Rituals to remove spirits or demons

Is Exorcism Real?

by Anthony

Possession and Exorcism have been one of the hottest topics in Hollywood for many years. Several movies and books have been based on these real life Supernatural Events. Such as the famous Anneliese Michel in 1976, who's had two movies based on her exorcism, both Requiem, and The Exorcism of Emily Rose. Robby Mannheim who underwent his exorcism in 1949, had The Exorcist based off him.

Spirit and Demonic Possession has been around since at least 1000 B.C., with some evidence suggesting they've been around for even longer then that. Because of how long it's been around, each culture has adapted their own form of Exorcism to banish unwanted spirits and demons from the victim.

But not every culture viewed possession as something negative. In-fact some cultures deliberately invoked spirits for knowledge and insight, as spirits where believed to know more about what was going on, or what was about to happen, then we do. Animists, Shamans, Voodoo and Witches among others, practice voluntarily invoking such entities. Though it should be noted, Witches don't invoke spirits, at least not necessarily in the same manner. Though they do invoke the God(s) and Goddess(es).

Some Spirits or Demons once in, don't wish to leave, and others, don't need an invitation at all. This is the reason exorcists exist. If this happens, a healer or holy man is called upon to drive the spirits or demons out. But that's ancient superstition, right?

With the breakthroughs in medical science we have come to understand a lot more about possession, and what may actually be the cause of it.

Some of the symptoms of Possession are:

Seizures, Changes in Personality, Obscene Behavior, Speaking in Tongues, Knowledge of the Future, Unnatural Strength and Levitation. These are but a few of a large host of other symptoms.

Looking at it from a medical perspective, Seizures could be Epilepsy. Changes in personality could be Schizophrenia. Obscene Behavior could be a Mental disorder. Speaking in tongues (or a different language) could be Glossolalia. Knowledge of the Future could be Clairvoyance. Unnatural Strength could be Adrenaline. I got nothing for Levitation though.

At first glance it would seem we have a medical explanation for most of the symptoms of Possession. Then again, a possessed person often has a collection of most, if not all of these. What would you say the chances are of someone who just has a large number of illnesses or conditions, and only seems possessed?

Then why do Exorcisms continue to this day?

The Vatican is the most famous for exorcisms, and in light of many medical discoveries, they have taken to screening potentially possessed patients for mental disorders or illnesses first, before moving on to the Rite of Exorcism. Despite this precaution in place, exorcisms are still administered by the Vatican each year, which says some of the exorcisms they perform, must be deemed an actual or real possession by the Church.

Even Pope John Paul II performed three exorcisms in his time. The last being in 2001 on a 20 year old girl.

Since at least 2008, there have been an increased number of people whom believe themselves to be possessed. This led to a greater demand for exorcists, and since then, exorcists have been on the rise.

Is it possible that those believed to be possessed only have a collection of illnesses? Or, Is Possession and Exorcism Real, and the symptoms only mimic medical conditions we are aware of, so we link them?

After all, there still is a great deal about this world that we don't know� Crux Theory