About this episode
The episode explores the end of the Satanic Panic and the role of memory in shaping beliefs and allegations.
As we approach the end of the series, we learn that the Satanic Panic didn’t end with a bang. It was more of a slow fade-out. The Religious Right had secured major political and cultural victories. Evangelicals no longer needed Satan to galvanize their movement—their influence was cemented. Fear of the Devil simply became less useful. Today’s episode marks a turning point in the series. Join us as we revisit the concept of memory—this time with two experts who spent their careers trying to properly understand it. Retired FBI agent Kenneth Lanning, one of the earliest skeptics inside law enforcement during the Satanic Panic, reveals how disturbing allegations collapsed under the weight of their own implausibility. Elizabeth Loftus, renowned cognitive psychologist and professor, has shown how easily false memories can be implanted, reshaped, and believed with unwavering conviction. Together, these two experts help us begin to answer a central question of this season: How did the Satanic Panic end? And what are the consequences of believing, prosecuting, and punishing based on memory alone? Resources: Kenneth Lanning, retired FBI agent Elizabeth Loftus, PhD, psychologist and…
People in this episode
Host: Mike Cosper
Guests: Kenneth Lanning, Elizabeth Loftus
Topics covered
- Satanic Panic
- memory
- false memories
- cognitive psychology
- religious influence
- cultural history
Keywords
- Satanic Panic
- memory
- false memories
- cognitive psychology
- religious right
- political influence
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Christianity Today
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