Customer Reviews (2)

Skip it.
I bought this book in the hopes of picking up some new insiteful information on the mythos of satan, and how it has evolved through-out the ages. In theory, thats exactly what this book (claims to) offers. However, in the end it falls short of any expectations I had for it. Though there are some interesting facts contained here-in, the brunt of the problem I had with the book is that the author is simply a hack. He uses up 2/3 of the book being overly wordy, and claiming that he could say more if he wanted to, but that it would take up too much space. Simple concepts like "The Devil has for years inspired fear in the hearts of the pious," become paragraph long run-ons that look more like "For centuries, our dark lord, the hoof clover man-goat has, on his blackest of thrones in the firey underworld below, wrought terror in the hearts of the pious, horror in the minds of the weak, fear and loathing in the very souls of all who turn their benevolent eyes towards the opposing God, in his kingdom of lies, and with no end in sight, our black hearted God in the belly of hell, smiles as he will continue to do so for ages." And on it goes. Further more, the author seems to think that people now adays still have a mortal fear of the devil, which just couldn't be more wrong. Sadly, in recent times the Devil has become more of a joke than anything, though the author insists on spending the first chapter of the book asking questions like "If you've found yourself awake at night weeping for the future of your mortal sould, if you've ever screamed aloud in terror as to the sanctitty of your spirit... blah blah... (then you should read my book)." The author also very subjective about the concepts he presents in this book - a similar spelling of the word 'god' in an ancient text, suddenly leads him to believe that the ancients were referring to the devil and god as being one, or some nonsense like that. Long story short, this book is a load of crap - i guess i'm only giving it 3 stars because it does have some, though minimal, good information in here, but if you're interested in the devil, find a different book - any book.

Understanding the Devil
The Biography of Satan is ideal for Christians, Athiests, Pagans, Witches/Wiccans & Satanists alike, giving a fantastic insight into the developement and roles of the Devil in all his forms throughout history. It describes the root mythologies and evolution of Satan, Hell etc as we understand them today in simple, digestible terms. It gives an understanding of the antagonist and his origins and dispells his cloak of shadows, describing the assimilation of classical figures and concepts of malevolence and the church's demonisation of ancient deities during the middle ages. The development of the snake symbolism and origins of the concepts of eternal damnation & the fires of hell were fascinating. Well researched, easy to understand, it's a definite must-have for anyone at all with an interest in ancient and/or modern mythos. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Bible - Controversial Speculation   2. New Age / Parapsychology   3. Occultism   4. Philosophy   5. Satanism   

Customer Reviews (1)

A Supernatural Thriller
The School of Darkness is the only novel-length John Thunstone story as best I can tell. However, a number of shorter works featuring Thunstone have been collected in Third Cry to Legba and Other Invocations.

In this novel, John Thunstone is invited to participate in a seminar on folklore at Buford State College. He learns that the college had been founded by a rich man, Samuel Whitney, in gratitude for the healing prayers of a local women's group. However, other accounts state that Whitney had been cursed by his enemies and healed by a coven of witches. Moreover, two or more covens are supposedly still active in Buford. Grizel Fian, a fellow particiant in the seminar, is mentioned as the head of one coven.

Other participants include a Cherokee medicine man, a Catholic priest and a Japanese scholar. Lee Pitt, a professor of English at Buford State, is host of the seminar. Sharon Hill, the Countess Monteseco, also appears at the seminar; Sharon and Thunstone have a long standing friendship and have faced danger together. Although John loves her, he does not want her to be placed at risk and tries to discourage their relationship.

Soon after his arrival, Thunstone receives a threatening phone call. At dinner that night, Grizel asks about Rowley Thorne, an old enemy of Thunstone, who had literally disappeared into thin air during their last encounter. Afterward, Thunstone sees Grizel signal a man who reminds him of Thorne.

This novel shows its age in the characters and plot, particularly in the relationship between John and Sharon. However, it is an superior example of pulp fantasy and a fairly enjoyable story. Recommended for all Wellman fans and anyone who enjoys old fashioned supernatural thrillers. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. American Science Fiction And Fantasy   2. Fiction   3. Horror   4. Horror - General   5. Occult fiction   6. Satanism   7. Science fiction   

Customer Reviews (3)

Touching story.
First and foremost, this is an excellent book and absolutely worth an out-of-print search. I read this book in a little under 3 days - I just couldn't put it down, it was practically addicting!! It is very violent and gruesome but don't let that scare you away from buying it because there's a whole other side to it. First, it's up-lifting and it makes you look at things differently. And also, the fact that it is not a work of fiction is even more frieghtening considering what the lead character had to endure as a child and young woman. This is among my top pick of books, definitely one of my favorites on the book shelf. This book really opens your eyes to what people are capable and DO do to each other - leaving out the fact that in this book, it's family. Buy it and I promise you whole-heartedly, you will NOT be dissappointed! :)

By Far the Best Book on Satanic Ritual Abuse Yet
This is my all-time favorite book on the subject of satanic ritual abuse.

Dr. Feldman's own painful emotional journey as she and her client uncover the realities of abuse is very touching.

It is impossible to read this book and not be touched very deeply.

Definitely worth an out of print search
This book is true crime in the true sense of the word. Depending on what your appetite for the truth is, the book is either a page turner or one that will drag you through reality kicking and screaming. Gail Carr Feldman is the author/therapist that shares with the reader her own journey of discovery while working with Barbara, a client whose own awareness unfolds in the course of therapy. Implanted memories? I think not...while prior to reading this book I myself questioned the appropriateness of hypnosis in this kind of work, Dr. Feldman so clearly explains her technique that in now way could I feel that the client's integrity had been violated in any way. I'm still not a big fan of hypnosis, but I do think that Dr. Feldman was as professional as could be expected under the circumstances. My main issue with hypnosis in these circumstances is that it puts the credibility of the client/survivor into question at a time when s/he needs to be believed more than anything else. The other issue I have with hypnosis under any other circumstance is that it makes the client very vulnerable to mind control, which, as I am coming to understand, is a lot more prevalent than any of us wants to believe. I also think that hypnosis can uncover memories that the survivor is not yet ready to deal with, creating a dangerous vulnerability to psychosis, but again Dr. Feldman, in her practice, creates a system of subconscious communication gestures that keeps her from delving deeper than the client is willing to go at any given time. She also uses examples of the client correcting any misperceptions she, the therapist, expresses while the client is under hypnosis. That is, if Dr. Feldman attempted an explanation that didn't ring true to Barbara, Barbara would correct her even while under hypnosis...memories could not, therefore, be suggested. I hope this reassures the client, it certainly reassured me.

Even more food for thought is presented in the epilogue and closing essays of the book, where Dr. Feldman and Barbara do what they can to bring the issue of what happened to Barbara in her childhood to the proper authorities, with all the evidence they are able to accumulate. The way they were both dismissed is more horrifying and more evil and more satanic than the trauma of the abuse itself, if you ask me.

Lessons in Evil, Lessons from the Light is worth an out of print search, I can assure you. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Case studies   2. Maddox, Barbara   3. Psychology   4. Psychotherapy   5. Satanism   6. Spiritual healing   7. Feldman, Gail Carr   

Customer Reviews (6)

A study of the devil within the context of God's Sovereignty
Initial reservations about this book disappeared as I began an exhaustive study of this extremely well written presentation which left me with an undeniable conviction that it should be required reading for every Christian.

A comment on the rear cover of my copy descries the book as a "veritable treasury of Biblical insight". I am in wholehearted agreement with such a statement although having some minor disagreements with some of the personal views that are contained.

The reader is provided with an in depth study of the fall of Lucifer (the devil/Satan) with insights into the latter's character, his limitations as a "created being" together with his purposes and his ultimate destination in the "lake of fire".

Such are approached through a clear portrayal of the Sovereignty of Almighty God.

A clear and fundamental Scriptural study leaving the reader in no doubt that, as the devil may tempt, temporarily rule and even destroy, he is ultimately restricted by God's Will and eternal Purposes and that the devil's outcome is certain and unavoidable.

The book illustrates how the devil exists sometimes as God's "instrument of justice" for the disobedient and God's means of "purification" for the obedient with the reader being instructed about the nature of sin itself, the Holiness & Mercy of God and the helplessness of man apart from God's Grace.

The book also analyses what are cited as the bankruptcy and inherent wickedness of human nature extending from the Fall in Genesis to the Return of the Messiah Jesus Christ.

One section describing how that God's Judgement may be seen by some as "long in coming" but when it arrives, as it surely will, it is "swift and sure". A section of this excellent work is devoted to how God will "wrap up human history" amid the return of His Son Jesus Christ.

The imagery of lightning and thunder being used to describe such. The study depicting how alghough lightning and thunder occur at the same time, the "lightning" is seen first with the roar of the "thunder" being heard later. The "lightning" occurring at the Cross of Calvary and we now await the "thunder" of Christ's return. During this lapse of time the book reveals how the devil continues to "fight" but that even now the "war is over".

I highly recommend this excellent study along with a book by the late Derek Prince entitled "War in Heaven; God's Epic Battle With Evil" and Dwight Pentecost's "Your Adversary, The Devil".

For the Comfortable American Christian
If you are a comfortable American Christian, a product of our win-win, all powerful nation society, this book is for you. Satan is stripped of everything but his skin in Lutzer's calvalier treatment of his "limited" power over Christians. One wonders if the Angel Gabriel must bring poor Satan direct orders from God so he may take a leak.
Talk about opposite views! One can't get more black and white than this. I just finished this book and another entitled War on the Saints by Jesse Penn-Lewis, written by a Brit and originally published in Britain I'd say in the 60's, maybe earlier. This book will scare the wits out of Christians and one's faith, after reading it, may never be the same. The Brits have been at this longer than we have and I'm wondering whether they don't know the score better than we incurable Platonists.
However, it gets me to wondering which account to believe. One of these people is talking for Satan's purposes - they both can't be right, although I could see how both books would serve his infernal needs. Read some of (including my own) review of War of the Saints and try both books. Make up your own mind. Warnings tho, the new version may be edited (hmmm, for his purposes?) I have an old printing from Britain.
The final chapter in Lutzer's book I found amusing at first and then the gravity of it dawned on me. It is an attempt at an apologetic for God maintaining His creation of Hell as an eternal torture chamber for all who don't see eye to eye with Him. We won't get into whether I believe this or not. However, I got to thinking about what kind of human mind could finish this chapter and then shout "Right on!" The Third Reich may be dead, but can we now think it so amazing that many agreed with & participated in Hitler's atrocities without question? Maybe we should fear God. But even more, perhaps, should we fear the more imminent presence of the seemingly benevolent church goer who would swallow this concept as if it were a spoonful of sugar. If this can't raise a man's gorge, what hope have we now or in the life to come?
Anyway, read both these books. I'm keeping them for my collection.
Ave! Satanas

VICTORY!!
This book was very insightful for a number of reasons, but primairly because it reminds the reader that the victory has already been won. The war has been won but there are battles that still rage in our lives. But in Christ and by His Spirit we have the victory when we walk in obedience to Him. We oftentime give Satan far too much credit...isn't it ironic that the very thing that he rebelled against as an angel(submission) he is bound to do as a fallen creation? The things that Satan uses to try to destroy God's people are the things that God will use to develop us when we stand in His power. Truly every knee must bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord!!!! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Christianity   2. Christianity - Spiritual Warfare   3. Christianity - Theology - Angelology   4. Demonology & Satanism   5. Devil   6. Devotional   7. God   8. Religion   9. Religion - Prayer & Spirituality   10. Spiritual warfare   11. Will   

Customer Reviews (15)

The Power of Love
"Torn From the Arms of Satan" is a mindboggling book that demonstrates how the power of love can make a difference in the world we live in today. It is a wake up call to the reality of deception and extreme emotional and spiritual abuse. If you have a heart that can feel the depths of pain, the joy of friendship and the faith to put your life on the line for another human being, then you owe it to yourself, your family and to God to read this compelling true story. This book is a joint account of a tapestry of lives woven together in an evil cult that took away every fiber of human decency, with the intent to destroy the life of a brilliant young girl through brainwashing, greed and total decadence. The courage and comittment to rescue and restore the victim came from a formidable foe whose fearless faith would not deny her the victory.

Insightful, Thougt provoking, and Fascinating
Many personal experiences told by former cult members are written in a simplistic fashion. They describe their life in the cult as a living Hell and express gratitude that they are out, but they do not describe their struggles, their ambivalences and their confusion. Their stories are interesting from the point of view of learning about the beliefs of the cult, but they do not offer insight into the human condition. This book does offer those insights. Most of the narrative is written by Ms. Burchard, who was innocently unwary of a manipulative sociopathic cult leader who could seduce people, exploit them, and discard them with no sense of the fact that he was destroying people's lives. Ms. Burchard's explanation of her entry into the cult, her life within it, and her subsequent leave taking is honest, self-revealing and complex. Outsiders can easily see that the group members' beliefs are bizarre and absurd. Ms. Burchard helps us to comprehend how an intelligent, insightful and well read individual could be manipulated into accepting those beliefs. Her long struggle to leave and her initial reluctance to give up those beliefs, even after she knew they were false, help us to understand the complexity of mind control and manipulation. Ms. Carlone's struggle was not to come to grips with the truth or falsity of the leader's claims. She was not caught up in the cult leader's web and could clearly see the absurdity of the group's beliefs. Her problem was how to convey that insight to Ms. Burchard without alienating her. Ms. Carlone's dilemma is that which is faced every day by family members and friends of cult members. Her consistent, loving approach to helping her friend realize that she was in a destructive situation is a blueprint that others can learn from and emulate. This book is not about dangerous minds still in dark places. It is about normal human beings caught up in a hurricane of manipulation and exploitation. Any of us, under the proper set of circumstances, could get caught in a cult. This book helps us to understand how that could happen. It is insightful and thought-provoking. The fact that it is also fascinating is a tribute to the story-telling skills of the authors.

A comment to "Dangerous Minds still in dark places"
First of all, this is not a self help book. It is an autobiographical account of a woman who was trapped for 19 years in a therapy cult. This book is not "slim on facts"; it is filled with facts - even complicated and painful emotional issues are described objectively. I found the authors passionate in their delivery. They were eloquent and successful in conveying to the reader the covert manipulations, hidden agendas and faulty logic of the cult leader. Contrary to your assertion, the co-author was never involved in the group's activities, she helped her escape. I found myself feeling "rage at injustice" for the woman who was trapped and cheered every time she broke another bar of the jail he created for her. This book shows a woman's courage to climb out of an emotional hell-hole by confronting every contradiction to her doctrine. Being sexually exploited, losing over $200,000.00 to a lie and throwing away all of those years would make anyone angry, however, I didn't feel any attitudes of revenge coming from the authors. Anger is a normal stage that a victim passes through before they let it go. The tone of your review has shown people who understand how ignorant and compassionless you really are. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Body, Mind & Spirit   2. Cults   3. New Age   4. New Age / Parapsychology   5. Occultism   6. Satanism   7. Self-help   

Customer Reviews (5)

Excellent
This is one of the best or the best book on satanism ever written. It's a shame it's out of print. this is a must-have for occultists and Christians, who will learn negative accustions against satanism are patently untrue. I enjoyed the chapters on Crowley, LaVey and the Temple of Set the most, though the Crowley chapter should've been longer. Aquino left the Church of Satan partially because LaVey was selling priesthoods wheras Aquino thought it should be on basis of magickal merit. Also Aquino didn't put anything on world merit in satanists where LaVey drew on popular entertainers and respectable world jobs. Satanic serial killers are covered, as are witch hunts. This book is excellent, and holds a very high place in my occult library.

DO NOT EXECTED THE EXPECTED
I bought this book several years ago in a second hand book store, I originally bought it just becuase of the title but once I started reading I became quite engrossed, the book is very factual and to the point and not at all like alot of the so called satanic or occult books on the market that glorify perversion and depravity. If anyone wishes to find out about satanism historically as this is quite an old book or just out of general interest I would recommend this as a thoroughly good overview and actually made quite alot of sense as it takes a hedonstic view on the subject. If you enjoy an alternative lifestyle or if you would like something a bit different to read you should read this book. It deffinently gave me a view on life which I had already started on but made me feel much more confident in the process.

Great Book
This is an absolutely wonderful book about Satanism. The author actually has a sense of humor, such a rare thing when writing an exposition on modern Satanism... Read this book. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 20th century   2. Cults   3. Demonology   4. Fiction   5. History   6. Mystery & Detective - General   7. Mystery/Suspense   8. Nonfiction - General   9. Satanism   10. United States   

Customer Reviews (12)

Salvation
Let me tell those people that are going to buy this book. the book speaks the truth. I was going through these very same steps.Still My God had enough mercy to forgive of all my sins. Satan will blind you spiritually and tell lots of lies. I know how it feels. I made up my mind to serve the Lord My Savior. He too can be your Savior. This is a good book. May God Bless You my friend.

As much as I may admire an attempt...
I can't really say that the idea isn't in the right place. It's trying to help teens live better lives and their parents to help them do so. But the facts are all wrong. As many of you may be aware, it is most certainly written by a Christian fundamentalist, and a VERY conservative book. After reading a chapter on the "evils" of Dungeons and Dragons on a website, I could only shake my head. I am a christian, but I also play D&D, and I can tell, NOTHING mentioned in "Stairway to Hell" about the game is correct. It is misquoted and has sadly traced evidence. To begin with, there are quite a few quotes stating things like "[the person] played D&D" and tracing it to a crime. There is never more than a short sentence metioning D&D simply to make it look bad. After reading through the article, I noticed that the author of "Stairway to Hell" took everything in the game guides literaly. He takes the quote from "Dieties and Demigods", a manual to expand the game, and twists it around. The manual says it's important for each player to have a patron diety. What he does not mention is that the book is talking about your in-game character, not you. There is not a single reference, quite literaly, in the entire game to specific Satanic worship. There are some dealings with made-up evil cults, but no rituals or dark witch-craft. It is a game of imagination, and only gets as evil as the players make it. Simply from this little bit of reading, it's obvious that after little and very inacurate research, the author did not turn out a trustworthy parenting guide.

Life is precious. Go figure.
No, he didn't kill himself, dress in scarlet robes, shout curses at the lightning. My friend, that is. What he did was worse. he just faded away.

There were a few like him. Not any sort of spectacular demise, but a gradual erosion of a life that may have been better than mine in some parts by far. I remember these sessions while we had something on the slow cooker, tired, hungry, sort of student like for what seemed endless years. D&D was sort of a minor part of it.

When everything becomes amplified and hyped up as it sometimes is in the good old USA, you can imagine that it really does get to the part where the scarlet robes indeed come out, and it goes a bit weird. I think though, that this is the exception.

I eschew this stuff because I (a) am in the wrong place at the wrong time (b) am getting too old anyway.

I'm dreading these reunion things (I realise that if I don't do anything I'll never go to one anyway) because these days I'm so boring.

Note well the absence of grand theological objections. I know the devil would dearly like to get you down there, but as we all know, people are quite capable of doing that themselves by having quite a normal life and giving God the finger. No-one would notice the difference!

So I would say, take it easy and don't worry too much. But really and truly, if you have a room with a cupboard full of little cast metal characters, books of spells, and weird clothes, NOW is the time to get either an Amplified Bible or a gym membership, and if you are really smart, BOTH. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Cults   2. Satanism   

Subjects:  1. 16th century   2. 17th century   3. Body, Mind & Spirit   4. England   5. Europe - Great Britain - General   6. History   7. History - General History   8. History: World   9. Trials (Witchcraft)   10. Witchcraft   11. Witchcraft & Wicca   12. Satanism & demonology   13. Social history   

Customer Reviews (5)

Good Read, But Not The Best
If you're new to the SRA scene and you're looking for information, I would NOT recommend that you start here. However, if you are already well-versed, this book can offer some healthy and useful nuggets of information.

It covers many areas, such as symptoms seen in children who experience SRA, therapy experiences (therapist's view), history of Satanism, Multiple Personality Disorder, dissociation in general, etc. I found it hard not to skim some of the book as the reading isn't very exciting and can become tedious. But I did find good chunks within the book that made it worthwhile to read.

I honestly don't think I would spend money to own it though. Recommended for those interested in more material, but not for those who have questions about the basics. :o)

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. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Body, Mind & Spirit   2. Child Abuse   3. Demonology   4. General   5. Mental Illness   6. Psychology   7. Religion   8. Ritual abuse   9. Satanism   10. Crime & criminology   11. Mind, Body, Spirit   12. Satanism & demonology   

Customer Reviews (23)

New slant on ancient issue of ritual abuse.
Judith Spencer's first book on ritual abuse made me afraid, but Satan's High Priest made me cry. This insightful, new book tells the story of occult crime from the viewpoint of the perpetrator. Joseph Warren, operates the local mortuary and the mercantile as well, so he's exceptionally well situated to succeed his father as high priest of the local satanic cult. As we watch his rise to power, the broadening of his sphere of influence and his masterful control over his subjects, both human and demonic, we see a man driven to flee awareness of his own traumatic past, an awareness that could lead to his own healing. Joe Warren never chooses awareness, but he does lose his power to a bigger player, and the latter days of Warren's life are ruled by fear -- the natural fruit of his labors for evil. Then, just when things look darkest, adults Joe abused and trained to do evil as children begin to remember and reach out for help as they embrace the awareness Joe never had. One of them is Joe's own da

The best book so far on satanic cults.
SATAN'S HIGH PRIEST
BY
JUDITH SPENCER

If you only purchase one book this year,
choose this one. Spencer carefully
and artfully turns her pen into a scapel as
she lays bare the secret horror in
the tiny town of "Lathrop." The details
of ritual abuse become apallingly real,
and the reader begins to understand how
satanic cults have flourished for
generations.

The book brackets the time frame of WWII
and focuses on the life of Joseph
Warren, an insescure man who was ritually
abused at the hands of his father, whose
role as High Priest he usurps. The reader
is shown vividly how this cult uses their
own children to satiate perverse needs.
Through dissociation, which Ms. Spencer
carefully explains, the children are made to
feel special while enduring atrocities,
often at the hands of their own parents.

Judith Spencer has courageously provided us
with the information we need to help put an
end to this evil, and to open our minds
and our hearts to the thousands of cult
defectors who, against all odds, choose
light over the darkness.

Robin Hall
August 1997
cavideo@pacific.net

Not recommended for everyone
I would not recommend this book to those who wish to become more familiar with ritual abuse. As one who knows several survivors, this author seems to sensationalize and embellish her limited understanding of sra.

This book is more likely to make a skeptic out of a believer. Rather than educate, it continually distracts and causes the reader to question its credibility.

While the author is sincere in attempting to raise awareness of ritual abuse, she has clearly fabricated some of the information in this book. The book is well written but fails to provide a more genuine understanding. For a greater understanding, I'd suggest Morning Come Quickly by Wanda Karriker. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Cults   2. General   3. Infamous Crimes And Criminals   4. Nonfiction - True Crime / Espionage   5. Occult Sciences   6. Occult crime   7. Occultism   8. Ritual abuse   9. Satanism   10. Sociology   11. True Crime   12. United States   13. Warren, Joseph   

Subjects:  1. Cults   2. France   3. History   4. Magick Studies   5. New Age   6. New Age / Parapsychology   7. Occultism   8. Religion   9. Satanism   

Customer Reviews (6)

Let he who is without sin cast the first stone....
Most of these reviews are old and one-sided. But every story has two sides. To read Mike's side visit his website at mikewarnke.org and read his post review statement found in the FAQ section under Tribunal Board Hearing. Here is just a small quote from his statement:

"I am making every attempt to right what is wrong, but I can never undo what is done.
I am sorry for my sins. I have taken steps to correct my behavior. I ask the body to forgive me. I repent."

What more does a person have to do? Jesus has forgiven Mike, why can't the world?

If a comedian has to be so very careful of not exaggerating, it's a wonder that Bill Cosby's dad wasn't charged with child abuse!

As for judging the book and not it's author, it is written in the great Warnke style, only better.

why buy?
Is this book listed as a fictional work? It seems that the "Satan Seller" should've been, but was misrepresented as autobiography. I just hope people take it with a grain of salt.

Repented?
Everyone gets the chance to repent, we can't doubt that. But if Warnke has repented, why does he continue to spread his lies? Warnke continues to perform a disservice to the whole of humanity and to the great religion to whom he grants little more than lip-service. A book that more properly gives born-again Christians reason to stand tall is "Selling Satan," the investigation of Warnke that showed us all what he really is, written by a pair of born-again Christian investigators. I gladly await any sign that Warnke shall abandon this twisted path and turn to better things, but if such a sign is forthcoming, this book isn't it. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Cults   2. General   3. New Age / Parapsychology   4. Occult Sciences   5. Occultism   6. Religion   7. Satanism   

Customer Reviews (2)

Should have been better
A pair of young lovers gradually discovers that they are integral parts of a centuries-old Satanist conspiracy to rule the world. A good idea that begins well is largely undone by mediocre prose and plotting that fails to integrate the threads of its story. The most fascinating aspect of the novel, the revelation of a secret history of warfare between the Catholic Church and a powerful dynasty of Satanists, is tossed off in a series of asides that turn out to have little to do with the main story. We are set up to anticipate the arrival of a certain character who is dispatched as soon as he pokes his head up. Whitley Streiber could have done better.

Satanist conspiracy thriller is diverting, nothing more
This book is standard Strieber, great concept flattened by mediocre writing. A Satanist cult is out to destroy the world with a super plague. Somewhere between The Stand and The X-Files, just nowhere near as good. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Fiction   2. Horror tales   3. Popular American Fiction   4. Queens (New York, N.Y.)   5. Satanism   

Subjects:  1. Comparative Religion   2. New Age / Parapsychology   3. Occultism   4. Philosophy   5. Satanism   

Subjects:  1. Demonology & Satanism   2. Devotional   3. Religion   4. Religion - Prayer & Spirituality   

Subjects:  1. Body, Mind & Spirit   2. Christianity - Spiritual Warfare   3. Cults   4. Demoniac possession   5. Demonology & Satanism   6. Exorcism   7. General   8. New Age   9. Psychology and religion   10. Religion - Spiritual Warfare   11. Body, Mind & Spirit / General   

Customer Reviews (23)

INTENSE!
Cathy Cash Spellman's "Bless The Child" is one of the best and most intense books I've ever read. I found the book about 5 or 6 years ago and have read it numerous times since. Unlike many books, this one did not lose any of it's appeal in repeated readings. The first time I read it, I was so captivated by the story and character development, that I actually dreamed about the characters several times! Cash's extensive research is obvious in her careful depictions and explanations of various schools of esoteric ideology and practices. Her characters and descriptions are well thought out and quite believable. As a child I lived through horrors similar to those young Cody is subjected to, and I found Spellman's descriptions of Cody's plight to be chillingly realistic. If you have any interest in this genre of book, you are unlikely to be disappointed with "Bless the Child"

That's what I call a Thriller !!!!
"Bless The Child" is one of the best and most well-written books I've ever read. Having always been a Stephen King's fan on the supernatural-occult kind of thriller novels, I imagined it difficul that there could be another writer that could impress me even more. This book prooved me how deeply wrong I was!!! I found the book from a friend last year, I read it 3 times, with the same and even more enthusiasm and interest each time and it was the book I was really sorry, for having to give it back. I therefore, definitely, want my own copy. Unlike many books, this one is not a book you read once and then put it away. The reader gets so captivated from all the characters and the way each one of them interferes with the plot and contributes to it, that you really have to read it many times to really enjoy it as well as understand it as much as possible to every extent. Although a novel with quite ficticious aspects, (i.e. Isis's amulet and Sechmet's stone) Cash's wanted to make a novel based on real therories and practises, from many different cultures from allover the world, spanning a big historical period. For that reason, extensive research is obvious in her careful depictions and explanations of various schools of esoteric ideology and practices. Her characters and descriptions are well built and are definitely believable. (Ellie's and Peter's characters are fine examples that prove it). This breath-taking from start-to-end novel, will definitely trigger your appetite to actually do research and learn things on some of the subjects in the thematology used by the author to create it. An interesting bibliography is provided with this book for this reason.

AVOID the horrible movie -- read the book!
"Bless the Child" is a pulp novel, but a classy one, and it kept me engaged to the very end. Even the truly absurd plot elements are believable due to Spellman's deft prose and her occasional sly one-liners ("Nicholas Sayles was almost beautiful, if you didn't take his soul into account"). She also has a true gift for writing vivid, believable characters, evil as well as good, and the banter she writes between buddy cops Devlin and Garibaldi is delightful.

Where Spellman falls short is in the rather dull, even annoying protagonist, Maggie O'Connor. I found myself not caring all that much about her, and wanting to skip over her parts to get to the other stuff. The book's main villain, Eric Vannier, is also fairly dull, at least until the end, when he comes alive. Spellman has a tendency to drop plot and character points, both minor (Ghania is introduced as speaking perfectly good English, but then inexplicably speaks broken English to Cody in a subsequent scene, only to go back to perfectly good English for the rest of the book) and not so minor (Sayles's death is not shown on-page). I must say that the sex scenes, which strive to be loving and sensual, are unintentionally funny, and if Spellman intended for ageing southern belle Amanda's use of the racist term "darkie" to be cute and colloquial...well, it isn't.

However, this is a most enjoyable yarn, one I've read several times. The movie based (loosely) upon it is absolutely dreadful; I advise readers to skip it completely and stick with the book. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. American Mystery & Suspense Fiction   2. Fiction   3. Fiction - Horror   4. Good and evil   5. Grandmothers   6. Grandparent and child   7. Horror   8. Satanism   

Customer Reviews (19)

Please read this book!
Hertenstein & Trott have done an invaluable service in the cause of truth. I urge those who have ever heard of Mike Warnke to read this book at least as many times as you read Warnke's "The Satan Seller", or as many times as you have listened to his albums or tapes. There is no way Warnke could refute the evidence in "Selling Satan." He has not responded to specific charges raised in this book to date (October 2000). Warnke is still on the church circuit, selling his books and tapes, though only a few dozen people show up now to hear him. The good people at Cornerstone magazine (JPUSA) are to be highly commended for this in-depth look at a con artist who once billed himself as the country's "#1 Christian comedian." Mike Warnke is currently married to wife #4. He continues to claim that his testimony of being a satanist priest is true. He denies fraudulently taking money for the care of the victims of Satanic Ritual Abuse. I heard him in person this year defending his ministry. If you want the truth about this charlatan, please read--or reread, "Selling Satan." You won't be disappointed. Plus, it is a good historical perspective on the Jesus movement of the late 1960's & '70's.

You Can't Handle The Truth.....
Mike Warnke had it all. He made multiplied millions of dollars selling his testimony, his tapes, and selling out concerts all across the USA and overseas.

But a funny thing happened in 1992. Two Christian journalists who had long suspected Warnke to be a "mount of misinformation" as well as an immoral fraud decided to investigate his life story. They not only uncovered the fact that Warnke had received multiplied millions of dollars to support his lavish lifestyle, complete with horses, ranch, four-story parsonage, and vehicles, but the fact he had been married FOUR times and the Christian churches where he spoke knew nothing about it.

Further investigation of his life revealed a very bizarre portrait: Warnke was exposed not as an ex-Satanic High Priest who sacrificed fingers to the devil (do you ever wonder where all those multiplied millions of people who are supposedly Satanists live that have only nine fingers?) but as a charlatan and closet Catholic who hid his love of rituals from his mostly sympathetic to the charismatic movement audiences.

Two Christians endeavored to tell the truth about Mike Warnke, and this book is that truth. It gives a shocking story about Warnke and is - ironically - a better-detailed biography of Warnke that he managed to write himself!!!

Warnke is exposed as a fraud in nearly every way imaginable. His Vietnam experiences are overblown, his global conspiracy mindset is shredded, and Warnke is shown to lack character as well as tell tall tales about nearly anything. For example, Warnke claimed to have met Charles Manson in a desert at the same time Manson was serving a prison sentence and Warnke was in the Navy. Warnke also claimed to have attended a conference in 1966 where he met the highly diabolical Anton LaVey. As a treat to the readers, the two Christian journalists (Trott and Hertenstein) actually had dinner with LaVey to ask him about this meeting!! The meeting, of course, NEVER happened.

This book is mostly about things that never happened except in the mind of a born storyteller and con man who forgot the very message he was selling to the masses: Jesus takes us just as we are, but He doesn't let us stay that way.

Many kudos to Jon Trott and Mike Hertenstein.

Read this if you care about the truth
I was in Bible college when the Cornerstone expose of Warnke came out. I had seen Mike in concert several times prior to this, and always considered him a great man of God. Like so many others, I just assumed his story was true, because - well, because everybody said it was. Fortunately, the authors had the good sense to launch a long overdue investigation into his claims. Selling Satan is a masterpiece of investigative journalism. The writers are to be commended for their tenacity, investigative skills and commitment to truth.

As for Warnke, a quick visit to his web site will reveal that he hasn't changed, still claiming to have been a Satanist high priest. The five pastors he "submitted" to were extremely easy on him, never challenging him to either prove or denounce what he has written. If you don't believe me, email Warnke himself and ask for copies of the documents regarding their "investigation." The whole thing was a joke. This con artist has managed to avoid doing honest work thanks to fools and cronies, but he has forever disgraced himself and caused terrible hurt to those who used to admire him. Pathetic. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Biography   2. Biography / Autobiography   3. Evangelism   4. Evangelists   5. General   6. New Age   7. Religion   8. Satanism   9. The Satan-seller   10. United States   11. Warnke, Mike   

Customer Reviews (3)

Also, Friends of Hekate is a real group
Well, since my last review edit didn't go through....

Just wanted to point out that Friends of Hekate, along with the Order of Nine Angles, are two occult groups which actually DO advocate human sacrifice. Most so-called Satanic groups (Church of Satan, Temple of Set), do not advocate cruelty or sacrifice of any kind.

Maybe the reviewer who wrote the first 2 reviews should do a little more research himself before he calls this book "poorly researched"... Also, the book doesn't have a conclusion because... well, think about it... what conclusion can be drawn here? It's hard to tell why these groups are doing what they're doing. The moment you "jump to a conclusion," you are labelled a paranoid freak.

Toyne Newton did a very good job-- all except the mention of David Icke. David Icke is pretty damn out there. Newton didn't need to rub shoulders with Icke in this book. It just gave more fuel to fire the cynics.

The previous reviewer has GOT to be kidding!
While I agree with some of what the previous reviewer posted (he posted the same thing twice), I have a big problem with his flawed logic toward the end.

The same people who meet secretively at the Bilderberg Conference are the ones who meet secretively at the Bohemian Grove and make a human effigy sacrifice to a giant stone owl. These people are the US Presidents, other politicians from around the world and prominent businessmen.

I doubt there is any likelihood that two groups of people which feature the SAME prominent members would not have the same agenda. Therefore, the idea that ONE group is working AGAINST those attending the Bilderberg Conference is just retarded.

No conclusion and terribly researched
Toyne Newton's book had me intrigued in the first few chapters, although I've never in my life heard of this group he refers to as the "Friends of Hekate," and then I began to realize that this book has a huge bias slant against both witchcraft and occultism. I'm not even sure if he himself would be able to discern between the two if put on the spot.

Throughout the text he continuously refers to the persons he's investigating as "corrupt" magicians or occultists, and makes many references to witches being of the same stock. Yet it has been my understanding (please correct me if I'm wrong) that in the occult there are no good or evil forces at work, per se: there is only the flesh and the spirit. Newton accuses this mysterious Friends of Hekate of many things, associates them with figures from Europe's past, but with no evidence except his own assumptions, hunches, and the opinions of New Age psychics with what appears to be little or no formal occult or mystical training whatsoever.

The witches of Europe's past have been ridiculed and persecuted before and this book is a blatant smack in the face due to its lack of understanding. And as for the occult, of which I am a student, I think it would aid Toyne Newton to possibly research the occult and mysticism directly rather than reading other so-called occult researchers. It's like a bunch of frightened kids looking into a dark room through a little window, each sharing his or her own fears and building up this paradigm in their own minds of what it is, yet only seeing a little aspect of it and only from one perspective.

This focus on dark forces and "corrupt" magical and psychic work being done on ley lines and sacred sites in the United Kingdom, might it be difficult work to try to correctify the problems of the world? Perhaps because the shift is in work, from one aeon to the next, that it requires conscious effort on the part of those in the know? Maybe at the rate the human race is going it takes covert work, so fools like Newton don't begin the persecution anew? And if it feels so "malign" and evil to Newton and his psychic friends, I must wonder if they stopped to contemplate that because their energy perpetuates the age of the Kali Yuga (or Ragnarok), that anything new and different might appear frightening to them? With such closed minds, it doesn't strike me as odd that they would be afraid of the occult and the changes that educated people are trying to make, and because they allow their fears to manifest from the spirit world, through them, into this world, they take this stance of righteousness against evil because they feel their fears are justified.

At the end of the book, Newton ties in the Friends of Hekate, the occult, witchcraft, et cetera, with the conspiracy theories of extremist David Icke and tries to associate those he's pointed his finger at throughout the book with those of the Bilderburg Conference. I wonder if he never stopped to ponder that maybe there are occultists out there trying to stop those of the Bilderburg? It's media pawns like him that allow their fears to get the best of them and they publish scrap like this to promote the biased view.

Of course, this is only my personal opinion. I only finished this book so that I could honestly review it and not knock it only having read some of it. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 20th century   2. Body, Mind & Spirit   3. Cults   4. Demonology   5. History   6. New Age   7. Occultism   8. Satanism   9. Body, Mind & Spirit / Occultism