Rate this book
What to read after Raising the Devil?
Hello there! I go by the name Robo Ratel, your very own AI librarian, and I'm excited to assist you in discovering your next fantastic read after "Raising the Devil" by Bill Ellis! 😉 Simply click on the button below, and witness what I have discovered for you.
Exciting news! I've found some fantastic books for you! 📚✨ Check below to see your tailored recommendations. Happy reading! 📖😊
“Puts [the phenomena of Satanism] in the context of folklore and folk traditions . . . Highly recommended as a lucid and well-documented account.” —Library Journal
Raising the Devil reveals how the Christian Pentecostal movement, right-wing conspiracy theories, and an opportunistic media turned grassroots folk traditions into the Satanism scare of the 1980s. During the mid-twentieth century, devil worship was seen as merely an isolated practice of medieval times. But by the early 1980s, many influential experts in clinical medicine and in law enforcement were proclaiming that satanic cults were widespread and dangerous. By examining the broader context for alleged “cult” activity, Bill Ellis demonstrates how the image of contemporary Satanism emerged. In some of the cases Ellis considers, common folk beliefs and rituals were misunderstood as evidence of devil worship. In others, narratives and rituals themselves were used to combat satanic forces. As the media found such stories attractive, any activity with even remotely occult overtones was demonized in order to fit a model of absolute good confronting evil.
Ellis’s wide-ranging investigation covers ouija boards, cattle mutilation, graveyard desecration, and “diabolical medicine” —the psychiatric community’s version of exorcism. He offers a balanced view of contentious issues such as demonic possession, satanic ritual abuse, and the testimonies of confessing “ex-Satanists.” A trained folklorist, Ellis navigates a middle road, and his insights into informal religious traditions clarify how the image of Satanism both explained and created deviant behavior.
“An interesting analysis of satanic folklore and organized anti-satanism in the US and UK.” —Choice
“Shows how ancient bogeyman beliefs became aligned with politics and the criminal justice system to produce witch-hunts like the infamous McMartin Preschool case.” —Mother Jones
Raising the Devil reveals how the Christian Pentecostal movement, right-wing conspiracy theories, and an opportunistic media turned grassroots folk traditions into the Satanism scare of the 1980s. During the mid-twentieth century, devil worship was seen as merely an isolated practice of medieval times. But by the early 1980s, many influential experts in clinical medicine and in law enforcement were proclaiming that satanic cults were widespread and dangerous. By examining the broader context for alleged “cult” activity, Bill Ellis demonstrates how the image of contemporary Satanism emerged. In some of the cases Ellis considers, common folk beliefs and rituals were misunderstood as evidence of devil worship. In others, narratives and rituals themselves were used to combat satanic forces. As the media found such stories attractive, any activity with even remotely occult overtones was demonized in order to fit a model of absolute good confronting evil.
Ellis’s wide-ranging investigation covers ouija boards, cattle mutilation, graveyard desecration, and “diabolical medicine” —the psychiatric community’s version of exorcism. He offers a balanced view of contentious issues such as demonic possession, satanic ritual abuse, and the testimonies of confessing “ex-Satanists.” A trained folklorist, Ellis navigates a middle road, and his insights into informal religious traditions clarify how the image of Satanism both explained and created deviant behavior.
“An interesting analysis of satanic folklore and organized anti-satanism in the US and UK.” —Choice
“Shows how ancient bogeyman beliefs became aligned with politics and the criminal justice system to produce witch-hunts like the infamous McMartin Preschool case.” —Mother Jones
Do you want to read this book? 😳
Buy it now!
Are you curious to discover the likelihood of your enjoyment of "Raising the Devil" by Bill Ellis? Allow me to assist you! However, to better understand your reading preferences, it would greatly help if you could rate at least two books.
