Cultic Studies Journal, Vol. 3, No. 2, 1986 Page 18
the mystical tradition might yield these results was a claim that Eve was unable to evaluate
independently. Although the writings on which Satyr based his claims to expertise are
widely known in Jewish culture, Eve was totally ignorant of them because of the orthodox
tradition‘s gender-based restrictions on esoteric knowledge.
Although his previous claims to special knowledge and understanding of sacred documents
had been far less dramatic, Satyr‘s latest assertion was consistent with these prior claims.
Eve had accepted the rabbi‘s superior knowledge and understanding of theological issues for
years. His new claim was, in a sense, merely a statement that he knew even more things of
which she was ignorant.
Because Saul had arranged a meeting for her with their rabbi, it was obvious to Eve that
implicit in Satyr‘s offer of help was a demand that she accept. His clerical status and
authority made acceptance of the offer a foregone conclusion. Had she rejected his offer to
transform her, or had she even suggested that such a transformation was unrealistic, it
would have amounted to nothing less than a wholesale rejection of all of Satyr‘s teachings.
Satyr had straightforwardly asserted that his study of sacred documents had yielded the
methods he was going to use. Eve had no basis for distinguishing this claim from any of
Satyr‘s prior assertions that his instruction about scriptural and philosophical interpretations
were correct. Therefore, she had no basis for rejecting this new claim without, in effect,
simultaneously rejecting Satyr‘s authority and expertise in its entirety.
By basing his claim to skills as a psychotherapists and to be a guide to the attainment of
superhuman powers, on the same traditional wisdom on which his clerical authority was
based, Satyr was able to solicit Eve‘s deference. His authority in spiritual matters was
simply and directly extended to support his demand for recognition as an expert on a new
dimension, in matters of a psychotherapeutic nature.
Satyr was not merely proposing to engage in ―pastoral counseling,‖ e.g., advice-giving to a
troubled parishioner. The help he offered was supposedly based on a specialized body of
knowledge that gave him technical expertise and the capacity to produce predictable
results.
When Satyr first offered to help, Eve had no reason to suspect his motives or his
extravagant claims. It appeared to her that his actions were completely consistent with his
role. Crucial to her acceptance was her perception that his offer was legitimate, proper, and
motivated by his duty to her family. Had she doubted any of this she would likely have
rejected his help, or been more guarded in her early interaction with him.
The Process of Eve’s Induction
Establishing Control
The social structural factors identified above contributed to establishing Eve‘s initial special
relationship with Satyr. Clerical authority and status conferred credibility on his claim to be
able to transform her into a superior person. His demand for absolute obedience as part of
this process was at least consistent with Eve‘s expectation that she owed obedience to
males in positions of authority. Satyr‘s demand was unusual but then so was what he
promised in exchange.
Satyr began the process of actively inducting Eve into the cult by first testing her willingness
to conform to rules that would both keep his activities secret and effectively cut her off from
the advice of others. He tested Eve‘s decision to grant him absolute authority and to keep
their activities secret by violating a norm that was significant to her. At the conclusion of the
first session he warned that ―if you don‘t listen to me you‘ll be punished,‖ and he slapped
her across the face.
Ordinarily, the slap would have been a serious act for two reasons. It was obviously violent,
the mystical tradition might yield these results was a claim that Eve was unable to evaluate
independently. Although the writings on which Satyr based his claims to expertise are
widely known in Jewish culture, Eve was totally ignorant of them because of the orthodox
tradition‘s gender-based restrictions on esoteric knowledge.
Although his previous claims to special knowledge and understanding of sacred documents
had been far less dramatic, Satyr‘s latest assertion was consistent with these prior claims.
Eve had accepted the rabbi‘s superior knowledge and understanding of theological issues for
years. His new claim was, in a sense, merely a statement that he knew even more things of
which she was ignorant.
Because Saul had arranged a meeting for her with their rabbi, it was obvious to Eve that
implicit in Satyr‘s offer of help was a demand that she accept. His clerical status and
authority made acceptance of the offer a foregone conclusion. Had she rejected his offer to
transform her, or had she even suggested that such a transformation was unrealistic, it
would have amounted to nothing less than a wholesale rejection of all of Satyr‘s teachings.
Satyr had straightforwardly asserted that his study of sacred documents had yielded the
methods he was going to use. Eve had no basis for distinguishing this claim from any of
Satyr‘s prior assertions that his instruction about scriptural and philosophical interpretations
were correct. Therefore, she had no basis for rejecting this new claim without, in effect,
simultaneously rejecting Satyr‘s authority and expertise in its entirety.
By basing his claim to skills as a psychotherapists and to be a guide to the attainment of
superhuman powers, on the same traditional wisdom on which his clerical authority was
based, Satyr was able to solicit Eve‘s deference. His authority in spiritual matters was
simply and directly extended to support his demand for recognition as an expert on a new
dimension, in matters of a psychotherapeutic nature.
Satyr was not merely proposing to engage in ―pastoral counseling,‖ e.g., advice-giving to a
troubled parishioner. The help he offered was supposedly based on a specialized body of
knowledge that gave him technical expertise and the capacity to produce predictable
results.
When Satyr first offered to help, Eve had no reason to suspect his motives or his
extravagant claims. It appeared to her that his actions were completely consistent with his
role. Crucial to her acceptance was her perception that his offer was legitimate, proper, and
motivated by his duty to her family. Had she doubted any of this she would likely have
rejected his help, or been more guarded in her early interaction with him.
The Process of Eve’s Induction
Establishing Control
The social structural factors identified above contributed to establishing Eve‘s initial special
relationship with Satyr. Clerical authority and status conferred credibility on his claim to be
able to transform her into a superior person. His demand for absolute obedience as part of
this process was at least consistent with Eve‘s expectation that she owed obedience to
males in positions of authority. Satyr‘s demand was unusual but then so was what he
promised in exchange.
Satyr began the process of actively inducting Eve into the cult by first testing her willingness
to conform to rules that would both keep his activities secret and effectively cut her off from
the advice of others. He tested Eve‘s decision to grant him absolute authority and to keep
their activities secret by violating a norm that was significant to her. At the conclusion of the
first session he warned that ―if you don‘t listen to me you‘ll be punished,‖ and he slapped
her across the face.
Ordinarily, the slap would have been a serious act for two reasons. It was obviously violent,
