to ask if you think dangerous satanic cults exist?

[cakedup]

Someone I know had been posting a few articles on FB lately re conspiracy theories. Found it a bid odd. Nice, intelligent, healthy living, talented lady in her 50s. Then recently, she posted this

MNHQ has removed a link because it contained highly identifying information about young children and their families

"A lot to take in....however, the biggest story of our generation is unfolding in the UK to near complete silence in the international corporate media."

It was a bit chilling as all the areas cited are very near where I live.

I'm shocked that so many people believe all this stuff. It's not as if it's just one paranoid teenager smoking weed and getting paranoid. But lots of functional adults, many with kids. What's behind it all?

AIBU to ask if anyone here thinks there is any truth at all behind these stories?

Not at all.

I think there will always be people who believe some weird things - so there will be people who believe in 'satan' and do some of the things that people claim are part of a satanic cult.

But the idea of a satanic cult operating on the level of the Masons or something?

No way.

Hard to say for certain but tales of satanic cults crop up periodically. I want to think that they are the product of a deranged imagination but unfortunately the human race has proven itself capable of despicable things time and time again, throughout history, it would be folly to assume that we are so different now especially when you look at the horrors and atrocities that are out in the open.

I remain open minded.

Yes I do. People don't want it to be true and so won't believe, but it probably is true.

My brain tells me it's rubbish. It can't possibly go on. However, a part of me, probably the protective mother part of me, remains open minded.

Really? Oh bloody hell I was kind of thinking you don't get much more cynical than mumsnet and you were all going to laugh at me for giving it a second thought.

Surely something would have come out in the open by now? Surely there can't be that many people who can actually take part in such abhorrent acts? And these people serve our bloody coffee in Starbucks?

I mean I've had loads of jobs and met people from all over. I've never once had any suspicions that they belonged to a dodgy cult, neither have I been approached to join one.

Why can't it go on? Have you read about some of the disgusting things that governments have done to people? Horrible experiments etc, it's all there to see. After learning about that then I can quite easily believe in this. Look at the whole Jimmy Saville affair and the ongoing investigations for instance.

Have we moved on from power lines and bogus social workers ?

Satanic cults are one of the oldest media tropes in history. Look at how the Knights Templars were wiped out.

Get a decent history book - ideally covering social history - stick a pin in, and find the hysteria of the day. If it wasn't satanists, it was Catholics. Or Hugenots. Or Jews (old favourite that one ).

You and I are still here - despite it all.

I think it's a load of crap. Where I grew up people were into really happy clappy Christian stuff and we were told endless tales of Satanic cults and the hidden messages in rock music.
Even as a young teen I thought the whole lot was nonsense.

And all this talk of 'buying' and 'eating' babies - I mean someone would surely notice that all these babies were going missing?

well I dont know about cults, but I knew a girl who told me she doesnt believe in god, just the devil...really!? You get some idiots about, maybe they are the cults people speak of?

Your linked article is a reference to all the child abuse scandals we know about (Operation Yewtree, Kincora etc) given a particular weird slant.

One thing I've always wondered when this stuff pops up again: why is this stuff so frightening? The organised and sadistic abuse of children is so horrifying, I don't understand why the perpetrators believing or pretending that they are doing it in service to some satanistic ideology makes it worse. To me, that would just be window-dressing to frighten the victims and give the abusers an extra thrill.

Rape as a deliberate strategy in warfare, systematic mutilations, often of children, using chemical weapons. We know all these things exist and are happening now. Look at what IS is doing right now to Syrian and Iraqi Christians. Why then does the possibility of satanic belief and motivations suddenly make the world a more scary place?

If you believe in Satan (I don't), then it is clear these vile people are satanic anyway, even the ones who claim God is their guide and justification.

Are the names in that link real people?? Because if they are, I'm guessing MN will be removing this thread pretty sharpish.

If anything LurkingHusband it seems very cult-ish to believe in this stuff.

CheeseandGherkins there is absolutely no doubt that child abuse goes on. This is child abuse and a whole lot more.

And all this talk of 'buying' and 'eating' babies - I mean someone would surely notice that all these babies were going missing

Ah, but there's an answer to that. They raise (female) children in complete isolation and secrecy, so they can use them as "brood mares" to produce children - in secret - specifically for eating.

As with any looney tunes conspiracy theory, when you start pointing out the flaws and inconsistencies, they add another twiddle to explain it.

Don't forget, if they fail to convince you, then you must be in on it too.

BreconBeBuggered I have no idea. Didn't think of that, sorry.

My knee-jerk reaction is one of cynicism. I generally mock conspiracy theorists.

The satanic cult posting is gross and what's with the inclusion of names/addresses of teaching staff and children? What on earth is this all about? !

I think that if something can be dreamed up then it's a possibility.

MonstrousRatbag you are right. The truth as we know it is bad enough. I suppose if we are led to believe that all these abusers are part of one big movement it's somehow more sinister? That as a movement, it could continue to grow?

Also, there is something more sinister about the secrecy. If it were on the news regularly, "a paedophile claiming to have abused children as part of satanic ritual" etc. then it's out in the open, we can all comment on it knowing it's true, it's more controllable somehow.

LurkingHusband well I suppose we have seen evidence of women being kidnapped/isolated and having children in secrecy. That part is possible.

FranTan yes I wonder how long those staff names will be up there for. It can't be long until they find out.

Oh my God that link OP! It's like the insane ramblings of a mentally ill person. It should have had a warning and it's likely extremely illegal. Why did you not warn us what it was!!

There are likely to be very few satanic cults.

The reason all those stories do the rounds us because people can't comprehend human evil.

It's all just run of the mill human evil.

I do know of one "satanic" cult that operated in East Anglia, under the guise of a homeless charity. In reality it was one charismatic (and probably sociopathic) guy who targeted vulnerable people in the more "woo" spiritual groups and manipulated them intensely. They grew lots of cannibis in warehouses and did rites involving human blood, stockpiled machetes and bug-out-bags.

Happily, the police caught on and the fucker in the lead had to go on the run for months before they finally caught him and threw him in jail. Otherwise, I think he was happily heading for another Waco.

It's like the insane ramblings of a mentally ill person

Who knows if that link is genuine info or not but abusers have got away with the most vile of crimes because those in authority had the same response as above when hearing things they couldnt comprehend.

Its a dangerous attitude to have in light of the recent revelations and things are only going to get worse as these inquiries happen whether thats exposure by mainstream or alternative media.

Always Keep an open mind OP.

Sorry MrsTawdry, I skimmed through it because I was wondering what the hell my friend was into, and then ended up reading details because I kept seeing the names of my hometown being mentioned. I first read it thinking the person is mentally unwell, but I think what freaked me out were the FB comments at the end, I wasn't expecting a whole load of people to be talking about it as if there was no question of it's authenticity. The child abuse stuff is horrific but nothing that we unfortunately haven't seen/read before. The stuff about babies seemed too ridiculous for me to really feel deeply disturbed by, but apologies if anyone else has been disturbed by it.