# So, do Satanic cults exist? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [July 21, 2005, 7:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-do-satanic-cults-exist/313438 "2005-07-21T07:56:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 10
**Author:** ![ricksummon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ricksummon/32/3333_2.png) [@ricksummon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ricksummon)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2013, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-do-satanic-cults-exist/313438/181 "2013-05-22T15:49:16Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > If any of the three boys die before the 56 years is up, Satan gets that boy’s soul. They’d probably die exactly 55 years, 364 days afterwards at 11:59 PM. :smack: > [@](#): > > I have no idea if that’s a good deal or not, having no idea what the contemporary market value of a soul was. Well, a _ring of invisibility_ costs only 20,000 gp, so that might be doable, but increasing your carrying capacity by ten times would require a Strength increase of +17 — way too much! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Reverend\_Meade](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Reverend\_Meade](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reverend_Meade)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2013, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-do-satanic-cults-exist/313438/182 "2013-05-22T18:46:38Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > a BBC field reporter is eligible to win a Pulitzer for a story he’s covering _for the BBC_. I admit I don’t know much about journalism. Fight my ignorance, why wouldn’t this work? ---
**Author:** ![DrFidelius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drfidelius/32/3447_2.png) [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2013, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-do-satanic-cults-exist/313438/183 "2013-05-22T18:51:17Z")
> [@Reverend\_Meade](#): > > I admit I don’t know much about journalism. Fight my ignorance, why wouldn’t this work? I’m pretty sure the Pulitzer Prizer is for American journalism and publishing only. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2013, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-do-satanic-cults-exist/313438/184 "2013-05-22T18:52:17Z")
> [@Reverend\_Meade](#): > > I admit I don’t know much about journalism. Fight my ignorance, why wouldn’t this work? The Pulitzers are U.S. awards. ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2013, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-do-satanic-cults-exist/313438/185 "2013-05-22T20:54:11Z")
> [@Kaviik](#): > > I did not make up any definitions. Cult and religion are one in the same by definition. This is not correct. There are four general meanings of the word cult as it is used in American English. [ul] [li]1) as a direct cognate translation of the Latin _cultus_, meaning any well-organized set of religious beliefs. In this sense, all the various sects and denominations of Christianity and Islam could each be called cults, as could Judaism or its individula groups, Hinduism or its individual sects, etc. (Translations of statements from the Vatican occasionally raise the ire of various people when the word _cultus_ is rendered from the Latin as “cult” and the people in question assume that the Vatican was using the word in one of the next three meanings.)[/li] [li]2) any religious group with a strong connection to a living or recently-deceased leader. In this case the LDS could be called a cult only up until the death of Brigham Young, at which point the direct connection to Joseph Smith was broken. On the other hand, Christianity would be a cult of Jesus, as you noted once, in this sense, until the death of the first generation of Apostles. After that, however, it would no longer meet this definition.[/li] [li]3) a nominally religious-based group enforcing control over all aspects of the lives of its adherents in the manner of Jim Jones, etc. [/li] [li]4) any religious group opposed by various fundie groups.[/li][/ul] Using only one definition–and that one the most esoteric and least common in normal discourse–and then claiming that you have made a legitimate argument based on a definition that is not clear and open to equivocation, is realy not a good tactic in a discussion. ---
**Author:** ![Felix112](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Felix112](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Felix112)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2013, 9:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-do-satanic-cults-exist/313438/186 "2013-11-26T09:41:17Z")
(I know I’m late on this) Satanic cults do exist. And I’m African American! The reason I must state that I’m Black because usually when it comes to Generational Satanism; that it’s origins (satanic cults) comes from Europe have widely spread from generations to generations keeping their secret ritual practices within .therefor they don’t teach outside their Race. Prime Example: the Voodoo religion. I guess I was chosen or even expectational! Ha! ---
**Author:** ![Kobal2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kobal2/32/20_2.png) [@Kobal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobal2)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2013, 10:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-do-satanic-cults-exist/313438/187 "2013-11-26T10:21:44Z")
Voodoo is not a Race specific religion - perhaps its most famous practitioner was Marie Laveau, a white girl (well, half-white half-Creole, which itself is seven kinds of mixed, if you really want to be particular about it). It’s also not a secret cult. Whether we’re talking Louisiana voodoo, Haitian voodoo or granddaddy West African vodun, they’re all pretty open about practicing the religion, what it entails and so on. More cagey about how \*exactly \*the great hungans go about doing their magic that they swear will kill you stone dead, maybe, but then again Coca-Cola won’t give away the formula either ;). ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2013, 10:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-do-satanic-cults-exist/313438/188 "2013-11-26T10:38:03Z")
**Felix112** –while non-Christian, Voudou **does not** worship the figure Christians call the Devil. ---
**Author:** ![Felix112](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Felix112](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Felix112)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2013, 10:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-do-satanic-cults-exist/313438/189 "2013-11-26T10:39:40Z")
> [@Kobal2](#): > > Voodoo is not a Race specific religion - perhaps its most famous practitioner was Marie Laveau, a white girl (well, half-white half-Creole, which itself is seven kinds of mixed, if you really want to be particular about it). > > It’s also not a secret cult. Whether we’re talking Louisiana voodoo, Haitian voodoo or granddaddy West African vodun, they’re all pretty open about practicing the religion, what it entails and so on. More cagey about how \*exactly \*the great hungans go about doing their magic that they swear will kill you stone dead, maybe, but then again Coca-Cola won’t give away the formula either ;). Openly practice, yes but far as “How To” prepare a Voodoo ritual is of course scared. You see on documentaries, which is very misleading until see or learn In person And perhaps, Marie Laveau = white girl (guess she was chosen as well, that’s fine) however there’s always dominance of ethnicity far as the occult which overrules your particular point. ---
**Author:** ![thepillar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bc8723/32.png) [@thepillar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thepillar)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2013, 10:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-do-satanic-cults-exist/313438/190 "2013-11-26T10:40:05Z")
> [@Zjestika](#): > > I mean, cults exist, how much of a leap is it to go all-out satanic? Not much… [http://www.angelfire.com/empire/serpentis666/HOME.html](http://www.angelfire.com/empire/serpentis666/HOME.html) ---
**Author:** ![Felix112](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Felix112](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Felix112)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2013, 10:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-do-satanic-cults-exist/313438/191 "2013-11-26T10:44:11Z")
> [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](#): > > **Felix112** –while non-Christian, Voudou **does not** worship the figure Christians call the Devil. As I said before. It’s origin comes from generation to generation, Voodoo. ---
**Author:** ![Kobal2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kobal2/32/20_2.png) [@Kobal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobal2)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2013, 11:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-do-satanic-cults-exist/313438/192 "2013-11-26T11:05:44Z")
> [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](#): > > **Felix112** –while non-Christian, Voudou **does not** worship the figure Christians call the Devil. Actually, Haitian voodoo is sorta kinda Christian, or rather a hodge podge mix of Christian stuff and older animist stuff from Africa. For example, the head god of vaudou is a distant figure called _Bondye_, which is a corruption/pidgin of the French “Bon Dieu” (“Good god” or “Benevolent god”), a common way of referring to the Christian god among us French. Similarly, vaudou includes some Christian saints - or figures that look suspiciously like them - but infuses them with magical powers given to them by spirits rather than, well, who- or whatever lets Catholic saints pull their miracles I guess. All in all in keeping with the history of the religion - slaves who were ripped from their own culture and tried to keep it together in spite of strong prohibitions to do so (and thus forgetting/losing some of it over time), filling in the blanks with what they were told in their new “home”. Kind of puts the lie to the “secret ancient magic” angle, but fascinating all the same. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2013, 12:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-do-satanic-cults-exist/313438/193 "2013-11-26T12:04:26Z")
> [@Felix112](#): > > As I said before. It’s origin comes from generation to generation, Voodoo. Your _meaning_ is unclear. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2013, 12:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-do-satanic-cults-exist/313438/194 "2013-11-26T12:10:44Z")
A discussion about voodoo raises a thread as a zombie? How very appropriate. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2013, 12:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-do-satanic-cults-exist/313438/195 "2013-11-26T12:30:39Z")
> [@Kobal2](#): > > Actually, Haitian voodoo is sorta kinda Christian, or rather a hodge podge mix of Christian stuff and older animist stuff from Africa. . The technical term is “syncretism” Anyhow, Voudoun/Voudou/Voodoo isn’t satanic, it’s a mix of Roman Catholic (particularly certain saints) and the Ife religion of western Africa, with a few bits of other African religions and probably a bit of Native Haitin thrown in. No Satan worship. It’s dominated by people of African descent, true, but they’re willing to accept converts of any ethnicity. ---
**Author:** ![DrFidelius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drfidelius/32/3447_2.png) [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2013, 12:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-do-satanic-cults-exist/313438/196 "2013-11-26T12:56:10Z")
Well, Haitins gotta hait. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2013, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-do-satanic-cults-exist/313438/197 "2013-11-26T14:04:49Z")
> [@Felix112](#): > > As I said before. It’s origin comes from generation to generation, Voodoo. But the topic of _this_ thread is Satanism. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2013, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-do-satanic-cults-exist/313438/198 "2013-11-26T18:06:24Z")
> [@DrFidelius](#): > > I’m pretty sure the Pulitzer Prizer is for American journalism and publishing only. > [@Marley23](#): > > The Pulitzers are U.S. awards. That, and only material published in newspapers, on newspaper websites or on standalone news sites are eligible. Broadcast media and related website material [isn’t](http://www.pulitzer.org/files/entryforms/2013_Q&A_4.pdf). ---
**Author:** ![Felix112](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Felix112](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Felix112)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2013, 9:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-do-satanic-cults-exist/313438/199 "2013-11-27T09:31:37Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > The technical term is “syncretism” > > Anyhow, Voudoun/Voudou/Voodoo isn’t satanic, it’s a mix of Roman Catholic (particularly certain saints) and the Ife religion of western Africa, with a few bits of other African religions and probably a bit of Native Haitin thrown in. No Satan worship. > > It’s dominated by people of African descent, true, but they’re willing to accept converts of any ethnicity. **They’re willing to accept converts of any ethnicity**? Oh please, of course there’s always Money involved. Then, not all Voodoo practitioners teach their ritual secrets to newbies 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Felix112](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Felix112](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Felix112)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2013, 9:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-do-satanic-cults-exist/313438/200 "2013-11-27T09:55:45Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > But the topic of _this_ thread is Satanism. I think you’re mistaken. Not Satanism, the topic is **Satanic cults**. Even-though I attempted to make a prefect example of the Voodoo religion that have its ethnic origins, as well as **Satanic cults** whereas outsiders of a different race not allowed in. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-do-satanic-cults-exist/313438.md?page=9) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-do-satanic-cults-exist/313438.md?page=11)