A believer aims to win God’s favor. A materialist, on the other hand, aims to satisfy his or her ego. A Satanist aims to please Satan.

Yezidis are the successors of ancient Satanism. The name they use for Satan is Malak Tawus. They believe that Ali, the fourth caliph, was God in human form.

Yezidis, whose number has quite diminished today, say, “Satan and God were equals. God became jealous of Satan and seized his holy attributes.” They side with Satan. They believe that people unjustly ascribe all evil to Satan and that humankind is the evil one.

The book Rosemary’s Baby, published in 1966 and the movie version made two years later, were the beginnings of modern Satanism. The producer of the movie, a movie in which a woman gives birth to the devil sired by Satan, died a year later.

Anton LaVey (1930-1997), who plays the “black magic consultant” in the film, later went on to establish the Church of Satan, becoming its chief priest.

LaVey says in The Holy Book of Satan: “This is the age of Satan. He is ruling the world.”

The aim of this group is “to gather the united energy of individualism and then achieve the dark forces of nature and to be inspired by magical and metaphysical powers in order to realize this aim.” They consider the number 666 as being lucky.

On June 22, 1998, Alp and Asli, a couple of Turkish teenagers who jumped from the fourteenth floor in Atakoy, Istanbul, left a message that read, “We do not belong here.” Aged 14 and 17, the two youngsters were good students and did not have any financial problems. More recently, again in Turkey, other youths killed a friend of theirs as a part of a ritual. What these young people had in common was their belief in Satanism. The same “We do not belong here” note was found at the mass suicide of the 39 members of the cult of Heaven’s Gate on March 26, 1997.

It is claimed by Satanists on various Internet sites that their number has reached 50,000 in Turkey. If this is correct, then the authorities should investigate this issue, and ask themselves why this is happening.

“Man is a selfish, ugly, and evil being that should be feared. It is not Satan that is evil, but man himself. Our aim is to please Satan.” These are the words of LaVey, the founder of the Church of Satan in the USA.

Magic and making contact with supernatural powers dominated ancient Satanism. These people believed that they had established relations with supernatural powers.

However, modern Satanism is different; it is a revolt against the perception of sin found in mainstream religions; it uses drugs, sex, and music to achieve its aims. A rebellious movement that influences young people using humanist philosophy and a claim for individual creativity, Satanism steers young people into unknown territories.

Satanists today, no matter in which country they reside, perform some common rituals. Their ways of dressing and worshipping, and the messages they leave behind when they commit suicide show this to be a movement with philosophical foundations. They work in an organized fashion. They are very active on the Internet, operating many web pages.

Satanist recruits become experts on Satanism between the ages 14-22. They recommend books to one another and discuss abstract issues. They view themselves as a social movement and a subculture.

They concentrate on issues like immortality, the Judgment Day, and the belief that death is a transition into a real dimension.

They seem to be worshipping Satan, but their real aim is to destroy Satan and to rule the world. They perform unacceptable acts to religious books. They feel themselves to be a superior class and regard everybody else as merely foolish creatures.

The word devil, another name used for Satan, is also used to describe evil people who are enslaved by feelings of vanity and egoism.

The Arabic word shaytan (Satan) derives from the verb Sha-ta-ne, meaning “to be far away.” Everything that drives people away from God can be described as satanic.

According to the Holy Qur’an, Satan leads man into doing evil through misgivings by showing insignificant things as being significant, or causing fear where there is no need. If a man’s soul is barren, Satan cultivates it. He hits his targets by employing the power of the person, i.e. the target themselves. He makes ugly things seem beautiful. He uses traps and devilry. He leads people into error by manipulating feelings of lust, hatred, revenge, ambition, love, fear, fury, and violence. ... Surely, the strategy of the Satan is weak (Qur’an 4:76) shows us that reason and free will are valuable weapons to be used against Satan appropriately.

The human ego always desires and leads humankind to evil. If there is no warning voice in one’s conscience differentiating between what is good and what is evil, if one does not have the emotional intelligence to see behind good and evil, one will be inclined to follow his or her desires. Satan shows evil as being attractive and beautiful to those thus inclined. Such a person makes excuses that let him or her believe that theft, lying, or violence are commendable; yet, people can protect themselves against Satan’s suggestions with their will.

Satanists also believe that man will not be destroyed by death. According to them, life on earth is Hell and death is a transition into the real dimension. Therefore, it is not hard for them to commit suicide or to put their loved ones to death.

Some of the dominant characteristic rituals of Satanism are the slaughtering of cats and dogs, ridiculing prayers, belittling holy things, torturing and raping people chosen for sacrifice, group sex, drug abuse, black magic, and magic rituals. Satanists wear black clothes, prefer the darkness, and listen to aggressive types of music, like black metal and heavy metal, and dancing while smashing baby chicks underfoot are all part of their rituals.

In fact, heavy metal is the scream of Satanists’ inner troubles. It is an outburst generated by rage, frenzy, and hopelessness.

There is a saying that goes, “There is magic in belief.” Believing in something can lead people to inner conflict. If one’s faith does not include any moral values, or if they are wicked in every sense, then one will act accordingly. A young person who considers his or her behavior to be correct will try to convince others of its correctness.

Pasteur says, “Nature hates a vacuum.” If there is a belief vacuum in a society, this space will be occupied by eccentric beliefs.

In Satanism, the basic principles of divine religions are replaced by that of Satanism.

Satanism spreads in circles that make wide use of the benefits of globalism and in circles that have high living standards. Particularly in families which leave their children alone most of the time and fail to cooperate in the giving of love and discipline, the bitter fruit of Satanism can grow. The tendency to Satanism is more apparent in societies where there are many broken homes, and where the consumption of alcohol or similar substances is widespread. Satanism can also grow as a rebellion against family and society, especially when children are reprimanded and disparaged by their parents.

Parents should be aware of the common characteristics of adolescence, as this is a time when Satanism finds supporters, and they should try to get along with their children accordingly.

Children of the same age like being together, sharing the same food and secrets, and possessing certain things. They collect things, talk about common interests, or get involved in innocent pastimes, like stargazing. Some young people, however, turn to committing crimes and breaking the rules.

Three-fourths of children who commit crimes do not perform them alone. Crimes committed by gangs are in the majority. It is known that 89% of theft by children is performed in groups.

This is related to the sense of belonging. It is part of the psychological nature of youth to belong to a group and to share common things.

If young people do not have a positive satisfactory alternative, they will simply join a group that they like.

The transition from childhood to adulthood is an important stage for adolescents. Their emotions have trouble keeping up with the rapid changes in their bodies. This is the reason for the psychological shake-ups that they go through. Adolescents are like ships caught up in a storm. They need a good guide and a true compass.

Until they reach this stage, children feel secure, believing that their parents know and can overcome everything. The desire for freedom surfaces during adolescence. Young people start to dislike their parents. They often criticize them sharply. They put others in the role that their parents fulfilled, others whom they can rely on and with whom they feel a sense of belonging. In this situation lies a potential danger that can lead young people to join the wrong kind of groups.

If this stage can be got through with the help of parental guidance, the young person can choose a better path.

Adolescents who are on a quest for their identity can fall into depression. They can easily follow the wrong kind of guides and become entranced by a demonstration of power. Parents should approach their children with tolerance during this stage, as any extreme reactions may cause the parent to lose their value in the eyes of the child; this is not a lasting stage.

In order for the personality to develop in a healthy form, sufficient mechanisms of self-supervision and concepts like right-wrong, useful-harmful, and good-bad should be established in childhood. The young person that has not learned the difference between good or bad will experience the confusion and depression caused by the search for identity during adolescence.

For a personality to develop healthily, three questions should be considered (Coleman 1972):

1. Who am I?

2. Where should I go?

3. How should I get there?

If parents have established the necessary environment, the depression caused by the search for an identity can be easily overcome. If young people feel helpless and inadequate in a world that they perceive to be hostile, their mental health might deteriorate and they might be susceptible to peer pressure and end up making the kind of friends who can lead them into trouble.

Another factor that might prove dangerous if young people lack the proper guidance is the fact that they can look for refuge in a place where they feel a sense of belonging. For young people to mould their own character requires courage. It is not easy to show the determination to shoulder the responsibilities and to accept the outcomes of a decision. While some young people prefer to stay close to their mother’s apron strings, others choose to be part of a group. The formation of “free member identity” in society can only come about through internal turmoil.

Parents are aware of the changes in adolescents and the fact that they grow distant. It is at this time that both sides become worried. Young people are going through a process of transformation. They ask questions in an attempt to come to an understanding of themselves. They do not share their problems, but rather keep to themselves. Some youngsters make friends with people who show little interest in them and feel hurt and disappointed. Many suffer problems resulting from their naivety and inexperience when trying to achieve numerous aims. They are able to narrow down their choices after only a period of trial and error.

Some youngsters become antisocial during this period. They act destructively. They play truant from school and run away from home, they fight, or join gangs. Some researchers have called adolescence “a normal period of schizophrenia.”

It is not easy for young people to analyze themselves successfully during the adolescence period; a necessary stage in becoming a constructive and productive individual.

Young people take pride in the label of “rebel” because of the peculiar psychological difficulties experienced during adolescence. It is this very feeling that Satanism exploits.

“I hate human weakness before God. I did not wish to come into this world. I can do whatever I want to do.” These are statements frequently made by Satanists.

A young person who sings satanic hymns in a cemetery is trying to satisfy his or her sense of identity. Cursing people they do not like is another method used by young people to achieve the same result. Seeking revenge and cursing people are methods of satisfaction that are triggered by projection—a psychological defense mechanism.

 The fact that Satanism says, “Satanism does not advocate abstinence but offers freedom of indulgence,” satisfies the ego of young people.

Intelligent young people go through a more distressful, troublesome, and tempestuous adolescence. If the intelligent children of well-to-do families cannot find the answers to their questions, they will find themselves in chaos.

Intelligent children with an unhealthy psychological makeup and children from wealthy families are the highest risk group for being recruited to Satanism.

Young people who have joined Satanist groups have different quests, they feel that they are isolated and misunderstood, and they find life meaningless and aimless.

When a depressed, worried, and pessimistic young person feels that they are unhappy, despite financial comfort, they can fall into Satanism in order to enjoy brief, unusual pleasures.

Young people who join Satanist groups are searching for the emotional support that they cannot find in their families or schools and they feel a need to spend time with friends and share their feelings. They hunt for rebellion by sharing the unusual, lighting candles and consuming alcohol, having sex, and performing violent acts in strange atmospheres.

Some of the principles of Satanism are revenge, rebellion, indulgence, acceptance of the power of magic, and the belief that true humanity lies in pleasing Satan. The following, on the other hand, are restricted:

• Do not love an ungrateful person.
• Do not give your opinion if you are not asked for it.
• Do not accost the opposite sex if you do not get a signal.
• Do not complain about things that do not concern you.
• Do not kill animals unnecessarily.
• Warn whoever disturbs you; destroy them if they do not listen.
• Kill only those who want to unite their souls with Satan.

Satanism, which adopts frenzied freedom and rebellion as methods, should not be considered an artificial movement. It is not an organized movement as yet, but the probability that it will become organized is high.

1. Parents of children with Satanist tendencies should concentrate on the solution, not on the problem. Instead of looking for a scapegoat, they should take some responsibility, and provide means for their children to express themselves. Reactions like pressure, criticism, threats, reprimand, disparagement, or intimidation put young people on the defensive. They think they are being attacked unjustly. A desire for revenge on their parents grows. They start doing things their parents dislike in order to punish them.

2. Young people with Satanist tendencies see death as a transition to a happier world. They believe this world is Hell and that death is a transition to a better world. They frequently leave behind messages that say, “We do not belong here.” Parents should have open discussions with children who believe in Satanism. They should talk about the philosophy of Satanism, and show alternative philosophies. Parents who act in a rage will put their children on the defensive. If young people are told about the realities of the divine philosophy of life as an alternative to the Satanist one, they will be more likely to have faith. Punishment and depriving young people of their possessions, like cell phones and cars, will only confirm in them the belief that they are unjustly under attack.

3. Parents should be watchful over their children and pay attention if they display any of the following signs of Satanist tendencies:

• A fondness for heavy metal music
• Black clothes with special symbols on them
• Preferring the darkness
• An increase in violence
• The strange behavior of their close friends

4. What should be done at school?

It is utterly wrong to exclude young people who are filled with a strong sense of rebellion and a desire for a freedom of behavior from school.

Most young people who join Satanist groups are creative and able to invent and produce new things. They should be shown positive areas in which to use the talents that they are wasting in detrimental ways. Satanist members would benefit from time spent with a psychologist, and/or parent who is willing to listen to the young person’s problems and views on life. Only with time and patience can these perverted views be turned back around into something healthy and sane. Then this would be a starting point for the family and school to encourage the young person to join more positive “clubs” or in some way to make some contribution to society.

There is a need for seeing positive characteristics in young people, to appreciate their talents, and to establish communication with them. There is a need for dialogue, not for diatribes. A loving look, a smiling face, and a few positive words make beautiful flowers blossom in the soul of the young people who have Satanist tendencies.

In today’s world and in our society, spiritual barrenness and moral degeneration in our society have greatly intensified. Satanism is an outcome of this barrenness and degeneration.

We should not dictate to young people; rather we should set them examples, treat them in a friendly manner and give them sensible advice, spending as much time as possible with them. We should make sure that any mistakes that we make are corrected.

Dr. Nevzat Tarhan is a professor of psychiatry and the current director of “Memory Centers of America” in Turkey; he evaluates the issue from a psychiatrist’s point of view and discusses the motives that cause young people to get involved in such movements. He emphasizes the fact that Satanism has its roots in the Yezidi belief, drawing attention to the need to save the younger generation from misguidance, and their need for a helping hand.

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