Cult and Ritual Abuse
Encyclopedia
Cult and Ritual Abuse: Its History, Anthropology, and Recent Discovery in Contemporary America is a book written by James Randall Noblitt and Pamela Sue Perskin exploring the phenomenon of satanic ritual abuse
. Noblitt, a clinical psychologist
, is Director of the Center for Counseling and Psychological Services in Dallas, Texas
. Perskin is the Executive Director of the International Council on Cultism and Ritual Trauma and a lecturer on child abuse
.
Cult and Ritual Abuse was first published in 1995; a revised edition followed in 2000. The book has been called the most reasonable review of the pro-conspiracy version of satanic ritual abuse
to date, but was also criticized for being incoherent, inconsistent, uneven, filled with logical fallacies
and for citing proven frauds as evidence. Satanic ritual abuse is considered a moral panic by most scholars.
, accept the less parsimonious proposition, that multigenerational, multinational abusive entities exist and have existed for centuries without discovery, rather than the more parsimonious idea that the patients are disturbed and mistaken. Best also drew attention to special pleading
used by Noblitt and Perskin to support the stories of their patients. Best concluded that in order to understand the debate regarding satanic ritual abuse
one must read the sceptical literature.
LeRoy Schultz, Professor Emeritus of social work
at West Virginia University
, described the book as a very selective review of the literature on satanic ritual abuse, citing only work that supports their point of view, and failing to address the issue of clinical
versus empirical evidence
.
A review in the American Journal of Psychotherapy
stated that the book was probably the most reasonable review of the subject to date.
.
Edward L. King reviewed the book from a Freemason's
perspective. He pointed out that Noblitt and Perskin cite known fraud
s, including Michael Warnke's disproven involvement in satanism and the Taxil hoax
, without qualification or noting that these examples were faked. King also pointed to the dubiousness of Noblitt's qualifications and certifications, concluding that he considers the book an utter fraud and that what "[Noblit and Perskin] consider "research" is merely a self-serving screed designed to enhance their so-called 'professional' status as treating "satanic ritual abuse."
Satanic ritual abuse
Satanic ritual abuse refers to the abuse of a person or animal in a ritual setting or manner...
. Noblitt, a clinical psychologist
Psychology
Psychology is the study of the mind and behavior. Its immediate goal is to understand individuals and groups by both establishing general principles and researching specific cases. For many, the ultimate goal of psychology is to benefit society...
, is Director of the Center for Counseling and Psychological Services in Dallas, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
. Perskin is the Executive Director of the International Council on Cultism and Ritual Trauma and a lecturer on child abuse
Child abuse
Child abuse is the physical, sexual, emotional mistreatment, or neglect of a child. In the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Department of Children And Families define child maltreatment as any act or series of acts of commission or omission by a parent or...
.
Cult and Ritual Abuse was first published in 1995; a revised edition followed in 2000. The book has been called the most reasonable review of the pro-conspiracy version of satanic ritual abuse
Satanic ritual abuse
Satanic ritual abuse refers to the abuse of a person or animal in a ritual setting or manner...
to date, but was also criticized for being incoherent, inconsistent, uneven, filled with logical fallacies
Fallacy
In logic and rhetoric, a fallacy is usually an incorrect argumentation in reasoning resulting in a misconception or presumption. By accident or design, fallacies may exploit emotional triggers in the listener or interlocutor , or take advantage of social relationships between people...
and for citing proven frauds as evidence. Satanic ritual abuse is considered a moral panic by most scholars.
First edition
Joel Best described it as having the "trappings" of a scholarly book, but as ultimately incoherent. He pointed out that even Noblitt & Perskin state their evidence is not compelling, and despite acknowledging the need for parsimony as in Occam's razorOccam's razor
Occam's razor, also known as Ockham's razor, and sometimes expressed in Latin as lex parsimoniae , is a principle that generally recommends from among competing hypotheses selecting the one that makes the fewest new assumptions.-Overview:The principle is often summarized as "simpler explanations...
, accept the less parsimonious proposition, that multigenerational, multinational abusive entities exist and have existed for centuries without discovery, rather than the more parsimonious idea that the patients are disturbed and mistaken. Best also drew attention to special pleading
Special pleading
Special pleading is a form of spurious argumentation where a position in a dispute introduces favorable details or excludes unfavorable details by alleging a need to apply additional considerations without proper criticism of these considerations themselves. Essentially, this involves someone...
used by Noblitt and Perskin to support the stories of their patients. Best concluded that in order to understand the debate regarding satanic ritual abuse
Satanic ritual abuse
Satanic ritual abuse refers to the abuse of a person or animal in a ritual setting or manner...
one must read the sceptical literature.
LeRoy Schultz, Professor Emeritus of social work
Social work
Social Work is a professional and academic discipline that seeks to improve the quality of life and wellbeing of an individual, group, or community by intervening through research, policy, community organizing, direct practice, and teaching on behalf of those afflicted with poverty or any real or...
at West Virginia University
West Virginia University
West Virginia University is a public research university in Morgantown, West Virginia, USA. Other campuses include: West Virginia University at Parkersburg in Parkersburg; West Virginia University Institute of Technology in Montgomery; Potomac State College of West Virginia University in Keyser;...
, described the book as a very selective review of the literature on satanic ritual abuse, citing only work that supports their point of view, and failing to address the issue of clinical
Clinical psychology
Clinical psychology is an integration of science, theory and clinical knowledge for the purpose of understanding, preventing, and relieving psychologically-based distress or dysfunction and to promote subjective well-being and personal development...
versus empirical evidence
Empirical research
Empirical research is a way of gaining knowledge by means of direct and indirect observation or experience. Empirical evidence can be analyzed quantitatively or qualitatively...
.
A review in the American Journal of Psychotherapy
American Journal of Psychotherapy
The American Journal of Psychotherapy is the official scientific journal of the Association for the Advancement of Psychotherapy. It began publishing in 1947. It is published 4 times a year. Since 2001, it incorporates the Journal of Psychotherapy Practice and Research. The editor in chief is T....
stated that the book was probably the most reasonable review of the subject to date.
Second edition
Two reviews of the second addition refer to the book as an overview of the topic, and as a vehicle to advocate for the inclusion of cult and ritual trauma abuse in the DSMDiagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders is published by the American Psychiatric Association and provides a common language and standard criteria for the classification of mental disorders...
.
Edward L. King reviewed the book from a Freemason's
Freemasonry
Freemasonry is a fraternal organisation that arose from obscure origins in the late 16th to early 17th century. Freemasonry now exists in various forms all over the world, with a membership estimated at around six million, including approximately 150,000 under the jurisdictions of the Grand Lodge...
perspective. He pointed out that Noblitt and Perskin cite known fraud
Fraud
In criminal law, a fraud is an intentional deception made for personal gain or to damage another individual; the related adjective is fraudulent. The specific legal definition varies by legal jurisdiction. Fraud is a crime, and also a civil law violation...
s, including Michael Warnke's disproven involvement in satanism and the Taxil hoax
Taxil hoax
The Taxil hoax was an 1890s hoax of exposure by Léo Taxil intended to mock not only Freemasonry, but also the Roman Catholic Church's opposition to it.-Taxil and Freemasonry:...
, without qualification or noting that these examples were faked. King also pointed to the dubiousness of Noblitt's qualifications and certifications, concluding that he considers the book an utter fraud and that what "[Noblit and Perskin] consider "research" is merely a self-serving screed designed to enhance their so-called 'professional' status as treating "satanic ritual abuse."