Customer Reviews (1)

timeless
How were the dark ages in Europe?Find out in this book.Excellent view of religion,superstition,witchcraft,and society of the era.Very well written as well as informative. ... Read more

Product Description
Satanism, the main subject of this book, is the name for the so-called worship of Satan and it presents a grim example of movements that have emerged as a result of the weakened moral codes of society. No conscientious person can remain indifferent to young people being misled by such movements.

Satanism is defined as "the worship of Satan". Yet the Qur'an expresses very clearly in various verses that Satan is the "archenemy of man". Moreover the Qur'an also states that Satan never claimed to be an idol to be worshipped.

Unfortunately, the advent of Satanism is a warning that compels us to think about the mistakes we have made in bringing up the younger generation. If we fail to take early precautions, it may be too late for many young people. ... Read more

Product Description
Find out how to interpret rituals, develop contacts in the occult community, recognize signs of juveniles dabbling in the occult,conduct an investigation into an occult-related crime and more. See how gangs and hate groups use occult symbolism to empower members and terrify victims and learn to identify ritual tools with the illustrated field guide. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (16)

Total waste of time
This is just another rehash of old urban legends.Don't waste your time or money.

Obvious Bias, Lack of Qualification
There are numerous reports that can debunk most, if not all, of the ideas presented in this book.A far better (free) report on this type of thing is "The Lanning Report", by Kenneth Lanning, an FBI Agent who used to work specifically with ritual abuse cases.Google for it & check it out; I promise you'll be glad that you didn't waste your money on this piece of junk.

Great for law enforcement
In the interest of full disclosure, I'm a friend of Tony's.I can also say that this book was what led me from being an acquaintance to a friend and colleague.It's not always perfect, but the views within are always sober and measured, and Tony tries to do justice to the needs of both law enforcement and believers alike.

Some of the other reviewers have complained that the book focuses on alternative belief systems, including both Satanism and Wicca, or that Christianity or Judaism aren't included.These people must live in an idealized world where they can always sit down at leisure with a cop and have a lengthy discussion about their belief system.In reality, law enforcement officers are generally Christian in belief, and they have to make quick and tough decisions without the benefit of extensive studies in other religions. Tony takes what they need to know about various faiths that might otherwise be hyped as "human-sacrificing Satanists" and places a respectful summary of each under a single cover.If the local cops ever show up at one of your events, you'd better hope they've read Kail instead of Larson or Kahaner.

If you're in law enforcement and have to buy one book on this topic, this is the one.

A present for your local sheriff!
This is a really good book and one which should be on more shelves in sheriff's offices and police libraries. And if you are curious about the African American / Christian religious paths, Tony is extremely well-informed about them!

A good book to have and a good book to give to local law enforcement!

Grey Cat
Author of Deepening Witchcraft

Wonderful Resource Material
As the popularity and growth of alternative religions reaches an all time high, the chances of occult groups running into law enforcement increases greatly.This book is the single most important work designed to accurately inform those who are sworn to protect our rights, without the bias and fluffiness you would find in the plethora of other occult books written by practitioners of those faiths.The author presents to the reader very real-life examples of what officers may run into when investigating occult activity, while at the same time reminds the police to be respectful of our beliefs, whether they agree with them or not.Investigators will be able to relate to the concerns addressed in the book, and practitioners of these faiths will find a library of useful information contained in a concise and easy-to-read style.This book has long been overdue and will certainly help bridge the gap between the practitioners and those who must interact with them.

I only wish I could afford to send a copy to every law enforcement agency in this country. This book should be readily available to every police officer and should reside in the library of every teacher of alternative religions.

A big thank you for a very well written and much needed resource. ... Read more

Product Description
Long out of print, Jules Michelet's classic study of medieval superstition has been reprinted in this edition to bring the general public's attention to one of the truly great sociological works of modern times.

Michelet brilliantly recreates the Europe of the Middle Ages, the centuries of fierce religious intolerance, the Inquisition and the auto-da-fe.

He depicts the feudal barons, the great manors, the fiefs and serfs... and the witches, hobgoblins and wizards of whom the masses lived in mortal fear.

Michelet draws flaming word pictures of the witch hunts, the Black Masses, the reign of Satan, and the weird rites of the damned. Here is the age of unbridled pleasure and sensuality, of luxury beyond imagination and squalor beyond endurance. Here is the time when a girl might be accused of witchcraft merely if she were young and pretty and did not survive the test of immersion in water or boiling oil. Here is the day of beatings, floggings, tortures and summary decapitations.

Encyclopedia Britannica called the book, "The most important work on medieval superstition yet written." It is indeed one of the great works on the Age of Darkness. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

High Drama in the Middle Ages
I first read "Satanism and Witchcraft" in 1970, more than thirty years ago, and I still recall how enthralled I was by this incredibly dramatic and engaging history of the development of superstition in the Middle Ages.In fact, I used it as a source-book for one of my plays, "From All Things Evil," many years later.
Jules Michelet may not be the most accurate historian (in fact much fault has been found with his methods) but boy, does he ever tell a good story!Reading it again after all these years, I still have trouble putting it down.
This imaginative recreation of the Dark Ages is filled with pity for the innocent rural women of the time, when Christianity was trying to beat down the centuries old customs of honoring the nature spirits.Michelet traces the evolution of Satan from the gentle Puck of Greek origin, to the fully formed Goat-Headed Pan that became his primary image in the Middle Ages.We realize that the image we have of Satan is largely a construct of the Church, and not incidentally, of the woodcut pamphlets that so horrified and entertained the cloistered monks of the day, the precursor of modern horror fiction.Much of the misinformation we have of the horrors of that era, are the result of these pamphlets.But, as they say, perception often trumps truth, and this was perhaps never so common as in the Medieval Period.
Michelet has no love for the Medieval Catholic Church, but he has great sympathy for it's victims.He sees the Inquisition as far more political and economic than spiritual, as indeed it was.In the Twelfth through the Fifteenth Centuries especially, the Church was corrupt, greedy and power-hungry and many of its own reformers wrote vociferously against its abuses. The victims, most often, were women.Lonely, aged, poor and powerless women whose only offences were oddity at a time when crops failed or milk spoiled.
But, even more engaging than the evolution of Satan, is the evolution of these daughters, wives and mothers during the period, always under the governance of either their fathers, husbands, or in old age, sons, the woman of the house struggled to find any little thing that she could call their own.In many instances, since the "five senses world" offered her so little, her solace was in the imagination, in the "Otherworld" of myth and fairy story.Thedenizens of that world comforted her loneliness and kept her from despair.
Most moving, to me, is the famous chronicle of the unfortunate Charlotte(or is it Catherine?) Cadiere at the hands of her confessor, Fr. Jean Baptise Girard.Michelet pulls out all the stops on this one.
Michelet's writing is as lush and as engaging as any of the master storytellers of the Nineteenth Century, no spare "journalistic" narrative here! "Satanism and Witchcraft" is intended to sweep the reader away on wings of high prose.It is an incredibly moving journey from cover to cover.

A true masterpiece.....
This book is breataking in it's lyrical prose and subject matter. It reads almost like a grand novel.

I honestly have read nothing like it, ever! I have 2 copies of it, the 1st one I got was so large and I wanted to tote it around with me so I got a small PB version.

This is a not to be missed study, story, fairytale like work.

What in the world was the last reviewer taking?
Satan as Hero?Michelet a Satanist?The book is the basis for a group of Michelet Satanists?Oh for pete's sake.What some people think is "real" continues to astound me, and you'd think after all these years my astounder would have been pretty much astounded out.But no.Once again, someone expresses a belief so unfounded and so, well, stupid, there I go, getting astounded again.Too bad they wrote it yonks ago.Chances are they won't be reading this.In any case, this book, of which I have an ancient falling apart copy with a truly lurid cover, is a brilliant bit of historical writing.No pulling punches, no shying away from what the Church might think or say (and there was a time not so long ago, one had to be damned careful of old Popey), this book stands even now as a Classic on the Dark Ages.Were we nuts then?You bet.Are we nuts now?Yes.In a different kind of way, but getting nuttier by the day.Are we headed for a new Dark Age?Might be.Timely this book, no matter how long ago it was written.Dripping with blood and lust and hypocrisy and cruelty...that was us.Now we're dripping with greed and a casual indifference to the suffering of others, not to mention the suffering of animals and the earth itself.What do we care when scads of us are so crazed we think something called the Rapture is coming to take us away.

Satan is here and Satan is us.

Satan as hero
This book isn't so much a history book as it is a book by an individual Satanist elaborating his own historically-based reasons for joining the Devil's side.This book predates the Church of Satan by over a century, and forms the bases of the attitudes and ideas of "Michelet Satanism."

A Desperate Plea for Feminism (or at least Humanism)
Some stuff never quits.And, it seems some stuff never starts, when it should, anyway.This book is a great example of both, I think. Strangely contemporary in its impact, this book is a startlingly empathic study of, well - oppressed women way back then - I mean just ordinary women trying to live their lives.These women are much more like us than is the society around them; I owe this emphasis much to the genius of Michelet.Not to be read by thrill seekers but by lovers of humanity and seekers of sociological truth, I guarantee you a very rich experience indeed. I'm a community radio producer and on my next show (just before Hallloween) I am going to try to read excerpts from this book mixed with pieces from Richard Thompson and Maddy Prior; any other suggestions? ... Read more

Product Description
What causes a person to become involved in Satanism? Howshould Christians respond to the real threats of cults and the occult?

As E. James Wilder explains, the Bible teaches that we are all part oftwo communities, one natural and one spiritual. The natural communityis made up of our families, friends, work, and culture, while thespiritual community revolves around God or Satan. When Christians andthe Christian community fail to give people proper love and support,the door is opened for cults and the occult to provide for these humanneeds. This practical, comprehensive book shows how changes in thespiritual world that began with the first Christmas give Christiansthe power to affect both the spiritual and natural world.

Upbeat and nonsensational, The Red Dragon Cast Down will encouragethose seeking answers. This powerful tool for those with cult oroccult backgrounds, ministry and prayer teams, church communities, andparents is the only book that approaches restoration from evil using acommunity-based counseling perspective. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (11)

Helping The Most Severely Abused
As a survivor of SRA/MC, I believe that every pastor or church leader, as well as anyone interested in counseling or prayer ministry should read this book. It was difficult for me, personally, because the vision that Dr. Wilder has of churches coming together to form communities of "spiritual adoption" is very hard to put together. Its a subject that understandably makes one uncomfortable, but as followers of Jesus, we aren't called to comfort, we are called to service. What higher calling, than to help those who live in the greatest darkness and horror imaginable. Dr. Wilder's descriptions of different kind of bonds people form was helpful to me, in understanding my own relational problems. His testimony about how he and his wife were affected by his ministry is essential knowledge for anyone to learn from who desires to minister to survivors with this background. My only complaint is that the population he describes as coming out of the occult seem to be those who got into it by choice. He talked a lot about why people get into and stay in the occult, which is good; but said little about those of us coming out of transgenerational Satanism/Luciferianism, and the unique problems that come with helping someone who is programmed/mind controlled. I would be grateful to Dr. Wilder if he would write a book for survivors of this type, who in the realistic world we live in presently where we have little help and support, need to know how to get out and get healed. I'm waiting anxiously...

castles made of sand,,christianity is dead.
i actually think christ had some good ideas when he was alive,,too bad that over the centuries everything got warped into a system to control large populations in social systems.however what aggrivates me the most is people like the author of this book taking advantage of societies neurotic programming to make a buck.Most unfortunatly, in cases of alleged satanic abuse, it is usually the patients own fantasies that the shrink who works in this particular field enforce with religious zeal.Another reviewer mentioned "religious warfare" now isn't that a contradiction to the teachings of christ?I think enough blood has been shed by the church over centuries, assurredly more than any suppossed satanic ritual murder.most of the publicised satanic abuse/murder stories are about people trying to get a lessend sentence by saying: "The Devil made me do it!"Balderdash!The devil was created by the church!now there are evil and good forces/entities in this reality,,this metaphor of life, duality. But, is there a difference in the end?could we stop looking at things as black or white, good or bad,, and just say that everything apears to BE.this book takes advantage of disturbed people,,it was created to disturb people and make them devoted to a struggeling ideology.ever met a satanist?you could probably trust them better as babysitters for your kids as the local Pastor!any crimes supposedly connected to satanists are vauge in the media, however Reverend child molesters are a fact!so get off the warhorses and let people be,,don't try to scare them into submission to an ideology that is humanly impossible to uphold! Or sell them the line "you can sin your whole life and ask JESUS for forgiveness and go to heaven!"do you really think it would be fun to strum a harp for eternity? and wouldn't you get bored of burning in hell?I think other possibilities exist after death, the great architec of the universe is ever evolving and learning, wish the human race would learn to as well.thumbs down on the book,,,,the ideology,,the abuse of peoples psyche, organized religion, wars, and any second party salesman.you want god,,look for god in yourself, you want satan look inside yourself,,they are both there and both nessessary parts of your mind.positive and negative. you can't destroy one or the other,,you need to accept them and balance yourself.this book just unbalances already troubled minds. shame on you for writing it and taking advantage of people!and you are supposed to be a doctor?I pity your patients and the money they spend on you for this type of treatment.Do you use hypnosis to plant these memories of satanic abuse?That is what most of your kind do. live in a glass house?if yu are experiencing mental problems (and don't worry society breeds them) go to a non religious psychiatrist for help, don't make yourself sicker by buying into the junk written in this book.

WRONG-O!!!
About 3 months ago, I tried out the idea of Satanism. Why? It sure wasn't any of the reasons expresed in the book. I bought it afterwards to see if he was "on-target", but he wasn't, of course. The only people who can understand Satanists are the Satanists themselves. anyone else trying to do so is a fraud.

If you're trying to save someone from Satanism, get a Chicken Soup book. save this for when there's nothing left to read on your bookshelf.

Important message in this book for the church to indulge in.
Red Dragon Cast Down is a profound message that the christian world would do well to heed.As a 'lay' individual, the book has been encouaraging tome.It has been encouraging in the respect that the author speaks to needsthat are often left unthought of, unknown, misunderstood and/or simplyignored.The book covers far more than 'needs' as expressed above.....itis a profound book which speaks to bonds, identity, community, and theimpact of the lack thereof.The book also has a personal touch with someof the author's story woven throughout.From my vantage point, the authoroffers hope and understanding to those of us who are struggling, while atthe same time wisely guiding those who are seeking to counsel/support. Wilder is covering important material that is so often poorly understood orsimply ignored and dismissed.

An excellent treatment of a difficult subject!
Dr. Wilder has done a masterful job of providing a great deal of information about a very difficult subject, in a manner that not only educates, but also motivates action.There is a wealth of specific"how to" information, with appropriate scholarly documentation. Dr. Wilder's writing style is appealing, without resorting to gimmicks. The reader is rewarded with great information in an easy to read format. This book is the best treatment of this subject I have ever read! ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (2)

Not worth the read
To be fair to Ms. Lord, she did a lot of research. Otherwise this book is a nightmare of poor organization, structure, and pacing. It's quite possibly one of the most boring history books I've ever read, which is impressive given both its short length and subject matter. I'd recommend reading another book on this subject - even if it does, as Ms. Lord believes, make the history more titillating than the reality - because it's likely to be a better use of a reader's time. As for me, following Ms. Lord's painting of these clubs as precursors to fraternities, I have no desire to read another book on this subject (and wish I hadn't read this one).

This book is a great example of having the research for a good book but not connecting it with the proper thesis and editing to make that transition.

Hellfire - Fascination Left Unquenched
While the subject was fascinating and the promised a lot in its title, I found it a bit of a slow read. With a subject like this you definitely want more story flow somehow and less academic. For me, this was a little too much like someone's thesis that promised sex and delivered a rather chaste good-nite kiss instead. Still worth reading, but now I want the fictionalized story to go with it. ... Read more

Product Description
"A solidly researched, sombre book, well-written, carefully documented and lit throughout by flashes of sardonic humour." -Jean La Fontaine, author of Speak of the Devil: Tales of Satanic Abuse in Contemporary England,

"This scholarly, provocative and wide-ranging book is the clearest and wisest yet written on Satanism." -Ronald Hutton, University of Bristol

"An indispensable reference for anyone wishing to sort out fact from folklore in the Satanism Scare. In the murky world of claims and counterclaims over the danger of the occult, Medway's patient documentation of verifiable facts is welcome indeed. He makes a convincing case for seeing modern cult-busters as using the same strategies that were notorious during the witch trials of the 1600s." -Bill Ellis, author of Raising the Devil: Satanism, New Religions, and the Media

Rumors of Devil-worship, or Satanism, have circulated for centuries. Tales of Black Masses, demonic possession, mysterious nighttime ceremonies, and human sacrifices have captured the popular consciousness, prompting the Christian Church to move aggressively to root out Satanism and its practioners through often extraordinarily brutal means of detection and interrogation.

Until recently the stuff of myths and stories, allegations of occult worship have of late taken the form of police investigations concerning ritual child abuse, teens involved in Satanic cults, and serial killings. Unsubstantiated rumors have found their way into the popular and serious press and have been reported as fact, often with little or no verification. Obsessive anti-Satanists find evidence of Satanic lyrics in rock music from Led Zeppelin's "Stairway to Heaven" to Live Aid's "We are the World," while the numbers "666" are found in barcodes in supermarkets.

The Lure of the Sinister draws on a remarkable range of sources, from newspapers and pulp literature to early modern works on demonology to explore the entire history of Satanism from the origins of the Devil in pre-Christian theology through the Inquisition to the life and times of Aleister Crowley, "the "wickedest man in the world." The book also investigates modern charges of Satanism, the psychology of the people who make the allegations, and the legal and religious contexts in which they arise, showing how rumors of Devil-worship come to take on a life of their own. Lively and wittily written, The Lure of the Sinister reveals a strange tapestry of dark and fearful beliefs which have haunted our imagination for centuries. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Footnotes don't mean you did your homework
Yet another history of Satanism. While this one was recommended highly by people who should know better, the prose is journalistic, windy and overwrought. Some small partsof it cover interesting history not covered elsewhere but the yellow press who originally covered it. The problem is,some of it was excruciatingly poorly researched nonsense (probably based on some other yellow journalism). Medway desperately needs a fact checker. Footnotes do not mean you checked your facts. Its main purpose seems to be something with footnotes to wave at witch-hunters when they show up at your door bearing pitchforks and torches, assuming you are a friendly neighborhood Satanist. Mostly it made me sleepy. Doubtless the soporific effect would also be effecaciouson pitchfork-wielding witch hunters.

Seriously; the world doesn't need another book about this sort of thing. I wish Mr. Medway well in getting his assistant professorship or whatever this book was supposed to accomplish, but the rehash of well-known nonsense involving Led Zeppelin records, Al Crowley and Charles Manson for the umpteenth time is completely unnecessary. The repeating of Huysmans and Dashwood mythology, yet again, is actively harmful to scholarship in this "field." If you want to dig upsomething new in the Satan game; dig up some reports of Satanism from other cultures and other histories.And please, check some of your footnotes.

The Reality of Satanism.
_Lure of the Sinister:The Unnatural History of Satanism_ by Gareth J. Medway is a fascinating history of the source of evil in those individuals who have opted to sell their soul to and worship the Dark Lord.Unfortunately, the book is marred severely by the author's skepticism regarding the reality of Satan worship.While many cases of Satanism have no doubt been exaggerated for political gain, there remains the distinct possibility of real live Satanists, often occupying high places in society, engaging in ghastly deeds and defying the Christian God.The author, who is a pagan, seems to feel that the reality of Satanism is inimical to his religious persuasion; however, this is not the actual case.

In any event, this book includes a thorough discussion of much of the history of Satanism, including the persecution of heretics and witches in the so-called Dark Ages.It should be noted that Satanists are not to be confused with pagans in general, wiccans, or even with "Church of Satan" poseurs; they are far more sinister and seek to ape Christ and His Church.The author includes discussions of Satanism and freemasonry including the hoax of Leo Taxil and his allegations against masonry.The author also includes discussions of various cases of possession, such as the Loudon case, as well as various sinister individuals from the Middle Ages, including the child murderer Gilles de Rais.(Unfortunately, both the author's discussion of possession and the case of various mass murderers from the Middle Ages are marred by extreme skepticism.)The author also includes a history of the black mass, fully demonstrating the magical properties associated with the transubstantiation, though again he leans towards skepticism.Notorious black masses include the mass of Saint Secaire and the black mass (supposedly fiction but based on fact) from J. K. Huysman's novel _La-Bas_.The author also discusses various pacts made with the Devil, as well as witchcraft, mentioning such witch-hunter's manuals as the _Malleus Maleficarum_, mentioning demonic acts involving incubus and succubus.In addition, the author discusses various instances of real life Satanism, including the notorious Hell-Fire Club.Upon completion of this survey, the author turns to more modern day allegations.Here, the author mentions cases involving pedophilia and child abuse.Included among these are the notorious circumstances surrounding the case of "Michelle" of "Michelle Remembers" fame, allegedly regaining knowledge of her past after recovering lost memories.It should be noted that in nearly all of these cases, prominent individuals play a role in the abuse of children and the performance of diabolical deeds in obeisance to their Dark Master.While many of these cases have been overblown, and while it is true that many innocents have been unjustly convicted, I believe the author is overly skeptical and should not dismiss the reality of Satanism as out of hand simply from a cursory perusal of the evidence available.The author also discusses the role of conspiracy theories in the thinking of anti-Satanists; however, he never justifies his inherent skepticism of the concept of conspiracy to begin with.The book ends with the author belaboring his point about the non-existence of malignant Satanists, claiming that Satanists are generally law-abiding and that cases of Satanic crime, such as that involving the Manson family or instances in Matamoras, Mexico, are rare occurrences.Finally, the author concludes with an appendix on the black mass, in which he attempts to tar the memory of Roman Catholic priest Montague Summers, whose books attempted to reveal the reality of witchcraft and occultism.

While this book is certainly interesting and much of the material in it is useful in terms of compiling a history of the worship of the Dark One, it is unfortunate that the author has allowed his skeptical "rationalist" bias to interfere with an otherwise scholarly work.While it is certainly true that many of the cases of Satanism have been overblown, it is also true that many more have been real.One need only look to the recent pedophilia cases among the Roman Catholic clergy for instances of such scandal.

A history of a hysteria
I'll start MY review with a quote from an idiotic review from amazon:

"Medway retells stories of supposed possessions, satanic activity, and other "evil" occurrences, and discounts the authenticity of these accounts. Even though he is biased in his presentation of some of the facts, his wit, and sense-of-humor emerges throughout the book. The title is misleading though because Medway does not really deal with the history of Satanism, instead with the hysteria surrounding it."

...now THAT is amusing. The history of REAL Satanism?!?
get real guy -- Just where do you think Satanism is?

This author explains what satanism was from the begining, a fear that such an "ism" might exists.That's the same fear that Anton LaVey and other modern "Satanists" picked-up.This very historical book reads more like a fun journalistic romp through history.It discusses the fear in the Christian mind both in the far past, and recent past of the 1980s when there was much "Satanic Panic" going on.

Fearing that Satanism might exist sorta birthed such a thing into existence.And, hysteria, though intangible, has very real effects.Gareth Medway, in a journalistic manner brings the reader through the past, to the present to explain a very realhysteria.I highly recommend this book for the historian, or simply the curious reader who enjoys nonfiction.

Well-Researched and Informed Investigation of Satanism
Gareth J. Medway's "Lure of the Sinister"is a well written investigation of historical and modern Satanism, focusing on the myths of Satanic Ritual Abuse and the wide-spread Satanic Panic of the 80s, when many people, deluded by sensationalist books and TV talk shows were lead to believe that an international Satanic conspiracy was working to undermine church and state.

The book first addresses the origins of Satanism and the idea behind the existence of the mythical entity known to Christians as Satan and Lucifer.It analyzes the cases most often cited as reliable instances of historical Satanism and devil worship such as Gilles de Rais, the Affaire des Poisons, The Hell Fire Club, as well as modern cases of supposed Satanic crime like the Black Circle Boys and Richard Ramirez.In all cases, paranoia and media sensationalism were shown to have warped the facts of these crimes and have mythologized them to the point were fact and fiction are indistinguishable and that, in truth, Satanism was either not a factor or was only a side issue to the real motivation.It also shows that the Church of Satan, far from being a truly evil threat to mankind, is not much more than a red herring meant to antagonize mainstream Christians and induldge themselves on ego rather than the Dark Lord.The book goes on to take task with the myth of SRA and the panics of the 80s and 90s that were fueled by delusional paranoid religious factions and psychotherapists eager to cash in on a nation's fears by endorsing nothing less than a real modern witch hunt.

While there are very real problems with adolescent crime and drug abuse today, the fears that they are related to a world-wide conspiracy of black magic and devil worship are unfounded and have no supporting evidence.The book debunks the many myths that have grown up around this subject and gives a balanced and interesting accounting of them.

Full of things even _I_ did not know
Tolkien wrote that hobbits were fond of books full of things they already knew, laid out fair and square with no contradiction. I share that fondness, but even more appealing are books full of things I would _like_ to know.Medway has achieved this - Lure of the Sinister is not for everyone, but if you're a Clear-Eyed, Dedicated Seeker of Truth (with a taste for the occult, obscure and esoteric) this will be just your meat.
His exposition of the 'satanisme' flap in 1890s France is one example - I knew the bare outlines, now I know the details.
I wish I found a book like this every month! ... Read more

Product Description
Offering a balanced look at a disturbing phenomenon, an exploration of satanic cults and ritualistic abuse brings together leading researchers in forensic psychiatry, multiple personality disorders, traumatic stress, religious studies--and an FBI agent and survivors of abuse. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

An excelent and balanced book on a very controvercial topic
This is an excellent and balanced book. It presents the different views on this subject in a complete, fair and interesting fashion. No other book in the area shows the different issues so clearly. Other books take one side while this one points out the important issues that are present on both sides. It also has many very useful therapeutic insights that are helpful for anyone doing work in the trauma field.

Enlightening
This book described the complexities of dealing with patients who claim to have been ritualistically abused.I think that this book was both sensitive and fair to the topic it covered.It also showed the complexity of the issue.

Affirming and Helpful to Survivors
Not every chapter supports the reality of satanic ritual abuse, but overall, the book is very helpful and affirming, tastefully and sensitively written, and a great addition to any genuine life-student's library.

A Balanced Overview of the Controversy About Ritual Abuse
This book provides a very balanced perspective on the controversies in this area. It shows the views of researchers, scholars, therapists, law enforcement officers, lawyers, psychiatrists and historians. It presents therapeutic perspectives on the treatment of ritual abuse survivors as well as discussion about the disagreements in the field. Data is presented to support the various postions which are presented. It is one of the few books in the area that presents the variety of opinions which occur in this field. I would recommend it to anyone who works in the area, including any therapists who treat ritually abused clients, and for such clients and their family members. In summary, the book provides many helpful understandings about the treatment of all trauma related problems and is one that should be on your 'must read' list. ... Read more

Product Description
The definitive text by the definitive spokesman, Postmodern Satanism delivers . . . but only for those willing to engage.

Written at a variety of levels, it provides accessibility to the neophyte while still offering depth to the adept. At the core of the volume lies a series of paradigm shifts: a return to a fluid daimonic spirituality and away from the crystallized angelic religions which dominate world thought. A movement away from groupthink and herd mentalities and toward individual growth and magickal empowerment. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Moving the Current Forward
Let's get this out of the way: This book is not for everyone. If don't like to check a dictionary for really BIG words, then skip this book. If you want to read something and understand it almost completely after one read through, skip this book. If you want every answer given to you on a silver platter with a golden spoon, skip this book. Satanism is not a static philosophy/mind-set/"religion"...it is a constantly progressive worldview that must change and adapt(i.e. move forward progressively and proactively).

Jason King brings the Satanic Current beyond the simple "101" level. Satanists don't worship (in the general sense of the term), we study and constantly learn. In order to get some fundamental idea of what Postmodern Satanism is, you are required to read, re-read, and study and most importantly to think. Jason King offers a wide selection of books in the syllabus sections covering philosophy, science, mathematics, history, humanities, and religion (both Eastern and Western).

So, if you want it all handed to you (without having to work for it) go read something else like the various Bibles or LaVey's Satanic Bible. If you don't mind doing your own research, doing some hard work, and actually thinking (and you're a Satanist or have a Satanic mind set) then buy the book.

Blown Opportunity
First off let me say that I've known of Jason King through his extensive amount of YouTube videos and although we part company on a few key areas, I also applaud him in others. He is a very well thought out and articulate individual and I was REALLY REALLY looking forward to this read. I WANTED to like this book. Unfortunately what landed in my hands was a blown opportunity for Mr. King to finally blow the doors open on Satanism. What I found was the most difficult ride through the English language I ever sat myself down for. Mr. King has a professor's command of the English language and for that I give him his due but this was not the place to overbearingly show off this talent. The subject matter falls off by the wayside when you require a complete Oxford edition dictionary to navigate through this book. This is a review I take absolutely no pleasure in writing. I do not have an axe to grind with Mr. King. I am as a fellow independent Satanistrespectful of his efforts. I just wish he would have made this work, just a little more accessable. NOT dumbed down. Just accessable. ... Read more

Product Description
Many would assume that if Matt Zane would ever write a book it would be a recollection of his many tales of debauchery from his adult video directing experiences. So it may come as a surprise that Zane's first book is actually something that is more along the lines of a religious dissertation. In Doctrines of the Infernal Process Zane discusses his passion for Satanism and offers his take on the taboo subject brought to the American mainstream by Anton LaVey in the mid-sixties. Press wanting an interview or a copy of the book for review can contact: SadistMessiah@yahoo.com ... Read more

Product Description
NOTE: This edition has a linked "Table of Contents" and has been beautifully formatted (searchable and interlinked) to work on your Amazon e-book reader, Amazon Desktop Reader, and your ipod e-book reader.

'Dark Arts: A history of Satanism, Witchcraft and Sorcery in the Middle Ages' is a history of witchcraft from medieval times to the 17th century. Author Jules Michelet spent thirty years devoted to working on this frightful literature of witchcraft.

Magic and religion are categories of beliefs and systems of knowledge used within societies. While generally considered distinct categories in western cultures, the interactions, similarities, and differences have been central to the study of magic for many theorists in sociology and anthropology.

From the intellectualist and functionalist perspectives, magic is often considered most analogous to science and technology. From the symbolist perspective, it is most alike religion.

The distinction that Michelet draws between religion and magic is both of sentiment and practice. He researches magic as an element of pre-modern societies and in many respects an antithesis of religion.

Magic is secretive and isolated, and rarely performed publicly in order to protect and to preserve occult knowledge. Religion is predictable and proscribed and is usually performed openly in order to impart knowledge to the community. While these two phenomena do share many ritual forms, Michelet concludes that a magical rite is any rite that does not play a part in organized cults.

In practice, magic differs from religion in desired outcome. Religion seeks to satisfy moral and metaphysical ends, while magic is a functional art which often seeks to accomplish tangible results. In this respect magic resembles technology and science.

This is the original and unabridged version of this classic text. ... Read more

Product Description
"SEXUAL SATANISM or HOW TO SEDUCE WOMEN BY MAGIC is an outrageous and hilariously funny How To manual, supposedly intended to instruct the socially inept and sexually deprived male in the art of seduction; but in reality is more likely to titillate and amuse intelligent middle-aged and generation X women who read - and even a few above average worldly-wise men.A work of wry, irreverent humour, it debunks the Bible and the blasphemous defamation of women and sex by the dirty minded all-male hierarchies of all three great monotheistic religions. It mocks misogyny, the masculine mystique, conformity, piety, prudery, feminism and all that medieval foolishness dear to the hearts of fundamentalist socio-religious fanatics of all persuasions, domestic and foreign." --The Montserrat Times.READER DISCRETION IS ADVISED. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Corny
Nothing mystical about this or even "demonic". Just manipulation techniques from the 70's era. It has some humor. Finally, with the many forms of Satanism out here, this fits well with LaVey's (Church of Satan) concept. ... Read more

Product Description
This was the fourth Paperbound Edition of this study--Published by Citadel press in 1963 out of toronto, Canada A 332 page study with a listing of principal authororities. The book for a long time had been out of print.. ... Read more