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Books > Humanities > Religion & beliefs > Alternative belief systems > Occult studies > Satanism & demonology
While the perception of magic as harmful is age-old, the notion of
witches gathering together in large numbers, overtly worshiping
demons, and receiving instruction in how to work harmful magic as
part of a conspiratorial plot against Christian society was an
innovation of the early fifteenth century. The sources collected in
this book reveal this concept in its formative stages. The idea
that witches were members of organized heretical sects or part of a
vast diabolical conspiracy crystalized most clearly in a handful of
texts written in the 1430s and clustered geographically around the
arc of the western Alps. Michael D. Bailey presents accessible
English translations of the five oldest surviving texts describing
the witches’ sabbath and of two witch trials from the period.
These sources, some of which were previously unavailable in English
or available only in incomplete or out-of-date translations, show
how perceptions of witchcraft shifted from a general belief in
harmful magic practiced by individuals to a conspiratorial and
organized threat that led to the witch hunts that shook northern
Europe and went on to influence conceptions of diabolical
witchcraft for centuries to come. Origins of the Witches’ Sabbath
makes freshly available a profoundly important group of texts that
are key to understanding the cultural context of this dark chapter
in Europe’s history. It will be especially valuable to those
studying the history of witchcraft, medieval and early modern legal
history, religion and theology, magic, and esotericism.
This book addresses the problems of adolescent Satanism from a
psychological viewpoint. It includes the developmental dynamics
that underlie four different types of young people who become
involved in Satanism and provides an analysis of risk factors. The
author critically evaluates the philosophy of Satanism through a
review of The Satanic Bible, and further appraises the causes of
Satanism by examining the roles of power, ritual, and dualistic
thinking in young people's lives. In addition, Moriarty evaluates
how communication patterns and parenting styles impact on a young
person's vulnerability to become involved in Satanism. This is also
the first book to describe the relationship between Satanism and
suicide. Finally, it closes with ten practical suggestions for
parents and others that will lead to effective prevention.
Six major conclusions challenge a number of prevailing myths:
--Satanic beliefs and philosophy should be made known to everyone,
therefore destroying the claim to be occult, or hidden. --There is
no single type of personality drawn to Satanism, as commonly
suggested by law enforcement. Four types are identified by the
author. --Satanism must be viewed as a developmental process to be
properly understood. --People often contribute to an individual's
vulnerability to Satanism by how they relate to children and
adolescents. --There is a significant relationship between suicide
and Satanism that needs to be addressed in dealing with young
people. --Adolescent Satanism is a problem that is largely
preventable if certain guidelines are followed. This volume is
intended for a wide audience, including parents, teachers, clergy,
counselors, and other mental health professionals, and is a
valuable resource for law enforcement personnel.
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