Since the emergence of Albert Bandura’s (1971) social/observational learning theory, it comes as no surprise that film plays an important role in helping condition our societal perceptions; influencing our narratives about not only our lived religion, but also that of broader society. Film thus allows us to subconsciously learn new information through observation (Ahorsu & Danquah 2013:63). Do Nascimento (2019)supports this notion in arguing that the stories we watch often reflect and sustain de facto institutional and cultural narratives, whilst simultaneously encouraging many of our actions in ‘lived society’ (Do Nascimento 2019:19). Moreover, this approach is also relevant for ‘lived religion’: a term often used synonymously with the Christian notion of practical theology (see Ganzevoort & Roeland 2014:3-4) and which – per definition – is also not alien to the Occult-notion in Crowley’s philosophy of Thelema(Crowley 1929:17-26). The Thelemic philosophy regards any (and all) willed actions(as opposed to habitual actions) like walking the dog, brushing teeth or even gardening as magick (Duquette 1993:1-2; Wallace 2015:25), as it enhances one’s life focus. This paper will explore how filmic misrepresentations of the Occult in cinema, influences societal narratives circulating around the ‘lived religion’ of the Occult and its practitioners.

(PDF) The ‘Satanic Panic’: exploring the influence of film in formulating narratives surrounding the lived religion of the Occult and its practitioners. Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/356289693_The_’Satanic_Panic’_exploring_the_influence_of_film_in_formulating_narratives_surrounding_the_lived_religion_of_the_Occult_and_its_practitioners