Avoiding the Traps

Avoiding the Traps is the seminar for adults/parents. This is a great community awareness program and schools often piggyback this program with the Student Initiated Violence seminar.

During the presentation ( usually 1 to 2 hours in length ) we look at the warning signs of gangs, drugs, and the occult. This is important because adults need to be aware of the subculture that young people are vulnerable to. They need to understand this subculture so they can communicate successfully with their kids. We also look at the trends of music, movies, and t.v. shows that are popular with young people at the time. This also aides in bridging the generation gap between adults and young people.

After these issues or symptoms are discussed we focus on the "real" problems. We have a generation of angry, self-centered, frustrated, and directionless youth. As adults we need to be aware of these problems. More importantly we need to set the example for our youth. We believe that many of our children are literally "out of control". We are also convinced that consciously or subconsciously, they realize this and are looking for parameters that are just and consistent; and if crossed, consequences will result.

There is a feeling of helplessness from parents and hopelessness from teens. "We've tried everything and nothing works", seems to be a common refrain from parents. As adults we need to be constantly vigilant with and attentive to our children. For some suggestions for becoming a more aware parent, click on the Parent Suggestions below.

Not only do we speak on these destructive issues, we show them to the audience. To close this seminar, we show slides of all the things that were discussed throughout the program. Participants will be able to identify drug paraphernalia, gang graffiti, and satanic graffiti. We also show satanic ritual sites, popular T-shirts, writings, and bedrooms of teenagers involved in these destructive behaviors.

Parent Suggestions

• Make sure your house is the place where your child's friends want to be, (This includes clearly defined rules and consequences.)
• Eat meals together at least once each week, without television.
• Know your child's friends and their parents.
• Don't let your child divide you and your spouse.
• Don't try to be your child's best friend. Be the best parent you can be.
• Communicate with your child's teachers.
• Teach responsibility.
• Teach your child to win and lose graciously.
• Choose youir battles.
• Teach respect to authority by showing respect to authority.
• Catch your child doing good.
• Demonstrate love by telling them, doing things for them, and touching them.
• Know your kid's bedrooms. (Everything they are or want to be is reflected on their bedroom walls.)
• You can't have quality time without quantity of time.

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Details

The Student Initiated Violence program is largely based upon the Memphis Conference. We emphasize the importance of being proactive in our schools, as well as having plans in place to be reactive in case of a crisis. It's important to know that school violence is not a problem. Violence is not a problem; it's a symptom. With the recent and tragic school killings, we need to recognize that this is a community problem, not just a school problem. Schools are the arena where the blood is shed, but the problem existed long before these children went to school. We need to examine ourselves to determine the true source of these tragic symptoms. It takes resources of the entire community not only to effectively deal with these crisis but also to put into action plans for early detection in order to help prevent further carnage.

This program is 3 to 6 hours in length. We start the seminar by recaping the Memphis Conference and discuss the history of recent school shootings: from Brenda Spencer,16, saying she opened fire on a San Diego school because "I just don't like Mondays", and continuing through Columbine and beyond. Also discussed is the notion of "who's to blame". We look at guns, games, movies, music, and the media and speak of their impact on what is happening.

The importance of developing a school crisis plan from a community perspective is discussed next. Primarily we focus on the reactive roles of schools, police, EMTs, hospitals, counselors, clergy, and the media. There are several points worth making in regards to reacting to an incident and they are discussed in the seminar. Here are just a few: The schools primary objective when an incident occurs is the safety of students, faculty, staff, and visitors. Isolation of the student(s) posing the threat from as much of the building population is critical. The police, EMS personnel, and hospitals are probably best prepared for crisis situations. Quick response, disarming or disabling the perpetrator(s) and protecting others are the primary responsibilities of law enforcement. For EMS, their focus is identifying and stabilizing the injured, followed by evacuation. Hospitals need to anticipate the influx of relatives of the wounded and deceased, as well as school friends, the curious, and the media. Counselors need to realize that shock will be evident and may help in contacting relatives and ministers. Clergy focus to meet the spiritual needs of the entire community. Religion offers hope, not only in the long-term but in the present. And finally, in dealing with the media a person(s) should be selected and prepared to be the media liaison.

Next we talk proactively about school safety and security. This is open for discussion on subjects such as metal detectors, surveillance cameras, limiting access to buildings, and policies on bullying and harassment. This gives the audience a stage to share their thoughts on these issues and many of the suggestions are used in future programs. Following this discussion we look at the profile of youth susceptible to violence. Look below at some of the signs and symptoms specific to the occult, drugs, and gangs. After looking at the symptoms, its important to attempt to answer the question of "Why"? I propose several possible avenues that need further study and evaluation:

* Some children are not only parentally out of control, they are out of control of themselves. They need boundaries and perhaps these children have consciously or subconsciously put themselves into situations that necessitate the restriction of their destructive behavior.

* Many children do not know how to lose. They don't want to or know how to "work" to solve problems. They find instant superiority and warped justice in the barrel of a gun. Perhaps some young people feel that they must be "perfect". They may feel pressure to measure up to real or percieved expectations. The pressure becomes too much and they manifest rage.

These are only a couple of theories that are discussed during seminars. They may or may not be accurate in whole or in part.

Cornerstone Seminars work with and research of destructive occultic groups has been accumulated over 25 years. The heart of our presentations comes from involvement in criminal cases; investigations, interviews and counseling sessions with those involved in destructive and illegal satanic and occultic activity. Cornerstone Seminars has gone to great lengths to verify all information and strives not to be alarmist but realists. Much misinformation regarding Satanism has reached the public and our seminars put these rumors to rest. Cornerstone Seminars was asked by police authorities in Keokuk, Iowa and Pearl Mississippi to assist in the investigation of attempted suicides and murders in their schools. Cornerstone Seminars was also hired by a Chicago law firm to assist in a nationally recognized ritual abuse case.

Details

This multi-media seminar is usually 1 to 6 hours in length covering a wide spectrum. A brief history of Satanism opens the program. Satanism as an organized religion predates the incarnation of Christ. Formal satanic ceremonies can be traced to Europe as early as the 12th Century. The Black Mass is just one of these ceremonies. This was an act of rebellion against the traditional church.

Aleister Crowley was known as the father of modern day satanism. He was a known drug addict and pedophile. The press of England branded him the "worlds most wicked man". In 1904 he wrote The Book of the Law in which he states, "There is no law beyond 'Do What Thou Wilt' ". He died in 1947 a heroin addict.

Anton LaVey founded his Church of Satan on April 30th, 1966 in his San Francisco home. He began conducting Black Mass rituals, satanic marriages and baptisms as well. He claims to have attracted celebrity followers such as Sammy Davis Jr and Jayne Mansfield. His first book, The Satanis Bible, was published in 1969 and still sells copies today. LaVey died on Oct. 29th 1997. His death certificate, however, states his death date as being Oct 31st, Halloween.

The popular trends of vampirism and goth are briefly touched upon. There are organized and recognized vampire sects in our country in which they believe themselves as superior beings, evolved higher than humans. For the most part this scene is attractive to some teens. I have seen and dealt with young people who dress the part of vampires; they have mutilated their bodies and have shared blood with others.

Next we look at criminal activity and investigation. This is very controversial. Investigators must have some knowledge of satanism to properly evaluate any possible connection in a crime. Motives are critical in criminal investigation. If any belief system, whether it satanic, racist, or other religious affiliation encourages a crime it must be observed. The crimes that are talked about are fact. There are many factors that contributed to the crimes ans satanism is one.

Many serial killers and murderers have been linked to satanism. People like Charles Manson and his murderous "family"; David Berkowitz, the Son of Sam; The Night Stalker Richard Ramirez; and teenage satanist Sean Sellers are some of the murderers examined during this section of the seminar. Also looked at are recent murder cases such as the West Memphis 3 and the Vampire killings in Florida.

Animal sacrifice and mutilation is a part of some satanic groups activities. Recent cases in New York, California, and Florida raise the issue of sacrificing animals in worship ceremonies. These cases are generally looked at individually and judgements are based on "how" and "why" the animal is sacrificed.

Grave robbery is a crime that has been perpetrated by satanists due to the significance that some give to the human body in particular rituals. Certain bones are considered powerful; a human skull and bones from left hand. Click Here to see video of possible purchase of body parts from an occultic botanica.

Other crimes such as rape, drugs, church vandalism, tresspassing, and graffiti are discussed as well. Graffiti is important to understand because you can tell the level of involvement and knowledge by the graffiti.

Ritualistic sexual abuse and the differences compared to traditional sexual abuse is controversial and is looked at carefully. The differences between the 2 are many; the primary one is that traditional sexual abuse is usually done for sexual gratification and the goal of ritualistic abuse is to break the will of the child/victim. Satanic abuse is always ritualistic, but ritualistic abuse is not always satanic. We discuss and examine cases in which satanic ritual abuse was claimed, including the McMartin Preschool case.

Next we look at the profile of the susceptible youth. The symptoms as well as the problems are examined. Many of the symptoms are mentioned in the Warning Signs section of this webpage. Books, movies, and music are explained to the audience in hopes that parents and adults can understand whats out there. Too many times adults exaggerate these things and actually make them worse than they already are. Click here to listen to members of the rock group KISS explain the false claims that they are satanic.

A young persons bedroom is important. If you want to know what your child is interested in, look in their bedroom. What you see is a reflection of who they are or what they want to be. Self-mutilation is something that needs to be noticed. Mutilation can be linked to depression and eating disorders, but in satanism it takes on a different meaning. It's generally done to draw blood to use in personnel rituals.

Finally we focus on solutions. People get involved in satanism for many reasons, the predominant one is power. The idea of gaining power through the occult is false. Satanism is self-centered and self-serving and that is the problem. The solution is to look outside yourself. These young people are lonely, depressed, angry, and are looking for something to gain a sense of self-esteem. The only way to properly do this is through service. Using an individuals gifts and abilities for others is the way to achieve a sense of self-worth. As always time is spent with the audience after the seminar to discuss these issues and address specific concerns.

Objectives

• History of the occult and Satanism
• Criminal activity and investigation
• Self and animal mutilation
• Graffiti, sites, and paraphernalia
• Profile of susceptible youth
• Ritualistic abuse vs. traditional sexual abuse
• Solutions