Ritualistic abuse is an extreme form of psychological, physical, and sexual mal-treatment of children in the context of “religious” ceremony. The clinical presentation of the victims of such abuse is complex and raises many issues related to the diagnosis and treatment of psychopathology as well as the importance of spiritual counseling. The acknowledgement of belief systems so repugnant to the Judeo-Christian world view and the addressing of our own negative emotional reactions to the reality of ritualistic abuse are important first steps in responding to these issues. The phenomenon of ritualistic child abuse forces us to consider the relationship between theological notions of evil and psychological concepts of psychopathology. This article addresses the phenomenon of ritualistic child abuse, the psychological sequelae of victimization, and possible motivations for this form of abuse.
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