The Museum of Witchcraft

Devil Worship and Satanism

The media love to incorrectly portray witches as evil devil worshipers and Satanists. The museum includes this display to try and correct these popular misconceptions.

During the 1980s there was much media coverage of ritual child abuse in which witches and Satanic cults were accused of incest, indecent assault and cruelty. A government enquiry concluded "That there is no evidence of ritual abuse" and that "it is doubtful whether the practice of the type of Satanic ritual abuse exists"

During the witchcraft trials in the 16th and 17th centuries witches were often accused of having made a pact with the Devil, and on mainland Europe were said to have attended Sabbats in which the Devil was invoked. Witches were said to show their devotion to the Devil by kissing his backside.