I'm sure there have been Isolated incidents, but is there a "tradition" of this like in the Catholic , Anglican, and fundamentalist christian churches?
2006-10-16 09:04:48 · 31 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Not really. Check out the sections on the traditions you mention at religioustolerance.org--they do a good job of bringing facts to light and debunking a lot of myths, in a completely unbiased way.
For the record, a LaVeyan Satanist doing such a thing would actually get them excommunicated from the Church of Satan.
2006-10-16 09:09:22 · answer #1 · answered by angk 6 · 3⤊ 1⤋
There hasn't been a "tradition" of this within these churches. If you look at the numbers it's probably statistically average compared to the rest of the populace. It's just news when it happens to a church leader because people love scandal. If some nobody had gotten pulled over and insulted Jews while being drunk you'd have never have heard about it, it probably happened three times last night. Asking if there have been sex scandals with these groups is silly because to be a scandal it has to be shocking, and sadly though their confused, it's what too many people expect of these groups. Satanists, and pagans don't have the air of respectability to them that lead to scandal. However as their numbers grow, and they get the respect they deserve as people, I'm sure you'll have your scandals in no time.
2006-10-16 09:11:25 · answer #2 · answered by westfallwatergardens 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Is there really a "tradition" of it in the Catholic, Anglican, and fundamentalist Christian churches?
Or does your personal bias make you unable to realize that the incidents in those churches are isolated?
2006-10-16 09:12:55 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
There are predators of all types (sexual and non-) in all groups, unfortunately. There are certain aspects within the Pagan community that can be manipulated by predators to make it easier to hide - traditions of secrecy, the semi-underground nature, etc. None of these aspects are necessarily bad, but they can (and have) been misused by some sick people.
That said, there doesn't appear to be any sort of "tradition" within the Pagan religions of abuse like that. Fairly certain of the same in regards to Satanism. There was the whole Satanic Ritual Abuse scare back in the '80s, but that was just hype and panic - the FBI did a report (do a search on "Kenneth Lanning" and "Satanic Ritual Abuse", and you should find it) that detailed the lack of actual cases.
2006-10-18 03:51:18 · answer #4 · answered by ArcadianStormcrow 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Surrounding 'Satanists'? Yes. Tabloid stories and real-life tragedies involving 'satanic' cults do exist. None I know of involving Wiccans (who are all too busy being pseudo-pantheist). The Catholic and Anglican Churches are institutional and have been a focus of Western history for centuries: relatively obscure neo-pagan religions would not cause the same indignation.
2006-10-16 09:10:36 · answer #5 · answered by tyrian&eustas(the puffin) 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
No. Pretty much all cases of satanic child abuse were proven false. There was nothing satanic going on, and not even any abuse. It was all in the minds of the parents or the kids - or both.
Also, notice how those who answered "yes" didn't cite any sources. Makes you go hmmm, doesn't it?
I actually got this info from a libray book which I cannot locate again. But it wasn't a pro-satanism book; just the opposite. It was written by a psychologist and it was geared more to dealing with teens who were heading over to the dark side.
In it the author explained that many of the trappings of satanism are actually anything but.
2006-10-16 09:10:21 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 5⤊ 0⤋
Wiccans and Pagans should not be considered on the same page as satanists.
There have been incidences of satanic abuse, yes. Most of them involve murder. Children, priests and nuns.
I can't say about the Wiccans and Pagans.
There are incidences in all faiths. Hindu, Buddhist, Muslim. People are people. With all their faults. No religious is the "cure all" for humanity.
2006-10-16 09:10:05 · answer #7 · answered by Max Marie, OFS 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
What? there is not tradition of child molestation. Terible people of all walks do this. It's the ones that call themselves "christian"but are not christian that give christianity a bad rap. Although, I cannot believe the pope covered it up for as long as he did. That is terrible. Remember when you are speaking against christianity they have suffered the most at the hands of non-christians. Unfortunetly the most sad is the children that have suffered needlessly at the hands of non-christians. Peace be with you.
2006-10-16 09:12:40 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
These groups have never had as many members as the other traditions you've mentioned, they probably never will. To compare the two is kind of a flawed idea. When comparing thousands to millions, you'll only find "isolated incidents."
2006-10-16 09:12:26 · answer #9 · answered by luvwinz 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
It's hard to imagine Pagans or Wiccans abusing children. I don't really know any Satanists or anything about that, so I have no useful opinion there.
2006-10-16 09:09:47 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋