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From http://freethought.homestead.com/Crimes.html
Analysis of "Satanism and Crime"
(from Police Magazine by Sgt. Craig Meissner) 11/30/2002- 2:10:00 PM
Sgt. Craig Meissner, a member of the New York City Police Department. Some points raised in the article are listed below, with a brief description of reality:
"Satanic crimes are a major challenge to law enforcement." Some teenage dabblers engage in crimes that are minor in nature, and almost invariable involve minor acts of vandalism. But other "Satanic crimes" (i.e. criminal activities motivated by a belief in the Satanic religion) appear to be non-existent.
Some religious Satanists have undoubtedly engaged in criminal activity, just as Christians, Jews and Muslims have. But it is unreasonable to call any crime by a Satanist by the title "Satanic crime" just as it is unreasonable to call all crimes by Christians as "Christian crime."
"The total number of Satanic cults is unknown. By far the largest religious Satanic tradition is the Church of Satan. They do not release their membership numbers."
The term "cult" is not a useful term with which to describe any religious group. This word also has many different meanings. The most common meaning in the media is of a destructive, doomsday religious group that has led to loss of life among its members. None of these factors are found in Satanism.
"The most common criminal alleged acts by Satanists are: desecration of cemeteries, vandalism of churches, mutilation of animals, arson, ritual abuse, assault, murder, and use of illegal drugs."
Here, the author has linked religious Satanists with the minor trespassing and vandalism of teenage Satanic dabblers. The latter do occasionally desecrate and vandalize cemeteries and perhaps even churches. Very rarely, they have been known to mutilate and kill small animals.
However, most animal mutilations in which Satanist perpetrators are suspected, are found to have been killed by non-human predators. Very rare instances of arson, ritual abuse, assault and murder have been done by people who claim to be Satanists.
However, further investigations have shown that their prime motivation was their own mental illness, not their religion.
"Although intelligent, creative and possessing a highly developed sense of curiosity, they usually experience a high degree of stress, anxiety and fear."
Some studies have indicated that although many teenage dabblers enter Satanism with feelings of stress, etc., the religion helps them overcome these problems.
"Satanists may suffer from underachievement, poor social skills, low self esteem. Many if not most teenage dabblers in Satanism form social groups, often called temples or grottos, with other like minded youth."
Again, some studies indicate that their involvement in Satanism improves their self esteem and social skills.
"Satanism fills a void in their lives."
This is commonly found in all religions. Youth are attracted to a religion because it gives them answers, allows them to fellowship with other believers, and (sometimes) gives them a deity to worship. This is true of Satanists, Christians and members other faiths.
"Satanism promotes destructive behavior, and promotes teen rebellion."
Like other religions, Satanism may have positive or negative effect on a teen's life. It has motivated some teens to engage in acts of minor vandalism; it has motivated others to lead ethical lives.
"Satanists deny the existence of the Christian God."
All the great religions of the world, other than Christianity, deny the existence of the Christian Trinity. Satanism is no exception.
"A few Satanists believe that "violence and service to Satan" will bring them money and power."
Here, the author has suddenly switched from discussing teenage dabblers to talking about Christian legends about nonexistent Gothic Satanists. We have been unable to find instances of ritual abuse, or murder that were associated with religious Satanism.
"Some Satanists are obsessed with fantasy role-playing games (RPG) and heavy-metal rock music."
The author appears to have switched back to teenage Satanic dabblers again. Studies of RPG players indicate that they are above average in intelligence and creativity. We have not seen any studies which indicate a higher than normal involvement with RPGs among Satanic dabblers. Enjoyment of heavy-metal rock music is near universal among youth. Possession of ritual tools, such as candles, robes, and knives may indicate Satanic involvement. Candles, robes, an athame (double-edged ritual knife with a black handle) are far more likely to indicate involvement in Wicca than Satanism.
"Wiccans are far more numerous than are religious Satanists. Occult-related crime..." The author has suddenly switched from Satanism to the Occult. He incorrectly assumes that all occult activities are Satanic. The "Occult" is simply a collection of religions, pastimes, men's fraternal organizations etc. which do not publicize their belief systems. Rather, they reveal their secrets only gradually to their trainees. They have little or nothing in common with each other. The Masonic order, Wicca, Satanism, and astrology are four examples of occult activities. Other parts of the occult are tea-cup reading, palm reading, Tarot cards, casting runes, etc. There is no linkage between occult activities and criminal actions.
"Occult crime" does not exist any more than "Christian crime" or "Buddhist crime" or "stamp collecting crime."
"Occult related crimes tend to occur on occult holidays." The author lists the believer's birthday and 8 Wiccan Sabbats as Satanic holidays. He substituting Halloween for the Wiccan New Year celebration of Samhain. Walpurgisnacht, is one of the three main Satanic holidays. However, the author appears unaware of this.
"The remaining many dozens of activities that form the occult do not have any holidays associated with them (with the possible exception of the Masonic order; we do not know if they observe seasonal days of celebration)."
Here, the author may be equating Wicca, (a reconstructed Pagan religion that is based in part on ancient Celtic beliefs, practices and symbols) with Satanism. This is incorrect. They are two very different religions.
Suicides and homicides are often timed to occur on a Satanic holiday Suicides have been committed by Satanists, just as they have by Christians and Buddhists. But investigations reveal that the cause of suicide is intense depression and emotional distress, not religion. We have never been able to detect evidence of a homicide motivated by religious Satanism.
"Satanists hang crucifixes on the walls where they perform rituals. They use drop cloths to collect blood. The crucifix is a Christian symbol. The main Satanic symbol is a Baphomet - an inverted 5 pointed star inscribed with the head of a goat."
Christian authors who write anti-Satanic hate literature often believe the fables from the Renaissance period that Satanist rituals are parodies of Christian practices. They are not.
"A very small percentage of Satanic dabblers do sacrifice a small animal, but this is very rare. A drop cloth would probably be useful in this instance. The most important symbol for cult members is a 5, 9 or 13 ft. diameter circle drawn with "paint, flour, chalk or blood." The circle is the one factor that Satanists and Wiccans do share. The word "cult" is a general-purpose snarl word used to discredit religious groups. We advocate that it never be used, except to refer to the very rare doomsday, destructive cults. A 5 ft. diameter circle would be almost useless, except for rituals by a solitary practitioner. A 9 ft. diameter circle is very common among Wiccans." The author may be confusing Wiccans and Satanists here.
"The use of the number 13 may be related to the Renaissance myth that Satan worshipers organized covens of 13 individual. The story was that they ridiculed Christianity by having the same number of peoples in their groups as did Jesus and his 12 disciples. Satanic ritual abuse includes carving symbols into the flesh of a victim, smearing a victim's blood over the perpetrators' bodies, dismemberment and removal of organs, forced ingestion of body fluids, ritual sacrifice, etc."
To our knowledge, some gang members have carved symbols into the flesh of their victims. Some murderers have dismembered bodies to avoid detection. Some psychotic individuals have removed organs from bodies, etc. But no religious Satanist, with the possible exception of those charged in the Robin Hood Murders cited above, has ever been charged or convicted of such a crime.
"The investigator should look for pieces of paper or parchment on which pacts with the devil were written."
This fable formed part of the teachings of the Christian church during the Renaissance, and is still taught today.
"It does not form part of religious Satanism. Disturbed earth may indicate where victims were buried." To our knowledge, no victim of ritual abuse, motivated by religious Satanism, has ever been found -- buried or not.
"Investigators should look for a Book of Shadows at a Satanic crime scene." A Book of Shadows is a tradition of Wicca and other Neopagan religions. "...crimes associated with Satanic cults are committed by violent and unbalanced individuals." There is an element of truth in this statement.
Although Satanic-motivated crime committed by religious Satanists does not exist, some terrible crimes (including murder) have been done by psychotic individuals. Belief that they were controlled by Satan is often one element of their psychosis.
References:
We define Satanic Ritual Abuse (SRA) as referring to non-consensual physical, mental, emotional or spiritual attacks on individuals, primarily motivated by a desire to appease the perpetrator's deity, Satan. SRA thus does not include the crimes of mass murderers who, when caught, claim that they were influenced by Satan.
Investigations show that they were motivated primarily by mental illness, and that they had little or no knowledge or association with Satanism.
Craig Meissner, "Satanism and Crime: Look at the whole picture," POLICE magazine, 1999-DEC, Vol. 23, # 12, Pages 48 & 49. POLICE magazine is published by Bobit Publication Business & Editorial Office in Torrance, CA. Their E-mail address is:
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