The Process of Exorcism Essay

Exorcism rituals were also practiced, mostly for mental issues. Vile tasting medicines were often used in these processes, usually foul-tasting plants with the excreta of animals (Di Stefano, Vincent). The priests and physicians would often chant incantations and wave around sticks to drive out the spirit (“Ancient Egyptian Medicine”). In the Hearst Papyrus, written in 1450, there is a spell for the cure of Asiatics. It reads: “Who is all-knowing like Re?

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.

In the document, “Bull Summis desiderantes” written by Innocent VIII, sheds light on how the catholic faith viewed those whom were thought to be practicing witchcraft. For the accused, there was little to no hope of a fair trial, for the accusers had already made their minds up on what they believed to be true about witchcraft. Innocent

Witch-panics are symptomatic of a society or community that has failed to maintain its social pact. They occur in times of crises, religious conflicts, natural disasters and hardship. Witch-panics take place when a demonic conspiracy of witches is blamed for these catastrophes, and is actively hunted on a large scale by the community and authorities alike. No one can be trusted, and so everyone becomes suspicious, even the most pious members of the community. In this, panics differ from individual witch-trials or witch-hunting on a lesser scale. These are neighbourhood matters, where neighbours accuse one another of maleficia in order to settle their feuds, and appease their anxiety regarding fertility and children, a major concern of the early

The Exorcist tells the story of the young Regan that is presumably possessed by the devil. Her mother reaches out to a priest for help after many dokters failed to help her.

The treatment of mental illness dates back to 500BC. It was believed at that time that the mentally ill were possessed by demonic spirits. In some instances patients were also believed to be witches. “In ancient Mesopotamia, priest-doctors

Matthew Hopkins of Suffolk played a key role in Britain's largest witch hunting history of 1645-1647 and led to the execution of more than 200 people. As a self-proclaimed Chief Witch Hunter, he had the ambition of detecting as many witches as possible in his area. Therefore, he was traversing the eastern counties along with his co-workers looking for the guilty. The selected suspects, the criterion was having the "witch's mark", subjected them to an additional test: they were to sit for hours under observation in the middle of an empty room without the right to sleep. The purpose of this torture was to see if an enemysaurus was present in the vicinity of the potential witch, which would be the final proof of her guilt, but also to force her

The act of possession was a considered a source of illness that required a ritual type of healing to remove the demons or spirits taking control of that its host. Exorcism was used as this type of healing that occurred all around the world, including the United States. Christianity believed that there were demons that harassed, tormented and possessed humans which came from the New Testament. We learned that Satan was in charge of these acts in which being possessed gave new skills and strength because of the demon inside of them. From the New Testament, Jesus was able to perform exorcisms simply by demanding these demons to leave its host and soon after his disciples used this

Some thought that depression was caused by evil spirits so they used exorcism techniques such as beatings, restraints, and starvation.

while some seem to be plausible which is the root of confusion for them (Colin, 1995: 150). Another crucial factor about memory retrieval is that not everyone experiences the outcomes of abuse differently. The subjective experience of Satanic ritual abuse leads to different outcomes and therefore there are endless possibilities of mental disorders and abnormal behaviours to develop. Not everyone will psychologically and behaviourally react the same to these types of events, so consequently not everyone has the same experience which is why clinicians must treat patients in accordance with their symptoms. There is a wide range of symptoms related to numbers of mental disorders linked to Satanic ritual abuse.

Rather, back in the 1400's one was considered possessed by a demon, or in worse cases, the devil himself. In order to remove such demons from someone, people resorted to inhumane and radical treatments. For instance, the mentally ill were forced into cages and treated like animals, or a treatment called Trephining was used. Trephining is the process of drilling a hole into the scull to treat OCD. And also, treatment was found in exorcisms, or the ritual of expelling evil spirits, or demons from a person or place. According to Doctor Fitzgerald, In the early 1900's Sigmund Freud proposed an Idea that states "OCD symptoms were caused by punitive, rigid toilet-training practices that led to internalized conflicts." (minddisorders.com/causes) This essentially, is the theory that in early childhood one realizes the need to act out an impulse. Eventually you posses the willpower to overcome your need, but unfortunately the need isn't resolved, but merely forced into one's unconscious. With a deeper understanding of what OCD is, and the early methods of diagnosis and treatment, let's move forward and discuss the modern diagnosis of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, the Cognitive Theory Model, and later discuss the modern treatments of

However, the fact that people during 1CE Palestine regarded these phenomena as being real incidences is of importance (Ehrman, 197). While seemingly distinct on the surface, these two areas of his ministry are greatly interconnected. Accordingly, the purpose of this paper will argue that the purpose and significance of Jesus’ use of exorcisms extends beyond their ritual function, rather they served to reinforce his eschatological message for his followers as well as those who were witnesses; the two are coexistent. To expand, exorcisms manifest as a small-scale example of the cosmic battle between good and evil, thereby displaying Jesus’ efforts to ensure the destruction of Satan’s, or Beelzebub’s presence on earth. Thus, exorcisms work to reinforce Jesus’ apocalyptic proclamations of the coming Kingdom of God. To argue this proposal, a historical approach will be taken in order to examine Jesus’ role as an exorcist. The significance of the ritual during his life will be accounted for. Additionally, an analysis of supporting evidence that contributes to Jesus as an apocalyptic prophet will be

The Kabbalah, a frame of Middle Ages s obscure and mystical Judaic writings, contains many steps and instructions in order to drive out a dybbuk, which were still exercised and used as of the 20th century. This exorcism must be performed by a miracle works master known as ba’al shem. Moreover, the dybbuk is either redeemed or sent into hell; it depends on how the exorcism is achieved. To add, the departure of this evil spirit from the body of its victim, through the small toe, is represented by a bloody hole (Guiley , 1956).

The term “placebo effect” has been defined in many forms since the early Biblical era. According to Dr. Patrick Lemoine, author of, “The Placebo Effect: History, Biology, and Ethics,” stated that the term “placebo effect” was actually derived from a mistake made from the translation of the Bible into Latin by a gentleman whose name was Jerome (Lemoine). During the early parts of history and when the Bible was in the midst of being translated, Psalms 116:9, was written as Placebo Domino, meaning “I shall please the Lord,” instead of, Ambulabo coram Domino, meaning “I shall walk before the Lord” (Lemoine). Families of the 13th century, during the time of bereaving for a lost loved one, would be found chanting this verse. They called it the Office of the Dead and would chant this Psalm over and over again, while in a praying circle, and in mourning for the lost loved one (Lemoine). During the 16th century, the term was changed somewhat, and was used as form of confusion for the people who were claimed to have been possessed. At this time it was called the “placebo relic” (Lemoine). When a person was found to have been so-called possessed, they would be given false relics, or something to have been claimed that belonged to a saint or someone who was seen in reverence and honor from an earlier time of history. The possessed person would than act as if it really did belong to this saint or reverenced person, and then would go into seizure like convulsions as if they were shaking

In a dim, candlelit room, a group of curious teenage girls gather around a small wooden board, with their eyes wide open as a small, upside-down heart-shaped object slowly travels along the dark black printed letters. Their fingers lightly make contact with the object, yet it still moves as if another force is pushing it. With pounding hearts, the group watches messages sent across the board and a sense of mystery and amazement unfolds. They are bubbling with many questions. What’s making this mysterious board spell out words and phrases- the spirit world, or your subconscious mind? The ideomotor phenomenon holds well-developed history and studies, uses similar to the Ouija board, and many professional sources behind it. Overall, the