Satanic Tourism: Theodicy, Suffering, and Evil

This article argues that some Satanic theodicies used by Christians to explain experiences of suffering can also encourage young people to engage in Satanic tourism. Popular and religious explanations often blame Satan, and Satanic cults, for the rebellious behaviour of teenage Satanists. A number o...

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Détails bibliographiques
Auteur principal: Ezzy, Douglas 1965- (Auteur)
Type de support: Électronique Article
Langue:Anglais
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Publié: Equinox Publ. 2011
Dans: Journal for the academic study of religion
Année: 2011, Volume: 24, Numéro: 2, Pages: 194-210
Sujets non-standardisés:B cultural repertoires
B Theodicy
B Satanism
B teenage religion
B youth rebellion
Accès en ligne: Volltext (lizenzpflichtig)
Volltext (lizenzpflichtig)
Édition parallèle:Électronique
Description
Résumé:This article argues that some Satanic theodicies used by Christians to explain experiences of suffering can also encourage young people to engage in Satanic tourism. Popular and religious explanations often blame Satan, and Satanic cults, for the rebellious behaviour of teenage Satanists. A number of sociological studies have suggested that Satanic symbols and imagery are secondary overlays and that poverty and social exclusion are the primary sources of adolescent Satanism. I argue that Satanic theodicies are a significant influence on the choice of some rebellious youth to engage in Satanic practices. The argument is illustrated with a long extract from an interview with a teenage Satanic tourist who experienced significant childhood trauma. This paper places a young woman’s Satanic tourism in the context of a more general analysis of theodicies of good and evil. It focuses on the use of Satanic symbols by the young woman and her family, and their role in her interpretation of, and response to, an experience of significant childhood suffering.
ISSN:2047-7058
Contient:Enthalten in: Journal for the academic study of religion
Persistent identifiers:DOI: 10.1558/arsr.v24i2.194