Religious hate propaganda

Inter-faith hatred:
one story, many versions, all groundless

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Background:

One of the most insidious symbols in world religions is the number two. This is particularly true in the case of monotheistic religions like Christianity and Islam, which have personified evil in the form of a quasi-deity, Satan who wanders the earth seeking those that he may devour.

Many people have adopted a dualist concept first created in Zoroastrianism -- once the main religion of Persia. They see the world as a battle between two forces: one all good and the other all evil.

Dualists view the universe as consisting of pairs of opposites, like spirit/body, good/evil, creator/created, and ultimately us/them. Some consider themselves, their religion, their denomination, their religious leadership, sometimes even their race, their gender, their sexual orientation, their nationality, etc. as pure and good. They have a tendency to view those who are different as representing evil. If one's own religion and faith group is viewed as good and of God, then other religions -- and even other faith groups within one's own religion -- may be seen as evil and of Satan.

If the "others" are considered evil, they are often demonized. There are no limits to the depths to which the others are sometimes accused of sinking.

A piece of propaganda concerning the ritual abuse and murder of children has been circulating for thousands of years. Down through the centuries, it has been told in many different versions by people who are probably quite unaware of its history and of its false nature. It was untrue in Rome in the third century CE; it was untrue during the Nazi era in Germany during the 1930s; it was untrue in Texas and elsewhere during the 1990s. It will be untrue in its next reappearance, whenever and wherever it resurfaces.

Pagan propaganda against Christians circa 200 CE:

A description of a nonexistent Christian Ritual murder circa 200 CE by a Roman writer:

"…I hear that they adore the head of an ass, that basest of creatures, consecrated by I know not what silly persuasion, a worthy and appropriate religion for such manners. Some say that they worship the genitals of their pontiff and priest ... An infant covered over with meal, that it may deceive the unwary, is placed before him who is to be stained with their rites: this infant is slain by the young pupil, who has been urged on as if to harmless blows on the surface of the meal, with dark and secret wounds. Thirstily - O horror! they lick up its blood; eagerly they divide its limbs. By this victim they are pledged together; with this consciousness of wickedness they are covenanted to mutual silence ..." ₁

Nazi propaganda against Jews, 1934:

Lies concerning ritual abuse of  children by Jews were propagated by German Nazis as justification for the Nazi Holocaust:

"The suspicion under which the Jews are held is murder. They are charged with enticing Gentile children and Gentile adults, butchering them, and draining their blood. They are charged with mixing this blood into their mass's unleavened bread and using it to practice superstitious magic. They are charged with torturing their victims, especially the children, and during this torture they shout threats, curses, and cast spells against the Gentiles ..." ₂

For more information on anti-semitic propaganda, see our menu on "Blood libel, host desecration, ritual murder, & other largely anti-semitic fables."

Christian propaganda against Neopagans, 1999:

A year 1999 article in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram in Texas states:

' 'This is war,' thundered the Rev. Jack Harvey of nearby Killeen, who has vowed to run the witches off base. Harvey, who has announced a Labor Day 'march against wickedness,' sees no difference between Wicca and devil worship or voodoo. He has instructed that at least one member of his congregation carry a handgun at services – 'in case a warlock tries to grab one of our kids'."

" 'I’ve heard they drink blood, eat babies. They have fires, they probably cook them. This is unbelievably wrong,' said Harvey, who repeatedly pounded his desk during an interview at Tabernacle Baptist Church ..." ₃

For more information on examples of Christian propaganda against Wiccans, see the section of our Wiccan menu titled: "Christian-Wiccan relationships."

Christian propaganda against Satanists, 2005:

David Carrico of Followers of Jesus Christ Ministries allegedly wrote:

"Satanists believe that the life force of the sacrificial victim is in the blood. Partaking of the blood is believed to empower and add longevity of life. Child victims have related accounts of how the cult members would always drain and save the blood of their victims in apple juice jars, pans, bottles, and pots. The very young children are sometimes introduced to the taste of blood gradually by mixing it with milk, formula, punch, and other beverages. Eventually, with increases in blood content in these drinks, the child victim will be able to drink the blood without dilution. ..."

"The trauma to child victims, resulting from this type of forced participation in satanic rituals such as these is immeasurable. ..."

"Three priests in the cult stand, with glasses in hand, waiting for the child to cut the victim. When the blood would begin to flow, it was drained into each of the three glasses. The child was then placed in a suspended cage and made to observe the victim being crucified upside down on a cross and burned. Then the child was forced to drink the blood offered by the priests and was then placed on a table and tortured sexually by all the members as a reward." ₄

For more information, see our section on the Satanic Ritual Abuse hoax.

Christian propaganda against the Masonic Order:

C.A.R.E. is a conservative Christian group specializing in allegations ritual abuse. Their web site describes the 1993 conviction of  Peter Hugh McGregor Ellis, 35, a former day care employee, in Christchurch, New Zealand.

"Children who attended Christchurch Civic Creche described bizarre sexual abuse with references to frightening rituals. The children allege they were removed from the day care facility and transported to other locations, including a cemetery and a Masonic lodge, where they were abused by adults dressed in black and white and wearing masks. In addition to their reports of being used for pornographic purposes, the children described being abused within a circle; chanting and participating in mock marriages; being tied up and confined in cages and boxes buried beneath the ground; being penetrated with needles and sticks; witnessing the torture and killing of animals; being drugged; being forced to hurt other children; having blood poured over their heads; and consuming what they believed was human flesh." ₅

After a government inquiry and investigative report by Lynley Hood published as "A City Possessed," most New Zealanders now believe that Ellis is innocent of any wrongdoing. ₆ Ellis' conviction appears to have been mainly caused by invalid child interview techniques -- a problem found in many dozens of other multi-victim, multi-offender accusations of ritual abuse. A Google search for masonic ritual abuse returns over 7,000 hits. Most are short on specifics and long on vagueness.

References used:

The following information sources were used to prepare the above report in the year 2000, and update it since. The hyperlinks are not necessarily still active today.

1. Marcus Minucius Felix, "Octavius."
2. Julius Streicher, editorial in "Der Stuermer," newspaper of the German Nazi Party, 1934-MAY.
3. Article in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram newspaper on 1999-AUG-07, in which a local Baptist leader was reacting to the U.S. Army's decision at Fort Hood , TX, to allow Wiccan troops to practice their Earth-based religion on the base.
4. "Satanic Ritual Abuse," excerpted by Followers of Jesus Christ Ministries from David Carrico, "The Egyptian-Masonic-Satanic Connection," (2005).
5. "Satanic Ritual Abuse? Prove it!," C.A.R.E. Inc., at: http://www.care1.org/
6. Lynley Hood, "A City Possessed," Longacre Press, (2001), 672 Pages. Read reviews or safely purchase this book from the Amazon.com online bookstore.

Copyright © 2007 by Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance
Originally written: 2007-FEB-09
Latest update: 2007-FEB-09
Author: B.A. Robinson