Satanism
n. a religion based on the worship of Satan, the supreme personification of evil in Christian tradition, whether as a deity or a concept. Satanist cults vary from neopagan groups that revere Satan as a benevolent force of energy in nature to those that pay some kind of allegiance to Satan as an evil principle. In the latter case, worship takes the form of magical rituals that may involve an element of deliberate transgression (e.g., by parodies of Christian ceremonies or taboo sexual practices). Satanic ritual abuse (SRA) is the alleged psychological, sexual, or physical abuse of humans or animals committed as part of a religious ritual involving worship of Satan. See ritual abuse. See also demonology. —Satanic
adj.
—Satanist
n.