We live in an era characterized by contradictions, not least in relation to the issue of ritual abuse, which emerged as a social problem only to have its existence immediately challenged by a discourse of disbelief. While many academics have ranked amongst the sceptics in this debate Sara Scott is a sociologist who takes her respondents seriously - as well as acknowledging the interests and experiences which have shaped her own position. This work offers insight into why ritual abuse has become such a contested issue, while enabling the reader to explore "ritual abuse" through the accounts of those who claim direct experience. Drawing on her research with adults, who identified themselves as survivors, the author argues that the wholesale dismissal of such accounts as "false memories" produced by a "moral panic" may be somewhat premature.