A family grave in the center of Berlin

I recently finished a documentary about Satanism for ZDFneo, a German TV station. I also wrote about Satan worshipers and the long-term effects of ritualistic abuse, especially on children forced into the church by their parents, for this very magazine. If you read that article and felt I was siding with the victims, you’re right. I spent over three months talking with and filming those who suffered ritualistic abuse and we built up a strong emotional connection.

“Satanist” is a label that has been appropriated and recycled so often, that using it often confuses people—a contentious point I argue in the original article. Undoubtedly, some will claim that the girls I spoke with weren’t in a Satanic cult. I think much of that skepticism comes from the blurred lines between actual Satanists and those who “worship” the devil as something almost like a fashion statement. Whatever you believe, no one can argue that the girls weren’t victims of horrific violence and abuse. Interestingly, the girls never used the term Satanism themselves, but referred to the cult and its members as “The Idiots.”

Near the beginning of my research I spoke to Thorsten Becker, an expert and consultant on ritualistic abuse. After talking to Thorsten I believe the term is a hangover from sadistic/pedophiliac groups for whom the worship of Satan was an intrinsic part of their lives. Over time, Satan himself has taken a backseat in the whole affair, yet the term Satanism remains, precisely because of the inherent skepticism it conjures up. The fact that there are thousands of nice, harmless people walking around calling themselves Satanists only further confuses those trying to understand what true Satanism is.

Marco

I met one of these faux Satanists named Marco while filming my documentary. He was in his early 20s and a self-confessed “Satanist” whose interpretation of LaVey’s writings provided a certain self-determination and made him feel good about himself. He repeatedly told me he wouldn’t hurt a fly. People like Marco have nothing whatsoever to do with the victims I wrote about. Marco even refused to accept that the victims we met were actually involved with “proper Satanists.” The distinction between Marco and proper Satanists is important, and really the entire point of both the article and the documentary. The question of definition should not stand in the way of recognizing the appalling abuse people suffer at the hands of ritualistic abuse. Our reassessment of Satanism is long overdue.

I originally wanted to publish a bunch of drawings I received from several victims across Germany, who have suffered long term ritualistic abuse. As part of their therapy, children with DID are encouraged to draw every day scenes from their lives and, over time, the illustrations tend to portray a more and more harmonious world. Understandably, none of the victims who sent me their drawings wanted them published online. Instead, the pictures in this post are stills from the documentary and unused shots from the magazine article.

TOM LITTLEWOOD