Satanic ritual abuse
Satanic ritual abuse (SRA) has been defined as "the psychological, sexual, and/or physical assault forced on an unwilling human victim, and committed by one or more Satanists according to a prescribed ritual, the primary aim of which is to fulfill the need to worship the Christian devil, Satan. The same source refers to it as synonymous for cult related abuse, ritual abuse, ritualized abuse, sadistic ritual abuse and organized sadistic abuse[1] Another source defines ritual abuse as "generally used to mean prolonged, extreme, sadistic abuse, especially of children, within a group setting. The group's ideology is used to justify the abuse, and abuse is used to teach the group's ideology. The activities are kept secret from society at large, as they violate norms and laws."[2] It is of serious concern to some observers[3][4] with studies discussing ritual abuse reports[5].
One article has termed the Wikipedia article on the subject a promotion of pedophilia,[6] while others regard it as a moral panic or as a subversion ideology.[7] Victor described it as "The satanic cult scare can be seen as a form of deviant behavior which exists only in the preconceptions of a group of professionals who see what they expect to see.".[8]
The long list of synonyms is a bit confusing, since not all cults are Satanic, and not all sadism is ritualistic or even a group activity. Whether or not a given ritual is abusive is also dependent on context: eating pork is commonplace to billions of people, while forcing a devout Muslim or Jew to eat pork would be abusive. Some cultures believe male circumcision or female genital mutilation are quite appropriate, and neither Christianity or Satanism may have anything to do with their beliefs.
A 1992 report by Kenneth V. Lanning, Supervisory Special Agent, Behavioral Science Unit, National Center for the Analysis of Violent Crime, Federal Bureau of Investigation said "Most people today use the term to refer to abuse of children that is part of some evil spiritual belief system, which almost by definition must be satanic." [9] Williams observes that the definition is especially difficult for law enforcement. Ritual with a child is not necessarily abusive; rites of passage such as First Communions, Bar Mitzvahs, and other coming-of-age ceremonies are ritual by definition.
References
- ↑ B.A. Robinson (January 28, 2009), Satanic Ritual Abuse (SRA), Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance
- ↑ Ritual Abuse Frequently Asked Questions http://www.survivorship.org/faq.html
- ↑ Gould, C. (1995). "Denying Ritual Abuse of Children". Journal of Psychohistory 22 (3): 328 - 329. “The evidence is rapidly accumulating that the problem of ritual abuse is considerable in scope and extremely grave in its consequences”
- ↑ Goodwin, G. (1991). "Sadistic abuse: definition, recognition, and treatment". Dissociation 6 (2/3): 181-187.
- ↑ Young, W.C.; Sachs R.G., Braun B.G., Watkins R.T. (1991). "Patients reporting ritual abuse in childhood: a clinical syndrome. Report of 37 cases.". Child Abuse Negl. 15 (3): 181-189. “Thirty-seven adult dissociative disorder patients who reported ritual abuse in childhood by satanic cults are described.”
- ↑ S.M.A.R.T., Press Release: Wikipedia “Satanic Ritual Abuse” article promotes PEDOPHILIA
- ↑ Mary deYoung, Sociological Views on the Controversial Issue of Satanic Ritual Abuse: Three Faces of the Devil, American Academy of Experts in Traumatic Stress
- ↑ Jeffrey S. Victor (1991), "The Satanic Cult Scare and Allegations of Ritual Child Abuse", Institute for Psychological Therapies 3
- ↑ Kenneth V. Lanning, 1992 FBI Report: Satanic Ritual Abuse, Behavioral Science Unit, National Center for the Analysis of Violent Crime, Federal Bureau of Investigation