SATANISM IN CONTEMPORARY AMERICA - ESTABLISHMENT OR UNDERGROUND

Sociological discourse has generally represented Satanism as a harmles s, law-abiding alternative religion. Conversely, the antisocial and cr iminal aspects of Satanism have been the focus of most lay writing and media exposure. Such academic and popular portrayals are reflecting d ifferent facets of Satanism's heterogeneous nature. Through reexaminin g the literature, this article provides a conceptual framework for ana lyzing the differences between sociological and lay depictions. The te rm ''Satanic Establishment'' is used to refer to the respectable forms of Satanism, whereas the ''Satanic Underground'' denotes the reputed- criminal elements of Satanism. With the Satanic Establishment and Unde rground at opposite positions, a Satanic continuum of social acceptabi lity is proposed.