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']