HISTORY (NEOpagan, 1980s; 88-90) [pamphlet from "CultWatch Response" (original; I received from a contact through Circle I think 'Demonwatch Network' or some such in the early 1990's, as I pursued initial examinations of Satanism), is dated October 1988, Vol. I, No. 1, and is part of a batch of Neopagan-distributed information on the 'definition of Paganism and how this differs from Satanism'; only excerpts concerning what Satanism is or isn't included here; first article is CultWatch Response publication] WHY CULTWATCH RESPONSE? ... It is the primary goal of CultWatch Response to supply at least one reasonable, well-thought-out, and FULLY RESEARCHED article per issue. In order to promote understanding, because we do not believe the followers of the God of Love should spend so much time hating something that they know nothing about.... WE ARE NOT SATANISTS! Basically, Satan did not reach Europe until the coming of Christianity in the 3rd to 5th Centuries C.E. Paganism is a wide group of religons that existed in Europe prior to the Christianization of Europe: the fact that it was an extremely viable religion caused the Church to decide it needed to be eliminated, and so one major deity was singled out s being the equivalent of Satan and the persecutions went forth.... There ARE Satanists in the world. Most of them are harmless, and most of them do NOT consider themselves pagans. As pagans, we abhor criminal acts such as murder, child abuse, and the torturing or slaughtering of animals (not including feedlots of course, although many of us are vegetarians and others have worked for more humane treatment of animasl AT feedlots). We regard people who do these types of things as sick. Prosecute them, get them help, do something to stop "ritual crime". Most of us are willing to do our par to help fiend and prosecute these people, and it is evident to most police officers around the country that ritual crime does not involve pagans. It is usually found in gangs of children, led by other children or by sick adults. ... [CultWatch Response ends; beginning accompanying info; unsigned letter not on letterhead from "Media Committee, Covenant of the Goddess", single page; excerpt] ... We hope, by this endeavor, to counteract the tendency to associate psychotic events or Satanic rites with the practices of our life affirming congregations.... We have included in this packet a brief statement on each of the following: * Definitions * Frequently Asked Questions with Answers * Basic Philosophy * Holidays * General Practices * Bibliography [letter ends, taking bits from packet; from FAQ, p. two] Q. Do Witches worship the devil? A. No. The concept of "the devil", a personification of a supreme spirit of evil and unrighteousness, is a creation of Middle Eastern thought which is fundamental to the religions of that region including Zoroastrianism, Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Worship of "Satan" as this being is a practice of profaning Christian symbolism and is thus a Christian heresy rather than a Pagan religion. The gods of Wicca are in now way connected with Satanic practices. Most Witches do not even believe that Satan exists and certainly do not worship him. Historically, the gods of an older religion are branded as the devils of a newer one in order to promote conversion. [packet does not mention anything else on Satan or Satanism; from packet apparently associated with 'Witches League For Public Awareness, P.O. Box 8736, Salem MA 01971-8376':] ASSOCIATION WITH OTHER RELIGOUS BODIES ... No Witchcraft religion requires it's membership to renounce or abjure in any way, a person's former religion. A person may freely participate as a Witch and as a member of another religion provided that the person can reconcile the two sets of teachings. Any restrictions placed on an individual to choose either Witchcraft or one of the major western religions lies solely with that religion, and not with the Witch Coven. ... [a photocopied article: 'A Christian minister visits a witches' coven. from 'Christianity Today', Oct. 21, 1983, pp. 22-5; by J. Gordon Melton (note that he is quoted in CAW's publication; most omitted save that concerning Satanism] ... A decade of fieldwork and study of modern Witchcraft proved mindwrenching. I began with a host of images and beliefs about Witches, and one by one the images were ripped away and tossed into the garbage can. The first to go concerned devil worship and ritually dissected dogs and cats. The Witches quickly (and at times vehemently) informed me that they followed their own faith in the Goddess, and that Witchcraft was neither ex-Chrsitian or anti-Christian. Witches do not believe the Christian Devil, Satan, even exists, much less worship him. They follow the Goddess who takes her most complete embodiment in nature and leads Witches and Pagans to environmental activism, a love of animals, advocacy of health foods, and a healthy respect for the generative powers of nature. But what of the sinister rituals, black masses, young female victims, and the littered remains of ritually sacrificed animals left in graveyards? Along the way I discovered there were a few Satanists, but they, worshipers of the Christian Devil, are *not part of nor welcome within the Pagan/Witchcraft community*. This fact was brought home to me dramatically when I personally witnessed the ostracism of several people who attended a recent Pagan Festival. Dressed in black leather, they showed all the signs of occult evil. They also left after the first day. ... Commonly, Christians, even well-read Christians who should know better, confuse Witches with Satan worshippers. Most recently we have been subjected to the fantasies of a "Witchmobile" and the unsubstantiated claims of "ex-Satanists" to large Satanic conspiracies. In fact, even at its peak in the 1970's, Satanism never attracted more than a few thousand adherents.... [rest omitted; not involving Satanism; next document copyright 1988 "The Witches' League for Public Awareness"; lists Lyons book _Satan Wants You_ under 'Historical and Anthropologocol' {sic} in 'Recommended Reading List' along with Adler's book] ... The League was founded in Salem Massachusetts in May 1986 by Laurie Cabot, 'The Official Witch of Salem, Mass', a complimentary title bestowed upon her by Gov. Michael Dukakis.... _The Do's and Don'ts of Witches_ ... 2. Witches do not worship Satan. They do not have a Satan in their deity structure. 3. Witches wear clothing of every style and color.... Many Witches do choose to wear black clothing or ritual robes. The color black is the culmination of all vibrational rates of light on the material plane. Black absorbs light information and helps Witches be more receptive to psychic impressions and energies.... [rest omitted; next document from "The Fellowship of the Spiral Path", copyright 1988] SOME QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT THE OLD RELIGION ... _Do members of the Old Religion worship the Devil?_ NO. Belief in the existence of Satan, or the Devil, is part of the Jewish and Christian religions. Worshipping the Devil is usually a reaction against Christianity. Sometimes people who are unhappy become Satanists because they don't know any other way to rebel. The ancient Greeks worshipped Pan, who had goat horns, and the Celts worshipped the Horned God, who had antlers. Both of these were gods of fertility who helped humans and nature to survive. Early Christian missionaries thought all the pagan gods must be demons, especially those involved with sex, and began to picture their own Devil with horns. ... _Do you practice black magic?_ NO. Many people are afraid because some traditons of the Old Religion call themselves witches. They may refer to their religion as Witchcraft or "Wicca", the Religion of the Wise. "Witchcraft", like science, includes skills that can be used for god [sic] or bad purposes. *Anybody* who uses spiritual powers to bring evil on others is practicing black magic, no matter who they are praying to. In Europe, the early Church called many people who did not agree with it witches and accused them of using their powers for evil. People who simply wanted to keep the religionof their ancestors were given that name. Today, many people who follow the Native European religion call themselves witches to honor their ancestors who were persecuted for their faith. What they practice is white, or positive magic, which works for good. A rule of Wicca is, "*If you harm none, do what you will.*" ... [rest omitted; next page from "The Witching Well Education and Research Center", copyright 1981, distributed by POBox 1490 Idaho Springs, CO 80452 -- possibly the original source of all this material for all I know; mostly about Witches, but has a question/answer section] ... COMMON INQUIRIES ... *Devil worship?* WItches do not worship the Dvil. Witchcraft _predates_ Christianity and does not incorporate a belief in the Christian Devil. The Wise Ones did deify the Masculine Principle and quite often He was depicted as The Great Horned God; Pan, Cernunnos, the Great Stag, The Green Man. To the Traditional Witch, the Masculine Deity (the Goddess' Consort) is very important, revered and loved. He is the perfect Father, the Lord Protector. The Horned God of the Witches is loving, kind and good. [balance deleted; end of this packet from 'Demonwatch Network']