Satan-based religion wherein the Christian concept of pure evil (Satan) is worshiped, either as a deity or as a concept. May take the form of magical rituals, ritual sacrifice, or other pseudo-religious activities. Ritual abuse performed by Satanists is termed as Satanic Ritual Abuse (SRA) and may be comprised of psychological, sexual, or physical abuse of human beings or animals enacted as a portion of a religious ritual wherein Satan is worshiped. See also: ritual abuse; demonology.
SATANISM: "Teenagers may practice Satanism without really understanding the tenets."
Cite this page: N., Pam M.S., "SATANISM," in PsychologyDictionary.org, April 28, 2013, https://psychologydictionary.org/satanism/ (accessed July 10, 2020).
