Satanic panic : the creation of a contemporary legend / Jeffrey S. Victor.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Victor, Jeffrey S.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Satanism--United States--Psychological aspects.

Satanism--United States--Public opinion.

Crime--United States--Public opinion.

Public opinion--United States.

Public opinion.

Rumor.

Crime.

Satanism.

Psychological aspects.

United States.

Rumor--Case studies.

Physical Description:

xiv, 408 pages : illustrations ; 23 cm

Place of Publication:

Chicago : Open Court, 1993.

Summary:

Again and again we are told - by journalists, police, and fundamentalists - that there exists a secret network of criminal fanatics, worshippers of Satan, who are responsible for kidnapping, human sacrifice, sexual abuse and torture of children, drug-dealing, mutilation of animals, desecration of churches and cemeteries, pornography, heavy metal lyrics, and cannibalism. This popular tale is almost entirely without foundation, but the legend continues to gather momentum, in the teeth of evidence and good sense. Networks of 'child advocates', credulous or self-serving social workers, instant-expert police officers, and unscrupulous ministers of religion help to spread the panic, along with fabricated survivors' memoirs passed off as true accounts, and irresponsible broadcast 'investigations'. A classic witch-hunt, comparable to those of medieval Europe, is under way. Innocent victims are smeared and railroaded. Satanic Panic uncovers the truth behind the satanic cult hysteria, and exposes the roots of this malignant mythology, showing in detail how unsubstantiated rumor becomes transformed into publicly-accepted 'fact'.

Notes:

Includes biblographical references and index.

ISBN:

0812691911

081269192X

OCLC:

27813277