Satanism: Rumor, Reality, and Controversy (Coping) [Library Binding]

Allen J. Ottens (Author), Rick Myer (Author)

Book Description

Series: Coping | Publication Date: July 1998

Presents arguments for treating teen satanic worship as a mental health problem rather than a religious issue and provides information about rituals and symbols, signs of involvement, and the controversy surrounding this topic.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 12 and up
  
• Library Binding: 122 pages
• Publisher: Rosen Pub Group; Revised edition (July 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0823927113
• ISBN-13: 978-0823927111
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.2 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 1.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #6,579,760 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Amusing, but not the Christian-fest I was dreading., July 26, 2005

By 

Robert P. Beveridge "xterminal" (Lakewood, OH) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Coping With Satanism (Library Binding)

Allen J. Ottens, Coping with Satanism (Rosen, 1994)

I originally picked this up assuming I was going to get the extremist-Christian view on supposed Satanic cult activity, but such is not the case. Rosen seems to be a publishing house focusing on the grade 5-12 set, and if there are any extremist Christians the bunch, they held their tongues long enough that the company managed to publish a J. K. Rowling biography recently. This pretty much fits with what I found in the book itself.

Ottens take a surprisingly balanced approach to the idea of Satanism, at least while he's describing the signs that your child may, in fact, be worshipping some guy with a big red tail and a cloven hoof. He almost completely discounts the "Satanic panic" that was on the wane by 1994, addressing most of the key players and giving the reader more than enough solid reasons for doing the same. He's also pretty much got his facts right (though one wonders why, during a brief discussion of splinter groups from the Church of Satan, he neglected to say anything about the Temple of Set, who are the only real CoS splinter group worth mentioning, and by far the best known; have at it, conspiracy theorists). Things break down towards the end when he attempts to make a case for "Satanism as mental health problem; one thinks that a truly good argument for this tactic could easily be turned on older established religions, and Ottens was likely aware of that fact, and thus didn't want to give the budding grave desecrators any ammo they might be able to use in heated discussions with parents about the religion said parents follow. Pity, as that might have led to some really interesting exchanges over the dinner table.

As with any book of this type, it's a double-edged sword. It has equal use to both the teen involved in a "Satanic cult"who wants to get out and the teen interested in finding out more about the religion. (Such would, of course, however be advised to go straight to the source and read Dr. LaVey's cheesy, but fun, The Satanic Bible.) Take the mental-health-issues bits with grains of salt, or apply them equally to the more established religions, and what emerges is what some of us have known was there all along: a quick, sketchy overview of an actual religion.

One wonders, idly, why Focus on the Family or some other similar band of numbskulls hasn't raised a stink about this book yet. Only a matter of time, I guess.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Lies, February 5, 2003

By 

Dsalmiitetn (Denver, CO, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Coping With Satanism (Library Binding)

Two people who have Ph.D.s should have learned long ago to research the topic they're going to write about, espiecally if they are against it. I am not a Satanist, but, as someone who studies religions, I feel the best way to research and talk about a religion is by reading the major books about the religion. They mentioned Anton Szander Lavey twice in the book, and never sited anything from "The Satanic Bible". This was very convienant for them because, if they had, they would have learned that it actually says the words "Satanists do NOT sacrifice humans or animals"... as well as "Satanists do not take part in rape, child molestation, or defilment of animals". If they would have researched, they would have found that they were wrong.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Laughs A-Plenty!, March 12, 2005

By 

CarrieB (Seated comfortably) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Coping With Satanism (Library Binding)

I found this book in my local public library, and the title alone had me snickering in the aisle. God only knows what the mild little woman at the check-out counter thought of me. Released at the heels of the mid 80's "Satanic Panic," the authors of this book warn the reader of the legion of Satanists that walk among us. Hordes of Darkness, indeed!

Watch out! That girl in your 3rd period study hall, you know the one...she gets her clothes at that weird store in the mall and flouts convention! Stay away from her! She treads the Left Hand Path, and will lead you into a life of deceit and mayhem! I know what you're saying, "Naaah, it'll never happen to MEEEE!" Won't it? This book reads like a script from one of those '50's educational films. Buy it for the sheer kitschiness of it all. It's only two bucks and change.

When you read this book, you'll know just how easy it is to go from being a casual Iron Maiden fan to baby killer and grave-robber! Don't say I didn't warn you, sinner!