Esotericism or Satanism? The book by Depalma and De Lisio investigates mysterious practices

Esotericism. In itself it is already a magical word, which evokes ancient and often unknown practices. Practices with a religious flavor allowed to a select few, difficult to understand for most. We have perhaps learned more by reading “The Da Vinci Code” lucky book first, and film after, written by Dan Brown. Yet we can see esoteric symbols everywhere. In our Cathedrals for example. They are nothing more than a kind of language understandable to those who did not know the alphabets. Egyptologist Christian Jacq highlights this with his “The Secret of the Cathedral” written in 1999. As a tourist guide said to his customers, “those symbols are nothing more than a story for the benefit of those who cannot read”. And at the time of the construction of cathedrals like ours, almost everyone was unable to read. Over time that language has been forgotten, it has transformed. Six-pointed stars, compasses and lines, apotropaic figures, and other symbols, have become signs that the satanist sects have appropriated. Seven, groups, which have practices that in some cases lead to cases for criminologists. Antonia Depalma, a clinical criminologist of Giovinazzo origins, and Vincenzo De Lisio, a sociologist and professor from Molise, wanted to investigate this with their book “From the ancient altars to the cult of Satan” published by “I quaderni del Bardo” by Stefano Donno. «The religious pluralism – we read in the presentation of the book – of which the Constitution is the guarantor, also follows the creed of very ancient religions. The book aims to analyze the most archaic cults in order to arrive at a precise and exhaustive explanation ». The approach is multidisciplinary, the historical, juridical, sociological and symbolic analysis turns the book into an essay on esoteric criminology and a manual for the investigation of criminal facts related to esotericism, or rather, at this point, to Satanism. . So much so that it is appreciated by professionals and lovers of the subject. The book turns the spotlight on an area that is fascinating but has many dark sides. Between mere spirituality and practices that act against public order. Symbology and its interpretations are at the center of the work of the two authors, which is the result of research into important documents preserved in “prestigious” archives. Music is not lacking in the research work. The rock one and more precisely the harder one like metal. The lovers of the musical genre will know how some pieces of music have been branded. “Just read the lyrics of some songs backwards and you will have a satanic text.” It was said of Frank Zappa, even of the Rolling Stones. That trend has continued with more recent musical groups to which we want to attribute a sort of aura of mystery, of satanic, in fact. It’s a short step from music to Hollywood. The analysis of the film Rosmary Baby becomes the theme of the book. And so on. Signs, symbols, music and films that try to recover a language whose genesis is perhaps less complex than it may appear. Saying those tales carved and drawn for the benefit of those who could not read, makes everything less esoteric, less satanic, perhaps much more human.