Reaction Paper On Exorcism

Levitating beds, loss of memory for long periods of time, loss of bladder control, speaking in tongues, these are all symptoms known to be associated with possession. A possession is having control or owning (Farlex). When a person is possessed they have no control over their feelings or actions a majority of the time. The reason it is called a possession is because, when one is possessed, the spirit or demon has control over that person. The possession and exorcism of Roland Doe is one of the most documented possessions in history. Many still believe the case as fictional, but there is significant evidence of Doe’s possession.

For men, spirit possession acts as a mechanism to oppress women, ensuring they remain in their rightful societal hierarchies. This creates the line dividing both exorcism and adorcism, one of which promotes spirit possession as a means of cathartic release for women. However, exorcism is much preferred by men because it puts a complete stop to the spirit possession, not allowing for it to continue. Allowing women to participate in spirit possession ceremonies would be allotting them some sense of control and eliminating this act allows for men to remain in control of society. Adorcism is not evident in all Muslim communities that have strong belief in spiritual possession.

Before the 1400s psychological issues, mental health problems, were viewed as a connection with the devil. The public viewed people with health problems as being possessed by a demon (Dualdiagnosis). Mental health wasn’t known in this time period, so people acting strange from the general public stood out. These people were treated in a few different ways: exorcism, murder, imprisonment, and trephining skulls; trephined skull is when a small hole is made in the skull to release spirits. (Lumen Learning). Everyone of these ways are very horrendous, but still very true to how mental ill people were treated. As a result, all of the treatments involved the mentally ill person dying or suffering. Mental ill people wasn’t understood at all in this

Voodoo priests are prominent and respected figures like many religions. Because of their strong connections with the spirits, they are expected to perform many social functions. Spirits are called on to heal the sick, help the needy, and provide practical solutions to life's problems.

They became barbaric and sometimes left patients in comatose states. One treatment was submerging patients in extremely cold or hot water in order to release their demons. Another one was restraining the patient in a straitjacket and locking them in a padded cell. Electroconvulsive Therapy was also used and involved passing a current through the brain and induce an epileptic fit and sometimes caused injuries to the patient (The History of the Asylum). Lobotomy was also used and involved cutting the brain tissue within the frontal lobes of the brain (The History of the Asylum).

Melancholy, hysteria, and epilepsy are the three most likely causes of weird and abnormal behavior of the possessed.

Witchdoctors also known as african folk healers were traced back from time of slavery. The name witchdoctors gives a bad representation of them even though they are very wise and knowledgeable. Witchdoctors are great outlets and sources to to their communities. Everything that was known from past generations would be passed down to the newest generation. Looking at the history of witchdoctors it is apparent that many can be found dispersed throughout Africa along with their different cultures, beliefs, and treatments. All of these aspects can be seen in the book “No Witchcraft for Sale”

Although cases of mental illnesses ascribed to demonic possession may have been more wide spread in the Middle Ages and renaissance than they are today, they were a minority of all cases of mental illness. For example a Franciscan monk who was an influential medieval writer on medicine, discussed mental illness in physical and environmental terms: indeed he makes no mention at all of demonic possession (Kemp 5). From the thirteenth century until today, there are legal records concerning insanity. The court of Wards and Liverie, was concerned to determine the sanity of property holders (Kemp 5).

During the early to mid 20th century, not much was known about mental illnesses or what caused them, which was the way it had been for many years before. One of the somewhat common perceptions about mental illness was that these disorders were caused by possession or negative spirits. This can be most likely be attributed to the wide influence of the catholic church and the belief that exorcisms or psychosurgery could possibly cure incurable or intractable mental illnesses. Psychosurgery developed into the more common procedure known as a lobotomy, where the connections between the prefrontal lobe and the prefrontal cortex are cut with the intention of freeing the patient from delusions and side effects of other mental illnesses. Lobotomies began as a surgical procedure which needed to be performed in an operating room, as it required holes to be drilled through the scalp and into the skull. This meant that though the procedure was seen to show some

Irrefutably spiritual possession has a rigorous history and is a near-universal phenomenon that has occurred in the majority of human cultures. The spectacle of possession has been portrayed as the main factor in the earliest daily life of a Babylonian. All types of evil possessions were ascribed from pestilent diseases, insanity, stirring up the passions, and an assortment of personal terrors in and out of the body; sometimes called ‘the seizer.’ Early magical texts and incantations in the Assyrian tablets offer the first written accounts for the treatment of illnesses; special gods and/or prayers to deities were called upon to help rid people of these overshadowing forces of possession.

In fact, the Inquisitors now collected demons by means of mental torture directed at the mentally ill and others who often suffered from demonic influence, oppression, and even possession, especially those afflicted with Schizophrenia for their own sinister purposes. They relentlessly tortured innocent people in a cruel and predatory manner, not only to strip them of their abilities of which most of the tormented didn't even realize they wielded, but for their own personal amusement.

As early as 5000 B.C. there would be attempts to cure the mentally ill. It was believed that an evil spirit would possess the body of an individual by drilling

Mystic rituals include things like exorcism and prayer. “Due to a misunderstanding of the biological underpinnings of mental illness, signs of mood disorders, schizophrenia, and other mental woes have been viewed as signs of demonic possession in some cultures” (everydayhealth.com/). Cultures thought that performing exorcisms would relieve individuals and their families and communities of the suffering these individuals caused because of their mental illness. “The Hebrews believed that all illness was inflicted upon humans by God as punishment for committing sin, and even demons that were thought to cause some illnesses were contributed to God’s wrath...along the same spiritual lines, ancient persians attributed illness to demons and believed that good health could be achieved through proper precautions to prevent and protect one from diseases” (studentpluse.com). Trephination is believed to have started some 7,000 years ago.

Lim’s treatment did not consist of exorcism but of other means. The first was ritualistic massage. He would use an idol of Siamese sex god called "Phragann" and rub it all over the women’s bodies. After that, he would proceed to fornicate with them. He claimed that this treatment was effective in curing emotional problems. The second method was electro-shock therapy. He would attach electric wires on the women’s temples and requested them to soak their feet into a basin of water. Then, he administered electric shocks to them. He claimed those shocks would drive any evil spirits that was causing problems and adversities to them (Rajendran, 1997).

When the term exorcism is mentioned, many people think of the devil-possessed head spinning, lead character in the 1973 movie The Exorcist. What is the actual definition of exorcism that Hollywood does not share with us? Exorcism as defined by the Catholic Encyclopedia is (1) the act of driving out, or warding off, demons, or evil spirits, from persons, places, or things, which are believed to be possessed or infested by them, or are liable to become victims or instruments of their malice; (2) the means employed for this purpose, especially the solemn and authoritative adjuration of the demon, in the name of God, or any of the higher power in which he is subject (Toner). However, man people are far less versed in the Roman Catholic form