# New Flash! Laci Peterson KilledBy satanists! **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [May 16, 2003, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-flash-laci-peterson-killedby-satanists/175660 "2003-05-16T12:51:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![pepperlandgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f17d59/32.png) [@pepperlandgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pepperlandgirl)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2003, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-flash-laci-peterson-killedby-satanists/175660/41 "2003-05-17T16:32:19Z")
> [@](#): > > From what I understand of that religious path, Satanists do not worship Satan at all. People who are Satanist, don’t necessarily worship evil. They are Satanist because they are interested in “looking out for number 1”, otherwise known as “Enlightened Self Interest”. Oooh, ooh, ooh! I know this one! Personal Ethical Egoism. ---
**Author:** ![ratty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ccd318/32.png) [@ratty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ratty)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2003, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-flash-laci-peterson-killedby-satanists/175660/42 "2003-05-17T16:50:42Z")
Satanists killed Laci Peterson? Holy shit! Did we just time-warp back to 1986? :dubious: I’m not going to bother jumping into the fray, since others have done much better at fighting ignorance than I could. (And more politely, I may add.) If you’re really all that interested in learning more about the “satanic panic”, I suggest picking up the excellent, informative, and well-written book The Lure of the Sinister by Gareth J. Medway. Nothing quite like a healthy dose of common sense and good research skills to squash those alluring urban legends. ---
**Author:** ![lezlers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/258eb7/32.png) [@lezlers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lezlers)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2003, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-flash-laci-peterson-killedby-satanists/175660/43 "2003-05-17T17:25:33Z")
Wow, I’m so glad more eloquent and calm people beat me to my “oh, _man_ they used witch and satanist interchangably!!” #1. Wiccans don’t believe in hell. Therefore, we don’t believe in Satan. Therefore, it is _impossible_ for a witch to be a satanist. That would be why everytime I see the phrase “satanic witch” I want to scream. It does the religion an enormous disservice. (I was at a Barnes and Noble one time actually and saw the Satanic Bible- the author or something refered to themselves as a “Satanic Witch” all I could do was stare for a good 5 minutes, I was so upset) #2. Please please please, before making such uninformed statements such as the OP’s “Witch Coven/Satan Worship Group” reference (the equivelant of saying “Jewish Christmas”) think about who you’re going to offend. **Zabali\_Clawbane** , thanks for doing a great job fighting ignorance. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Cheatem\_Undhow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/13edae/32.png) [@Dewey\_Cheatem\_Undhow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Cheatem_Undhow)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2003, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-flash-laci-peterson-killedby-satanists/175660/44 "2003-05-17T17:42:25Z")
See, this is the sort of thing that pisses me off. It’s really stupid to call yourself a “Satanist” and they say “but really, we’re not evil, we don’t literally worship the devil, and we’re really just committed to a radical form of individualism and naturism, etc, etc, etc.” Goddammit, if you’re not evil, don’t name your sect after an evil supernatural being. Pick something descriptive that won’t confuse the rest of the world. ---
**Author:** ![Daoloth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/82dd89/32.png) [@Daoloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Daoloth)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2003, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-flash-laci-peterson-killedby-satanists/175660/45 "2003-05-17T18:39:15Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Summertime \* > \*\* > You think satanists have any morals or would consider it a sin to kill someone or some animal? > \*\* First off, Satanists (LaVeyan) don’t believe in sin. Furthermore, they are against harming animals and children, by and large. They don’t do any ritualistic sacrifices or Hollywood mumbo-jumbo either. I know a Satanist in the USMC Reserve and Miami PD. He’s a respectable guy, and he wouldn’t harm a child or animal or anything of that nature. While he strives to protect the people of America, his bretheren are going to be blamed for a gruesome and senseless murder. It’s sad. ---
**Author:** ![Lucki\_Chaarms](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9de0a6/32.png) [@Lucki\_Chaarms](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucki_Chaarms)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2003, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-flash-laci-peterson-killedby-satanists/175660/46 "2003-05-17T18:46:39Z")
Well, I think Anton LaVey’s version of Satanism (he founded the Church of Satan here in America, IIRC) is more like spiritual objectivism. They believe in basically the opposite of what Jesus stood for: trample anyone who gets in your way, lie, steal, manipulate, do whatever it takes to get that earthly power and money, and they also say that in doing so you will gain supernatural power as well. So they may not believe in a being named Satan as Christianity does, but they do believe themselves to be the complete opposite of Christianity. Therefore, it makes sense that they would choose to align themselves with that hypothetical being, effectively declaring themselves to be Christianity’s enemy. BTW, I think Anton LaVey was a total tool. LC ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Tiger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6de8d8/32.png) [@Mama\_Tiger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Tiger)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2003, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-flash-laci-peterson-killedby-satanists/175660/47 "2003-05-17T18:47:32Z")
The only Satanist I knew was back in college days, when he worked at the radio station with a friend of mine. The most memorably evil act he ever committed that anyone could discover was that when the record (remember vinyl platters?) of the Doobie Brothers’ “Jesus Is Just All Right with Me” came into the station, he took one look at the title, screamed, and broke the record in half. Took 'em two weeks to get another copy and join the rest of the country in playing the song twice an hour. Not exactly a threat to world peace in my book… ---
**Author:** ![RobbieFal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c5a1d2/32.png) [@RobbieFal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RobbieFal)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2003, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-flash-laci-peterson-killedby-satanists/175660/48 "2003-05-17T18:52:36Z")
the worst defense they can put up is “God killed her, so Scott is innocent. If it wasn’t for God, then she’d be alive, but now she is with him. Glory be.” ---
**Author:** ![Lilairen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8491ac/32.png) [@Lilairen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lilairen)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2003, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-flash-laci-peterson-killedby-satanists/175660/49 "2003-05-17T19:14:44Z")
I believe Zoroastrianism is listed as the fourth Religion of the Book; I’d be somewhat disinclined to consider it pagan on that basis. **lezlers** , please keep in mind that “witch” and “Wiccan” are not synonyms either. Witchcraft is nondenominational and not owned by the Craft; while it is probably most _common_ in Wiccan, it can be practiced by people of any faith. ---
**Author:** ![Mockingbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c68b51/32.png) [@Mockingbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mockingbird)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2003, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-flash-laci-peterson-killedby-satanists/175660/50 "2003-05-17T19:17:07Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by ralph124c \* > \*\*Well, we all knew that Scott Peterson is just a regular guy! Everybody goes fishing Christmas Eve! His goofy defense lawyer has just announced (based upon autopsy reports) that Laci was probably abducted and mutilated by SATANISTS! > So, don’t assume your local witch coven/Satan worship group is all that innocent! They could be murdering pregnant women as we speak! > I KNEW Scott wasinnocent…he has such an honest face! > By the way, where can I attend a “black Mass”? I’ve always wanted to see what satanists did at these affairs!😃 \*\* Were they baby eating satanists? :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Liz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/liz/32/17737_2.png) [@Liz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liz)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2003, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-flash-laci-peterson-killedby-satanists/175660/51 "2003-05-17T19:17:08Z")
I think a few folks need to head over to [Church of Satan dot com](http://www.churchofsatan.com) and educate themselves. This bullshit is getting ridiculous. I’d go through and debunk all of the myths/lies/misrepresentations here, but I don’t have the time at the moment. Please, take a look at the webpage and doctrines and familiarize yourself with what’s what. I’m not personally a Satanist, but it’s so totally different than what I’m reading here that it’s laughable. I wouldn’t dare attempt to explain Judaism or Hinduism or _any_ religion without the facts. That’s just offensive and ignorant. ---
**Author:** ![lezlers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/258eb7/32.png) [@lezlers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lezlers)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2003, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-flash-laci-peterson-killedby-satanists/175660/52 "2003-05-17T19:37:21Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Lilairen \* > \*\* > > **lezlers** , please keep in mind that “witch” and “Wiccan” are not synonyms either. Witchcraft is nondenominational and not owned by the Craft; while it is probably most _common_ in Wiccan, it can be practiced by people of any faith. \*\* Agreed. I stand corrected. It just pisses me off when people put Witch and Satanist together because most people aren’t aware of all of the little differences that exist in the pagan sphere. Most people lump witch with wiccan and pagan and so on and so on that when trying to explain to an outsider, it’s easier to keep it as simple as possible. When you start splitting hairs in your explanation, I’ve found people begin to get confused and thus, lose interest which leads them to continue lumping things on opposite ends of the spectrum together as one. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2003, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-flash-laci-peterson-killedby-satanists/175660/53 "2003-05-18T04:47:05Z")
> [@](#): > > Defense sources say that the satanic sacrifice is still only a working theory. They may never raise the possibility in court. But they point out to skeptics that there are several documented satanic cults operating in the Modesto area, Abrams reported. Abrams admitted some would hear the latest defense claims and say, “Come on, give me a break.” [Link](http://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/2208903/detail.html) Stuff like this makes me feel like someone put something in my Ovaltine. ---
**Author:** ![LonesomePolecat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a88e57/32.png) [@LonesomePolecat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LonesomePolecat)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2003, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-flash-laci-peterson-killedby-satanists/175660/54 "2003-05-18T14:43:11Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by ralph124c \* > \*\* > By the way, where can I attend a “black Mass”? I’ve always wanted to see what satanists did at these affairs!😃 \*\* The Dark and Scary Infernal Chaos Magick Order of the Godless Nietzchean Superman of the Left-Hand Path of Aleister Crowley is now accepting applications for membership. While it’s highly unlikely that a namby-pamby wimp like most of you Dopers seem to be might actually have the testicles to get accepted by our highly demanding and exclusive Order, we are nevertheless desperate for dues so that our High Lord and Master Seth Dark Star Luciferus Terriblus can keep himself stocked up on Bacardi, cocaine, scary-looking black robes and gold swastika jewelry. We might therefore consider your application IF you measure up to our tough standards and have lots of cash to spend supporting our Temple. Being a hot-looking babe with big breasts would help a lot too. We are \* very dangerous people \* who know all kinds of powerful magick and can squash our enemies like bugs, and we’ll thank you not to laugh at our “Tales from the Crypt” comic book collections and our Darth Vader bedsheets. Our doctrines and magickal practices are derived from careful study of the works of Aleister Crowley as well as Frederick Nietzche notwithstanding the fact that we can’t spell or pronounce his name. (Like, is it a “z” or an "s’? And does the “i” come before the “e”, or what?) OUR HIGH LORD AND MASTER’S DOCTRINES ARE IN NO WAY DERIVED FROM STAR WARS, DUNGEONS AND DRAGONS OR SCIENTOLOGY!!! THAT WAS A DAMNED LIE FROM A JACK CHICK TRACT AND ANYWAY WE SETTLED THOSE LAWSUITS OUT OF COURT!!! We also practice sex magick or at least we would if we could get any babes to join our Order but apparently the chicks aren’t terribly impressed with a black magick cult when half its membership are still living at home with their parents and at age thirty still haven’t touched a breast. Our only law is “Do What Thou Wilt” which is our highest guiding principle except that most of us can’t seem to find chicks who will let us do as we wilt with them, and anyway our High Lord and Master would probably hog them all for himself even though his booze and coke habit has shriveled up his Mighty Rod of Power like a raisin so that even a gallon jug of Viagra couldn’t get a rise out of him. (We know. The hooker we hired for our High Lord and Master at our last Most High and Terrible Eldritch Rite of the Full Moon and Used Comic Book Sale told us so.) So if you’re a hot babe with big breasts we’ll probably suspend the dues for you. Anyway, we really are \* very dangerous people \* 'cuz like we said we practice all these kinds of magick that have the word “chaos” in their names and we like actually own some books by Aleister Crowley and don’t try to sell us any of those bogus editions of the Necronomicon because we have them all already and we’ve just learned that there really wasn’t any Necronomicon. Life is only for those strong and ruthless enough to seize the day which is something we learned while getting beat up in high school so much, - and you had better be afraid of us if you know what’s good for you, Jack! \* You might be suitable for our dark and terrible Order if you can answer “yes” to most of the following questions: Do you listen to a lot of heavy metal? Are you secure in your spiritual power? Are you absolutely fearless and ruthless and aren’t scared of anything, not even scowling black teenagers dressed up like “gangstuhs?” Are you certain of the god-like potential within yourself even though the best job you can get is evening shift at the video store? Do you read a lot of Crowley and Nietzche? Can you spell and pronounce “Nietzche” correctly? If you can, can you teach us? Do you think it’s a good idea to mix Bacardi and cocaine? (No, really, do you? Our High Lord and Master has gotten awful skinny and pale and his hands tremble a lot and when he talks he doesn’t make much sense any more and we’re getting horribly worried about his health.) Do you think Christianity is contemptible beyond words? Do you look down on the meek, ignorant Christan masses, patiently awaiting the day when Lord Cthulhu will rise from the depths of R’Leyh and bring horror and torment to the football players who gave you wedgies in the locker room in high school? Are you a hot babe with big breasts? If you’re a hot babe with big breasts, would you find a thirty-year-old guy with long hair and a scraggly beard who clerks in a video store, lives with his parents and hasn’t ever touched a breast sexy? (If you answer yes to the last two questions you don’t need to bother with the other ones. \* You’re in! \* ) You will need to answer “no” to the following two questions: Are you Jewish? Our High Lord and Master has a problem with that. Are you a scowling black teenager who dresses like a “gangstuh?” The rest of the membership has a problem with that. So like we said, we’re accepting applications 'cuz we need the dues and maybe some babes, but you have to meet our really, really tough standards first 'cuz we’re such an exclusive order and don’t accept any wimps. Applications will be accepted in person only. Also, our High Lord and Master has raised the application fee again and now insists on cash only in small unmarked bills. Also cocaine if you’ve got any. ---
**Author:** ![lezlers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/258eb7/32.png) [@lezlers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lezlers)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2003, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-flash-laci-peterson-killedby-satanists/175660/55 "2003-05-18T18:29:40Z")
Wow, **Lonsompolecat** , way to stereotype, insult, degrade and mock a relgion you obviously know nothing about. I’m Wiccan, not Satanic and do not agree with the Satanic religion on any level, but your post is IMHO completely inappropriate, ignorant and spiteful. Would you post something similar mocking the Christian faith? How about Judeism? Paganism? Probably not, because you’d get your ass handed to you. Have a little respect for others religions, if you agree with them or not. ---
**Author:** ![Diane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/2acd7d/32.png) [@Diane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diane)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2003, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-flash-laci-peterson-killedby-satanists/175660/56 "2003-05-18T20:35:10Z")
> [@](#): > > I don’t believe there has ever been any proven case of a murder traced back to Satanists. Most crime linked to Satanic organizations tends to be of the inverted-pentacle-spray-painted-on-someone-else’s-wall variety. I have only read part of the thread yet so someone may have already mentioned them. Right off the bat, I can think of two. [http://www.crimelibrary.com/serial\_killers/weird/constanzo/1.html](http://www.crimelibrary.com/serial_killers/weird/constanzo/1.html) [http://www.meta-religion.com/New\_religious\_groups/Killer\_issues/san\_luis\_obispo\_satanist.htm](http://www.meta-religion.com/New_religious_groups/Killer_issues/san_luis_obispo_satanist.htm) > [@](#): > > Neither does West Memphis 3, because from what I’ve read on that case, it will be overturned. West Memphis 3 They were convicted of this crime soley because they were different. The evidence in this case was ignored. Read the link, you may find you agree with me. It may or may not be overturned. There are still MANY hurdles facing the boys. If I may be so bold as to add a plug. My daughter and I have been very active the last few years in support of having the verdicts overturned. I suggest that everyone here read that site, top to bottom) and if you are so inclined, please follow the instruction on how to write to different organizations (news, congress, etc.) as well as additional financial (they now take PayPal) and moral support of the WM3. [www.wm3.org](http://www.wm3.org) You should also watch the videos “Paradise Lost” and “Paradise Lost II: Revelations”. Hopefully they will outrage you into action and support the release of Damien, Jessie, and Jason. ---
**Author:** ![LonesomePolecat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a88e57/32.png) [@LonesomePolecat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LonesomePolecat)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2003, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-flash-laci-peterson-killedby-satanists/175660/57 "2003-05-18T23:20:16Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by lezlers \* > \*\*Wow, **Lonsompolecat** , way to stereotype, insult, degrade and mock a relgion you obviously know nothing about. > > I’m Wiccan, not Satanic and do not agree with the Satanic religion on any level, but your post is IMHO completely inappropriate, ignorant and spiteful. Would you post something similar mocking the Christian faith? How about Judeism? Paganism? Probably not, because you’d get your ass handed to you. Have a little respect for others religions, if you agree with them or not. \*\* Oh, please. I’ve met people in real life who were just about that pathetic. If you’ve had even marginal participation in the neo-Pagan movement, you’ve met some too. And the silliest of 'em all were the dopes who claimed to be following some kind of “left-hand path.” If ever a religion deserved to be mocked, Satanism is the one, although admittedly fluffy bunny Pagans are almost as bad. It’s one thing to ask me to respect someone whose religious beliefs are carefully thought out and have some actual depth, and another thing altogether to tell me I must pretend to respect some meatball who’s just acting out an adolescent fantasy he’s concocted from comic books, horror films and Ayn Rand novels. Both the leaders and the followers of hare-brained cults like LaVey’s Church of Satan deserve a pie in the face and a shot from the seltzer bottle. And for your information, I have on a number of occasions mocked Christianity, in addition to Scientology, the Jehovah’s Witnesses, the followers of the Guru Maharaji Ji, the Mormons and quite a number of Pagans as well as others. The lunatic credulity of so many religious believers makes religion in general a ripe target for mockery which I often find impossible to resist. ---
**Author:** ![lezlers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/258eb7/32.png) [@lezlers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lezlers)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2003, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-flash-laci-peterson-killedby-satanists/175660/58 "2003-05-18T23:26:25Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by LonesomePolecat \* > \*\* > And for your information, I have on a number of occasions mocked Christianity, in addition to Scientology, the Jehovah’s Witnesses, the followers of the Guru Maharaji Ji, the Mormons and quite a number of Pagans as well as others. The lunatic credulity of so many religious believers makes religion in general a ripe target for mockery which I often find impossible to resist. \*\* Oh. Well okay then. I guess if you’ve mocked that many of them then that _makes it okay_. Honestly, do you get off on being such an asshole? And do you have any religious beliefs? Or are you one of those who prefer to just insult everyone who’s different from you? You’re just a picture of tolerance and intelligence aren’t you? :wally ---
**Author:** ![Zabali\_Clawbane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/ecd19e/32.png) [@Zabali\_Clawbane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zabali_Clawbane)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2003, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-flash-laci-peterson-killedby-satanists/175660/59 "2003-05-18T23:44:56Z")
Obviously he’s an elitist atheist. You know the type, “Ho-hum, all of you people are sooo boring with this religion crap. I’m sooo much smarter than all of you, because I alone know the TRUTH!” :rolleyes: Doesn’t feel too good when someone else turns your own razor wit back on you, does it LonesomePolecat? An apt name, if ever I saw one. Skunk, indeed a fitting name for you. :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![LonesomePolecat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a88e57/32.png) [@LonesomePolecat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LonesomePolecat)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2003, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-flash-laci-peterson-killedby-satanists/175660/60 "2003-05-18T23:49:36Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by lezlers \* > \*\* > > Honestly, do you get off on being such an asshole? \*\* I guess it rubbed off on me from constantly having to deal with sanctimonious assholes like you. If you’re really this thin-skinned, maybe you should just stay the hell out of the Pit. When I posted this thing on other message boards some months ago, it got a lot of laughs, most from Pagans who, unlike you, have a sense of humor and aren’t self-righteous politically correct butt munches who take themselves much, much too seriously. - King of the Hill \* is on, and Bobby Hill has joined a coven. It’s hilarious. I should probably sue them for plagiarism. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-flash-laci-peterson-killedby-satanists/175660.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-flash-laci-peterson-killedby-satanists/175660.md?page=4)