weak-minded, foolish people have
been taken in by occultism.
While attempting to channel a spirit guide, they convinced themselves that
they were possessed. The New Age Movement should take some blame for
influencing people wrongly or conning them out of big money.
Encouraging people to pay large sums of money for classes in
the occult arts is just one of the unsavory sides of the big business of
New Age promoters. While some New Agers are sincere and perhaps assist
people with spiritual problems, they may not be qualified to treat them safely.
Others are simply unscrupulous. For whatever motivation, some
Christian fundamentalist writers, such as David Hunt, Tex Marrs, and T. A.
McMahon and television shows like the "700 Club"
(plus many others) have spoken out against the New Age Movement. They
have claimed repeatedly that it has too many close ties to witchcraft and/or
Satanism. They have lumped the New Age Movement, witchcraft, Satanism
and other occult groups together. While there has always been a danger
in oversimplification (and the Christians have a need to protect their territory
just as the Occultists do), these types of groups overlap in some areas.
The main overlap is a strong anti-Christianism (even eastern religions
have been used in many instances to promote anti-Christian sentiment instead
of being used because eastern faiths have worthwhile qualities to offer
Christians).
David Hunt and T. A. McMahon in America
The Sorcerer's New Apprentice The Rise of New Age Shamanism
made an interesting point for their argument. "Most of these New Age
zealots seem to be motivated by a sincere desire to help a suffering world.
Whatever the motivation, however, the determined undermining of
Christianity is well on its way, and the establishment of an ecumenical New
Age shamanism as the world religion has made astonishing progress everywhere
except in Islamic countries." (Hunt & McMahon, 188: p. 292) New Agism
seems to permeate everything--books, magazines, music, movies, television,
clothing, jewelry, etc. Even if there is no dangerous influence from
New Age ideas, it does pave the way for a strong interest in the occult.
That is where a variety of cults enter the picture. Some of these
cults prey on New Age followers to find their recruits. Unfortunately,
too many gullible people have been easily swayed.
In a democratic society, it is dangerous to practice censorship.
However, it is also dangerous to not be ever vigilant against the excesses
that creep into such a society. While nonconformity has always played
a necessary part in society, dangerous deviant behavior cannot be tolerated
for long, least it cause serious spiritual and moral damage to the
society.
Along with Satanists, Death rock music that advocates suicide,
violence, sad_mas_chism; vampire blood-drinking cults; shops and nightclubs
for death rockers and blood drinkers (not all "Gothics" have this unsafe
practice but a fair number of them do; sometimes Neo-Nazis practice
blood-drinking; others are Satanists) and even necr_philes (they either disturb
graves to find corpses or find a job in the funeral trade which will give
them access to dead bodies) have all found a place in today's American society,
though they have their counterparts in Europe and elsewhere. These
groups or individuals are sometimes connected to covens, but for the most
part, to satanic cults or operate alone (sometimes referred to as a self-styled
Satanist). Evidently, a climate of moral and spiritual decadency has
dawned in America. The majority of people either ignore what has been
happening, do not understand it or do no know how to combat the problems
in American society. Others simply do not care.
In the past decade, there has been an upswing in Christian
fundamentalism. They (different church denominations) have made some
effort, whether sincere or not, whether mistaken or not, to combat the spiritual
crisis in America. There have been other spokesmen and activist groups
working toward a general return to more traditional values, though not always
successfully, nor necessarily worthwhile.
Regarding Satanists, Kahaner comments in his book that he
interviewed many people involved in Satanism and he discovered a hidden
"underworld of ‘occult crime.'" (Kahaner, 1988, Introduction) He
adds that occult crime is growing daily and that both the police and the
public can expect much more of this crime to occur before it is
suppressed.
There is an important element Kahaner failed to mention In
his book. Federal laws need to be changed which classify Satanism as
a religion yet worded not to interfere with legitimate satanic groups not
doing anything illegal. Thus far, the laws have protected these groups
in such a way that they can get away with anything. That should to
come to an end. These criminal satanic groups are not, by any normal
standards, classifiable as a legitimate religion. Those groups that
have been engaging in criminal activities should be investigated.
According to Kahaner, the F.B.I. and other police agencies claim it
is difficult to infiltrate satanic cults because law enforcement agents would
have to participate in sickening and horrifying activities, including murders.
But, somehow, it must be accomplished, and it is their responsibility.
Perhaps history will repeat itself and American society will turn around
and there will be a return to some traditional values. While this may
not please certain segments of society, it surely would, however temporarily,
dispel some of the darker sides of human nature.
NOTE: This was originally written as a term paper for a college
sociology (senior) course and was graded A+. Individuals will interpret
it in different ways. Those who have an interest in wicca might interpret
it as possibly anti-wiccan (not just anti-satanic). Others with an academic
background (particularly in sociology) will more than likely consider it
as fairly objective. Fundamentalist Christians could either approve
of it since it deals with some of the problems involving satanism while
other fundamentalists don't approve of any discussion of Satanism and/or
witchcraft (they consider any discussion of it as satanic in itself).
Well, you can't please everyone nor should a writer even try. Hopefully,
we still have some freedom of speech in the U.S. (if the political correctness
mind police don't take it away from us). The intention of this writer
is to convey some historical background and general information regarding
some of the past and current problems surrounding cults. She sees "some"
of the satanic cults as possibly dangerous and thinks the public should learn
more about them. Some individuals are touchy about the topic of satanic
cults. However, any group or individual/s involved in criminal activities
should be a source of concern for any rational, reasonable, and responsible
citizen. Unfortunately, nowadays there is a minority of people adopting
the attitude that we either shouldn't concern ourselves with what any group
or individual/s are doing because it isn't our business or we are infringing
on the rights of those people. They fail to understand that if you
don't stand for something you will fall for anything. They would show
concern if someone was killed in their family or even if their pet was killed
by someone. They would be upset if someone robbed them. In any
of these instances they would want the criminal/s caught. However,
simply because satanism is classified as a religion they don't want to to
infringe on their rights regardless if those rights are protecting them even
when they commit criminal acts. Also, some people are so disturbed
by the mere mention of satanic cults that they prefer to bury their heads
in the sand. Yet with any other type of crime they are vocal about
it. Satanic crime is real in "some" instances. Not all stories
are bogus. There are some legitimate problems with "some" cults and
these problems should be addressed.
ATTENTION READERS: Here's your chance to respond. Let us know if you agree or disagree with the article or parts of the article. Do you think any dangerous cults exist or have ever existed? Why do you think they exist/don't exist? If you think they exist, what should be done about them? Do you think there is a definite difference between witchcraft covens and satanic cults? Explain. Any other comments?
BIBLIOGRAPHY:
Dawkins, Vickie L. & Higgins, Nina Downey, Devil Child, St. Martin's Press -- NY, 1989.
Erickson, Kai T., Wayward Puritans A Study In The Sociology Of Deviance, John Wiley & Sons, Inc. -- NY, 1966.
Hughes, Pennethorne, Witchcraft, Pelican Books -- London, England, 1952.
Hunt, Dave & McMahon, T. A., America The Sorcerer's New Apprentice The Rise Of New Age Shamanism, Harvest House -- Eugene, OR, 1988.
Kahaner, Larry, Cults That Kill Probing The Underworld Of Occult Crime, Warner Books NY, 1988.
Lyons, Arthur, Satan Wants You The Cult Of Devil Worship In America, Mysterious Press NY, 1988.
Maple, Eric, The Domain Of Devils, A. S. Barnes And Co., Inc. -- South Brunswick, NJ, 1966.
Murray, Margaret A., The God Of The Witches, Oxford University Press -- London, England, 1931.
Newall, Venetia, The Encyclopedia Of Witchcraft, A &W Visual Library -- NY, 1974.
Paulsen, Kathryn, The Complete Book Of Magic and Witchcraft, Signet Books -- NY, 1970.
Time-Life Books, Editors, Witches and Witchcraft
-- Mysteries Of The Unknown series, Alexandria, VA,
1990.
From an upcoming issue of our FULL MOON
JOURNAL:
DEMONIC
ENCOUNTERS
by Lucinda
MacGregor
Back in 1964 or '65 (my memory fails me) I encountered a
strange man while my friends and I were on a trek to the infamous historic
French Quarter section of New Orleans (home base for vampire writers Anne
Rice and Poppy Z. Brite); everybody's favorite necromancer, Leilah Wendell
and her Westgate House of Death Gallery/Museum; voodoo, witchcraft,
and satanic practioners; haunted houses & plantations; and lots of old
European-styled cemeteries with aboveground vaults; and a large community
of goths). He was an older man (50s or early 60s), distinguished,
impeccably dressed, good manners, well educated without a hint of an accent
(obviously not Southern--in fact there was nothing Southern about him).
The man stopped me to comment how convinced he was that I was a natural
witch and would like to have me join a large coven he belonged to in San
Francisco. It was such a bizarre encounter that I decided to hear him
out though I did't trust him. Unfortunately, I don't recall all the
details of our conversation but I agreed to talk with him again soon.
He told us his name and where he taught (he was a college professor of psychology
or philosophy--I can't remember though I do remember his name and the university
but it will remain nameless here). He pointed out the building he lived
in on the route we normally took. After that we encountered him a few
times on our visits to the Quarter.
Eventually, we took him up on his invitation to visit his home.
What a strange place it was, too! The walls were painted red.
There were many interesting antiques and endless bookcases lined the
walls along with huge gold framed paintings. One of the paintings was
of a strange-looking blonde haired woman that he claimed as his late wife.
The eyes of the woman in the painting looked as if they followed one
everywhere. He commented on the fact that it was painted that way
intentionally. He welcomed us to look at his collection of books.
Those were strange indeed! Many of them were privately published
and even hundreds of years old. It was obvious that the collection
was of exceptionally rare value. What was truly curious about them
was the fact that they were mostly about occult subjects (even the ones that
were impossible to read due to age and language--many had engravings that
revealed their subject matter). Things got stranger yet when he allowed us
to listen to some tape recordings he claimed to have made at some coven rituals.
One thing I am sure of was that those tapes were genuine and not
commercially made (I doubt that there were such tapes available commercially
anyway at that time). The rituals and the sounds of individuals on
those tapes were the most disturbing I have ever heard to this day! I
have never forgotten them! I realized that this man was not talking
about any ordinary witchcraft coven. He was a Satanist and an important
one at that. He told me of his genealogy (he traced his ancestry back
to a famous historic figure in the Knights Templar) and of a long line of
occultists in his family lineage. There was no doubt about his serious
connections to the Darkside. This here was no impostor! He was
the real thing! He showed me so many old documents and books, family
portraits and photographs that I became convinced of his authenticity as
a representative of the Darkside. When I remember back upon it I felt
a bit like Rosemary in "Rosemary's Baby" when she said, "All of them witches!"
However, he was not a witch and he wasn't connected with witches.
Instead, he was one of those rare finds that most people never have
the opportunity to encounter--here was a real Satanist--a genuine generational
Satanist--not the silly teenager playing at satanic rituals or some disturbed
lone individual such as a serial killer who claims to be a practicing
Satanist--this was a member of that select group of rich, cultured, and
professional elite Satanists whom are only whispered about but never
exposed--they are much too dangerous--too powerful since they come from the
rich and professional classes and can make anyone disappear if they feel
threatened by exposure. He offered me a key to his place so I could
go in and read his books at my convenience. It was apparent he was
convinced that I was perfect for his group. He gave me a set of copper
bracelets which he claimed would improve my powers. I accepted the
bracelets and put them on. I already decided to pretend to go along
with everything because I wanted to learn more about what sinister things
he did in his coven.
The last time I went to his place I went alone. I
felt as if I was being watched and that painting of the strange-eyed woman
didn't help. I felt the sudden urge to get up and run out of there
and never return. I left the key in his mail box. After that
my friends and I took an alternative route in the Quarter. We also
made a point of going in another direction every time we noticed him approaching
on the street. Those times were frequent for many years. I almost
felt as if he was following me.
In the mid-70s to late 70s while investigating some right-wing
subversive political groups for a research paper, I called a phone number
that was listed in a book for an important group. Upon answering I
recognized the man on the phone as none other than the man I had encountered
so many years before. I introduced myself with a different name and
told him I was simply doing research for a college paper and would like some
general background information about his organization. He was cooperative
with his answers but before I was able to hang up suddenly he asked if I
was someone he had met many years before. Of course, I said that I
wasn't and that he was mistaken. I couldn't wait to get off the phone
at that point! I never called him again.
For many years I passed his place in the Quarter and looked
up to one of his windows where I could plainly see certain items on his mantle
and the red walls. Finally, sometime in the 80s (I don't remember when)
I noticed the things were no longer there and the walls weren't red. I
assume that he passed away since he would be extremely old by then.
I never was able to find out anything else about him.
Perhaps I could if I checked the university where he taught. Other
than that I think it doubtful I will discover anything. Unfortunately,
there was no Internet in those days. That might have made a big difference
in available information regarding his background. I do know that he
played an important role in a very well known paramilitary right-wing
organization with a dangerous reputation. From what he told me he was
the head of it. The oddest thing about all this is the fact that the
man trusted a total stranger enough to invite me into his home, show me his
collections, give me a key, tell me all about his occult affiliations and
later about his political affiliations (and though that time he thought at
first he was talking to someone else he figured out I was the one he met
previously before the conversation was over--I'm sure he didn't believe my
denial--and isn't it strange that I should place that call and it turn out
to be HIM!) My whole life has been an endless series of strange
coincidences but then that's another story. The first encounter left
me with a strong conviction that some strange and dangerous cults did indeed
exist in this world. Since then I have been driven by an overwhelming
interest in a need to know more about just what is out there. And,
every time I hear or read another poorly-informed individual's comment that
there is no such thing as generational Satanists I smile to myself and think,
"I know better!"
From an upcoming issue of our FULL MOON
JOURNAL:
THE CULT NEXT DOOR
by Lucinda
MacGregor
Back in 1972 my mother and I opened a curio shop in the famous Vieux Carre (French Quarter) of New Orleans. We sold books, records, posters, antiques, and much more. Unfortunately we only stayed open for a year. Located next door to us was a pseudo religious group (more commonly known as a cult). From the beginning we noticed that they maintained a soup kitchen for homeless individuals (unfortunately they were all drunks and drug addicts) to visit. We were disappointed to see that it scared off some of our customers. However, that wasn't the worst of it. We started noticing other things much more disturbing. The cult members normally wore blue or brown uniforms of some kind, but we started noticing some of them showing up for some kind of late night religious ritual dressed all in black monks' robes. They also wore medallions that were somewhat satanic looking. Sometimes they came into our shop and bought horror or science fiction books--they never selected anything else. They were two individuals who controlled the group and both had huge German Shepard dogs, one called Satan and the other Lucifer. We further noticed that a lot of runaways (mostly female) were showing up there. The group had a kind of social club where they played rock music, served food, and had tables set up for anyone to play a game of chess. It looked like something out of the 1960s.
One day some division of the police showed up in our shop asking questions about the group next door. They came back one other time. Basically all we could learn about the group was that they were suspected of supplying girls for a white slave trade. Now we realized why the girls showing up disappeared not to be seen again--though we didn't know why. One of my friends and I decided to stay late one night to observe what was going on with their midnight ritual. While we were attempting to peer through their curtains the local police drove by slowly. They stopped and talked with us and we told them what we observed. We saw them all dressed in their black monks' robes holding huge candles walking around in a circle chanting some eerie lyrics. There were a couple of men drumming on conga drums. The whole scene was definitely a strange one!
Soon after that another friend and I decided to do some more investigating. We went with a couple of other friends one night to listen to the cult's rock group perform. We pretended we were going to the bathroom and decided to explore the building. The entire place was in darkness and we couldn't hear any sounds. We went around from floor to floor trying every door. All of them were locked. We eventually got caught in the act . Our excuse was that we were looking for the bathroom and got lost. We acted stupid about the whole thing. They seemed to believe us.
I caught a bus one day to ride down to the main downtown street. While sitting there, one of the cult members got on and sat down next to me. He tried to engage me in a conversation. He kept using his hands in a strange manner and I realized right away that he was trying to hypnotize me. I immediately flew into a rage and told him I was well aware of what he was trying to do and to stop it. Luckily it was time for me to get off the bus. I rushed off in a big hurry to get away from him.
On another occasion I was crossing the street at the corner near our shop and encountered a young woman I casually knew through a friend. She had joined the cult next door. She had been pregnant and now wasn't. I asked her what she planned to do with the baby. She replied that she ate it. I said I didn't want to know anything about it and I crossed the street and got a way from there as quickly as possible. I didn't know if she was joking or not. I just couldn't believe that she would do something like that. In the late 1980s there were many talk shows on television about cults participating in such behavior as well as books written about it.
We finally had to close down the shop since staying open late hours and seven days a week just didn't work to make it worthwhile to operate the business. The majority of people were afraid to come around or didn't come back after they either encountered the cult next door or heard some of the disturbing rumors about them. Eventually the cult left town a few years or so later since they obviously weren't welcome.
Since that time I have come across many references to this cult in my many occult readings. I understand that they were suspected of some criminal activities and that at one time they practiced necrophilia as part of some initiation ritual. I also read that some satanic cults use that initiation as a method of psychological control over their followers. All the evidence points toward the cult next door as a satanic one.
All the incidents I mentioned happened--it is the truth! And I hope I never encounter them (or any other group like them) again. I understand that they still exist. There was always a scattering of various branches of the group and some of them are still out there somewhere.
Some interesting tidbits about early cults:
PRIESTESS of the MOON
In Celtic times the Moon Goddess had to administer her dark side through death. Man, animals and children were sacrificed in her honor. The priestess often served as the chief executioner. The soldiers taken prisoner of war were decapitated and their heads drained of blood into a cauldron called the "Cauldron of Regeneration." The blood was thought to have regenerative powers. Death was considered important, never meaningless. The odors emanating from the cauldron were considered powerfully intoxicating. It would impart the divine essence of the Moon Goddess.
--Ann Hoyt
KALI, GODDESS of DEATH
The Indian goddess, Kali, is one of the main Hindu divinities.
She represents the duality in nature and destroys in order to create.
Kali is the good and terrible mother archetype. She is portrayed
as a Black Mother. Worshipers must accept death just as readily as
life. Life is in eternal flux--birth and death and rebirth and so on.
The temple of Kali serves as a slaughter house for sacrificing
animals. The heads are left there as gifts. The blood is meant
to flow to the goddess.
Kali is considered the source of all feminine energies and
they flow to the goddess.
Note: During the nineteenth century the criminal cult
of the Thuggees worshiped Kali.
--Ann Hoyt
EARLY HUMAN SACRIFICE
The Druids of early Britain would sacrifice victims
to study (called divination) the process of dying. They also studied
the entrails as part of their magical practices.
They generally stabbed their victims as part of their ritual
and thought they could foretell the future by the observation of their dying.
Some of the victims had their throats cut, others were impaled or burnt
alive in wicker designed to look like a man and still others were killed
by arrows or drowning. The altars were piled high with gruesome offerings
of blood and entrails. These were collected and put in cauldrons.
The Druids believed a human life must be sacrificed for another
if supernatural powers were to be controlled.
There is also evidence that people may have been buried as
part of sacrifice and used in the foundation of shrines. (Many of them
were babies and some were decapitated). Some could have been used to
appease the gods instead of as a regular sacrifice.
--Ann Hoyt
THE CULT of the HEAD
The Celts believed the human head held magical properties and
was representative of the divine persona. Their legends said that heads
could talk after being cut off and bring them good luck. They often
used the head as a drinking vessel to give them power over their enemies.
The warriors saved the brains as trophies which were then hardened
with lime and referred to as "brain balls."
Some of the Celtic metal work used the head as a decorative
motif. Also in pre-Roman times in Central Europe and in the area of
Provence, France, the head was used as an important magical symbol in
sculpture.
The Celts, Gauls and the Boie (a northern Italian tribe) collected
heads during battle. Among the latter, heads of important people in
battle were often embalmed and kept. Heads were also offered as a gift
to the gods or kept in temple niches. There were even shrines piled
up with severed heads.
Head collecting occurred throughout Wales, Britain, Ireland,
Spain, France, Italy, and Central Europe.
--Ann Hoyt
MALLEUS MALEFICARUM
Two Dominican monks, Heinrich Kramer and Jakob Sprenger, declared that witchcraft was a real threat and told how to counteract the activities of witches in their book, Malleus Maleficarum. It was published in 1486 and several editions were made. The book consisted of typical medieval thinking as it regarded witchcraft as devil worship and witches in league with the Devil. The monks explained how to legally deal with witches--hence persecution of witches.
--Ann Hoyt
DEVILISH BOOKS
Reviews by Sharida Rizzuto &
Lucinda MacGregor
La-Bas (Down
There)
& Against The Grain (A
Rebours)
by J. K. Huysmans
Dover Publications
NYC, NY
1972 & 1969
Trade Paperback
The first book is considered a classic on Satanism. The
author describes in detail the rituals of the Black Mass. He was widely
experienced with the world of the occult in 19th century Paris during the
fin de siecle period. It was one of total decadence. In this
book, as well as the other (A. T. G.) he uses a character to voice his obsession
with decadence. It's definitely an interesting read for scholars of
the occult. However, a word of caution--some readers will find it
disturbing and/or offensive.
Mephistopheles--The Devil
In The Modern World
by Jeffrey Burton Russell
Cornell University Press
Ithaca, NY
1986
Trade Paperback
It is Russell's fourth volume in a series about the Christian historical
concept of the Devil. The book begins with the Reformation and continues
on into the present. Russell discusses how the concept of the Devil
has been influenced by changes in society which include art, culture, theology,
literature, philosophy, etc. This is a scholarly work, not something
written from a Christian fundamentalist prospective. Good for research.
Interesting.
Necronomicon
(Available in different editions--this reviewer read the
Avon Books edition, NYC, NY, 1977, trade paperback)
It is claimed by some that the material in this book originates from someone
known as the "Mad Arab" or Abddul Alhazred who lived during the eight century.
Others claim it is a hoax.
The book contains myths and rituals to evoke all kinds of evil beings, demons
and monsters. Many scholars of the occult eventually read it.
Pacts With The Devil--A Manual of the Left Hand
Path
by S. Jason Black & Christopher S. Hyatt, Ph.D.
New Falcon Publications
Phoenix, AZ
1993
Trade paperback
The authors cover the history of the practice of black magic in Europe.
They discuss the opposition by Christian fundamentalists to the Left
Hand Path. Included in the book are new editions of the seventeen and
eighteeen century Grimoires (Ritual of Lucifuge, etc.).
Possessed
The True Story of An Exorcism
Thomas B. Allen
Doubleday: NY, 1993
Hardback
William Peter Blatty based his novel,
The Exorcist, on a real case of possession
and exorcism that happened in 1949. The case involved a young boy and it
was written up in the Washington Post.
Possessed is about that case. It is based
on a diary of one of the Jesuit priests involved in the exorcism. It is more
fascinating than the fictional account. It will definitely keep the reader
up all night and one will keep looking over their shoulder afterward. This
reviewer read it twice. It is a truly disturbing book.
The Demonologist
The True Story of Ed Warrren and Lorraine Warren the World Famous Exorcism
Team
Gerald Brittle
Berkley Books
NYC, NY
1980
Paperback
The author covers some truly terrifying cases of demonic possession
investigated by the exorcism team of Ed and Lorraine Warren. Whether or not
one believes these cases or any others like them are credible, does not matter.
The book is an extremely scary read. It is the most informative and interesting
book about the subject this reviewer has read. It is also the best book available
about Ed and Lorraine Warren. They live an interesting, though extremely
frightening, life. Highly recommended for any horror fan or occult
enthusiast.
Possessed
True Tales of Demonic Possession
Brian McConnell
Headline Publishing Company
London, England
1995
Paperback
Besides possession, McConnell covers satanic cults and vampirism.
It is a good overview and entertaining. It leaves one wanting to read more.
McConnell worked for Scotland Yard and as a journalist for the Old Bailey.
He has written several books.
The Antichrist
Vincent P. Miceli, S.J.
The Christopher Publishing House
West Hanover, MA
1981
Hardback
Father Miceli covers the Antichrist in scripture, throughout
history and his relevance in modern society. It is scholarly and well researched.
Miceli was a speaker for the "Drama of Truth" tv series, and he wrote for
several journals mostly Conservative and Catholic. He also taught at various
universities. Recommended for occult researchers and Catholic readers. It
might be out-of-print but worth locating a copy. Try a dealer in Catholic
books or the occult.
The Domain of Devils
Eric Maple
A. S. Barnes and Co., Inc.
South Brunswick, NJ
1966
Hardback
The book is about the Devil in European history as well as Satanism and
witchcraft. It is the most fascinating book on the subject that this reviewer
has read. It is one of those books that one should digest slowly. It is scholarly
and well researched. At the time of publication, Maple was a British expert
in the field of Demonology. He also authored The
Dark World of Witches and The Realm of
Ghosts. He was also a member of the Society for Psychical Research
and did shows for BBC television. Obviously for his day he was a popular
figure. Highly recommended. It is probably out-of-print but worth tracking
down. More likely to be available from a British bookseller or an expert
occult book dealer.
Secret Societies
Ed. by Norman MacKensie
Collier Books
NYC, NY
1967
Paperback
The book includes sections by several experts on primitive
secret societies, the Maumaus, Thuggees, mystery religions of the Mediterranean
peoples, Assassins, Knights Templar, Rosicrucians, Freemasons, Nationalist
secret societies, Chinese secret societies, Mafia, and the KKK. It is an
excellent reference book. It is an important addition to any occult scholar's
library. Most likely out-of-print.
The Stranglers
The Cult of Thuggee and Its Overthrow in British
India
George Bruce
Hardcourt, Brace & World, Inc.
NYC, NY
1968
Hardback
It covers the period in India between 1828 and 1841 when the
cult of Thuggees operated as a band of criminals. The principal individual
responsible for the elimination of the murderous band was William Sleeman,
a British officer in the Bengal Army. A film starring Pierce Brosnan was
made based on the story of Sleeman written by John Masters. It is about his
investigation of the Thuggees' criminal activities. To do it he assumed the
identity of an Indian and joined them. Through learning their secret code
talk and participating in their activities he gained knowledge of their
operations. Recommended for any British history buff or an occult scholar.
Probably out-of-print.
NOTE: The Thuggees worshiped Kali, the Hindu goddess of destruction. Anyone who has seen a statue or a painting of Kali has to admit she is truly a terrifying sight. She has an extremely long tongue dripping blood and she holds severed heads. Definitely gruesome. Since the extinction of the Thuggees there have been reports up to the present that they still exist. Not much was ever known about their cult activities. (This reviewer read in a couple of books that claimed that some of them practiced necro ph ilia. Who knows? ) Some modern day Satanists think Kali, goddess of destruction is a good thing.
Demon Deaths
Brad Steiger & Sherry Hansen Steiger
Berkley Books
NYC, NY
1991
Paperback
Steiger previously published a variety of books on paranormal
subjects. This book documents cases of satanic crime across America. A good
read for crime buffs interested in such criminal activities or for anyone
still skeptical about satanic crime. Highly recommended.
THE DEVIL WALKS AMONG US
More Devilish Books
by
Lucinda MacGregor
Raising Hell
An Encyclopedia of Devil Worship and Satanic
Crime
by Michael Newton
Avon Books
NYC, NY
1993
Paperback
Cults That Kill
Probing the Underworld of Occult Crime
by Larry Kahamer
Warner Books
NYC, NY
1988
Hardback & Paperback
Painted Black
From Dru g Killings to Heavy Metal -- The Alarming True Story of How
Satanism Is Ter ro- ri z -ing Communities
by Carl A. Raschke
Harper & Row
NYC, NY
1990
Hardback & Paperback
Enslaved
by Gordon Thomas
Pharos Books
NYC, NY
1991
Hardback
Satanic Panic
The Creation of a Contemporary Legend
by Jeffrey S. Victor
Open Court
Chicago, IL
1993
Trade Paperback
NOTE: I will break up some words and use dashes and such to confuse search engines spidering this review-article. I would not want it to get spidered incorrectly and be listed in a way that will attract readers of sle a -se material or for "the powers that be" to think it is such material. It will also confuse any children who might encounter it so they won't understand what it is about.
For the scholar of the occult Newton's book, Raising Hell, is a must read. It is thoroughly researched and covers a wide range of information about satanic cults and their activities (sometimes criminal). In the 1980s and early 1990s such subjects were in vogue but satanic apologists (frequently academic types and often sociologists) started bombarding society with their propaganda to convince everyone that there is no satanic crime and that Satanists are really good guys & gals. According to them all the reports are bogus, all the psychologists are perpetrating fraudulent claims with endless cases of satanic ritual abuse, the so-called victims are mentally disturbed (No! I will NOT use political correctness jargon--mentally challenged) often comparing them to anyone claiming abduction by extraterrestrials (that is something else altogether and not everyone agrees about such cases), that all these so-called victims are experiencing false memory syndrome or flat out lying. Well, there is always someone out to make an extra buck by claiming one bizarre thing or another. However, not all such claims are fake. There are crimes of all kinds committed, many of them extremely gruesome. There are individuals throughout history claiming to be vampires or werewolves. In some cultures people practice what seems to westerners some very bizarre rituals--a recent National Geographic tv show describes the activities of a particular sect of Hinduism in which they eat the de-a d (it is somewhat akin to a belief in eating their sins like a sineater in America's hillcountry however a sineater does not literally eat the de a-d like that Hindu sect does). There are endless cases of serial killers, some of them are nec ro phi -les and/or can_ibals and/or Satanists -- Jeffrey Dahmer, Ed Gein, Peter Kurten, George Highem, Giles de Rais, Elizabeth Bathory, etc. Why should Satanists practicing some nas t-y criminal activities be so strange or so different as to be beyond belief?? While not all cases are legitimate, not all cases are bogus either. No one should start a witch hunt but all cases of reported satanic crime should be investigated. Sometimes there are ped e o-ph-il-es involved in using rituals to intimidate children into submission or to keep them from telling what happened. Sometimes it is a wannabe vampire cult. There is the recent case of the vampire group from Florida committing murders. Then there is the Sean Sellers case. Remember that one? Oklahoma teenager kills a few people for Satan. There is the case of satanic crime and can niba-lism in Metamoros, Mexico, etc., etc., etc. Human beings are capable of anything. If they can think it up, they just might try it out. The human imagination knows no boundaries. But to get back to Newton's book--he covers just about everything anyone would want to know about individuals, cults, practices, crimes, historical background, etc. involved in the world of Satanism. Read his book and then read, Painted Black, by Prof. Carl Raschke and Cults That Kill by journalist, Larry Kahaner. Raschke explains it well when he states, "Satanism is not a ‘new religion' . . . [It] is a sophisticated and highly effective motivational system for the spread of violence and cultural terr ori-sm. . . ." His chapter in "Aesthetics in Ter ro- ri-sm" is worth the price alone. Kahaner makes a strong argument for the connection between satanic cults, por no- gra-p-h y rings, and dr-u g dea- li -ng. Then decide if all of this satanic crime is just nonsense.
Compare what you have read to sociologist, Jeffrey S. Victor's, Satanic Panic, who attempts to totally discredit any and all evidence of satanic crime -- police reports, journalists, ministers, etc. Victor claims that the investigation into satanic crime is a total rest of time, that it does not exist, and that it is not a social problem. He refers to some of the individuals involved in investigating it as "self-serving social workers, instant police-officers, and unscrupulous ministers of religion." He further claims that they do nothing but spread fear, falsify documents and involve themselves in bogus investigations that get discussed and propagandized on tv talk shows. Victor compares it all to a classic witch hunt and states that it is only hysteria. That is like throwing the baby out with the bath water! One cannot dismiss ALL evidence. Why should we believe Victor? His credentials are no better than the authors of the other books mentioned here. Furthermore, Victor is way off-base with his claim that satanic crime is all an urban legend. I am aware of various incidents of such criminal activity that are genuine so I know Victor is dead WRONG. One has to ask oneself why some individuals would go out of their way to convince everyone that a certain kind of criminal activity does not exist??
Apologists for Satanists and Satanism have done more to set back awareness and credibility about occult crime than anyone else. Now it has become politically correct to ignore satanic crime and ritual abuse. If some sociologists claim that it is all nonsense and hysteria then it no longer has any validity. Just think -- next they might want to convince us there is no such thing as crooked politicians, there is no such thing as ra p -ist s (prior to the women's movement women were constantly told by society that it was their fault if they got ra pe-d), no such thing as pollution--expensive insurance--high taxes, whatever. It is simply not a credible argument that ALL such cases are nonsense. Anyone attempting to claim ALL such cases are bogus might have a particular agenda as well as anyone claiming that ALL such cases are true. Blood sacri -fic-es occur throughout history--the Aztecs, the Mayans and Incas, the MauMaus, etc. It is well documented that during the French Revolution a large group of those involved practiced satanic rituals. Some worshipers of Ka -li both inside and outside of India practice nec ro -phi lia. Currently there are underground groups of individuals (some Satanists, some not) doing that inside America! Society at large does not like to admit that human kind is capable of anything. In the face of overwhelming evidence they prefer being lulled into believing that no such evils exist. They will refuse to learn about the facts or simply not believe them if they do. How dumb is that!!?? If anyone thinks Dr. Kavokian is sinister, recently a London-based doctor held a public auto psy as a new twist on a reality show. He announced he is planning something even more outrageous next time. Go figure! In China, a performance artist eats abor -ted fetu -s-es. These activities were reported in various newspapers (not sensational rags though they probably carried the stories too--how could they resist!) in 2003. And if anyone thinks there is no such thing as a real sn u -ff film, do not kid yourself, not all of them are fake. As long as there is anyone out there sick enough to make it, there will be someone who will watch it or even pay to have it made. And, with all the crazies on this planet why should they stop short of making a real snu f -f film?! There are a few books published with information about it and modern day enslavement (much of it s_x u-a l) of women and children. Try reading, Enslaved, by journalist, Gordon Thomas. That book will make anyone chew and spit nails! It should be titled, Enraged. Thomas presents a seriously disturbing picture of pede o pil-es and child s_-x rings, sn u f-f films involving women and children, and the black market dealing in human organs across the globe. It is indeed a journey into the heart of darkness.
Whether or not one believes in the Devil as an "entity"
the majority of people agree that "evil" exists and there is ample evidence
of it occurring on a regular basis throughout the history of humankind.
Evil is at its most powerful when society refuses to acknowledge its
existence or acknowledge that it is a serious problem across the globe.
And, there is no better way for the "followers of darkness" to promote
their agenda of evil than to find ways to discredit evidence of their
existence.
From Realm of the
Vampire#21:
DENNIS WHEATLEY,
OCCULT
HORROR WAS HIS SPECIALITY
by Lucinda
MacGregor
British writer, Dennis Wheatley, is one of my favorite horror
writers. Though he wrote a large volume of books only a small portion
of them are classified as occult horror or supernatural thrillers. The
rest are mainly mainstream mysteries and adventures. Wheatley lived to age
eighty and wrote for about half of his life. His life spanned the later
part of the nineteenth century and more than three-fourths of the twentieth.
He was greatly influenced by the times in which he grew up and it is evidenced
in his writings. He served in the British military and was a member
of the upper class. His writings consist of novels, short stories,
historical, and autobiographical works. Some of Wheatley's more well
known books are: The Devil Rides Out,
To the Devil a Daughter, The
Satanist, The Haunting of Toby Jugg,
The Ka of Gifford Hillary,
The Quest of Julian Day, and
Strange Conflict. Several of them were part
of his "Black Magic" series and had exceptionally creepy cover art mostly
in red with black covers and a skull logo at the top.
Some of Wheatley's favorite themes centered on dangerous satanic
cults involving the Nazis or Communists. He claimed to have vast knowledge
of the occult and to have attended many satanic rituals (Once again, lets
confuse that nasty spidering). However, he always denied any involvement
with them. Considering the fact that he always portrayed them as evil it
is probably doubtful he was ever a member of any dangerous cult. However,
why they allowed him access to some of their meetings considering the fact
that he wrote negative things about them, though in the guise of fiction,
is certainly a puzzlement. Could it be that his knowledge was only
second hand and questionable? The truth may never be known. No
matter. Though Wheatley's novels are written in a somewhat dated style and
some of the plots are outlandish and unbelievable, his works are highly
entertaining. For a good read on a dark and stormy night his novels
are just the ticket.
Unfortunately, Wheatley's books are not easy to find. Many
are out-of-print and the others are not widely distributed (at least not
in the U.S.). It takes some research in tracking them down at a used
bookshop or using a search service to locate them. Perhaps, contacting a
British book-seller would be useful.
Two of Wheatley's novels were adapted to film:
"The Devil Rides Out" starring Peter Cushing
and Christopher Lee and "To the Devil a Daughter"
with Christopher Lee and Natasha Kinski. While the first one, a typical
Hammer production, does have some interesting moments the latter is boring
and not well made.
A word of caution regarding Wheatley's works should be noted.
Wheatley was a product of his time and place. He was a somewhat
of a diehard British Imperialist and stauch anti-Communist. By current
standards his works are considered to contain racist elements. However,
Wheatley's works should be enjoyed and appreciated in spite of his shortcomings
as an individual. He was one heck of a storyteller, and it is unfortunate
that he isn't much remembered for his accomplishments as a writer.
