Various explanations have been offered for the outbreak of allegations of satanic abuse. It was argued at an early stage that the allegations were part of a campaign mounted by fundamentalist Christians, who saw Satan's hand in the degeneration of society at the end of the millennium. The existence of a campaign has been demonstrated (Jenkins 1992; Victor 1993) but this explanation does not account for the acceptance of these allegations among non-Christians. Journalists such as Tate (1991) and Boyd (1991) reject the suggestion that they have been led to believe in the allegations because they are Christian fundamentalists, although they acknowledge their Christian beliefs. Other campaigners point out that they are not Christian at all. There is no doubt that many of those who are firmly convinced that Satan-worshipping groups are abusing children in their rituals are not just blindly following Christian views.

It has frequently been pointed out that satanic abuse allegations started in the United States (La Fontaine 1994). There is ample proof that Americans have addressed conferences in Britain, distributed their papers and on a few occasions acted as consultants in particular cases. There have also been unproved allegations that British campaigns have been sustained by funds from the United States. Yet postulating an American origin does not explain how and why the ideas gained acceptance in Britain. It is possible to argue that having accepted the idea of children being sexually abused, which was also first canvassed in the United States, then the English public would be more prepared to accept another American ‘discovery’ of the same kind.