Possession And Exorcism

[nailedit]

Any of the faithful here still believe in this crazy nonsense?

 

If you want to see how absurd this superstition is just take a look at the first exorcism @ 1:07

If you want a laugh just watch all 18 mins.

 

Actually, it isnt really funny. Children have died because there superstitious parents have tried to beat and starve a 'demon' out of them.

 

[sandyRoe]

I believe it's a strongly held belief in parts of Africa, to the detriment of people who could be mentally ill.

[douglas9401]

Not immediately able to connect parts of Africa and Donald Trump, Sandy. 😊

[Old_Geezer]

I think it most unlikely.

Yes I suspect there are frauds, but also mental issues causing the problem. Those believed to be processed, either by themselves or others, are likely in need of medical help. The others too, in all liklihood.

[douglas9401]

One should also bear in mind that exorcism is only one tenth of the law.

[fiveleaves]

Been part of deliverance ministry briefly a long time ago now. Spiritual warface is very real. Satan only too happy for people to dismiss it and indeed dismiss him. So i speak as someone who has been on the frontline.

[wolf63]

Frontline kills fleas!

[nailedit]

//So i speak as someone who has been on the frontline//

Oh come on fiveleaves, you have been on the frontline of encouraging peoples mental illness.

40 years ago I had a friend (still friends today) where we both attended a charasmatic Pentecostal church as teenagers, where this type of thing was encouraged. Every now and then my friend would exhibit some odd behavior. The pastor was convinced that he had a demon and tried (along with others) to (unsuccesfully) perform an excorcism. The mental torture that they put him through was sickening. It was actually the start of my deconversion.

 

Funny enough he was eventually admitted to a psych ward where he was put on appropriatte medication and been fine since.

Strange how drugs triumphed over the 'power' of God...

 

 

[Old_Geezer]

But drugs are God's gift to mankind !

😉

[Canary42]

/// the start of my deconversion.///

Ironically the start of my deconversion was my brother's Confirmation Service - I couldn't help thinking "What a load of *** from the bishop, spoken and acted".

[PsalmEquipt]

It takes knowing something that is impossible to know by your five senses. At lunch, on our way to receiving our military orders for our next duty assignment, I was able to comfort my friend and his wife because (beyond five senses explanation) I knew we had both got the orders we requested.
In the book of Acts, beyond five senses explanation, the Apostle Paul knew what to do to remove a spirit of divination. Since he did not immediately know what to do, and it was not something he could know by his five senses, he did not immediately take action. He waited until he knew what to do.
Acts 16:16-18 "And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying: The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation. And this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour."
When it's from the true God, people's lives come out better. To spot the counterfeit, learn the genuine to the minutest detail.

[naomi24]

Those 'rituals' are absurd.  If the devil is so powerful that he can influence otherwise innocent men to commit heinous acts, someone chanting mumbo jumbo isn't going to stop him.  Furthermore, if he really does have such an influence why hasn't the allegedly good and omnipotent God kicked him into touch long before now?

[davebro3]

//a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying//

Was she any good with the horses or football results?

[Sinead_O]

I do see people absolutely held in the grip of addiction, and unable to break free, despite doing everything possible to do so.  Whether you'd call it a "demon" I really don't know.  But certainly many can only break free from addiction after acknowledging and submitting themselves to a Higher Power.

[ToraToraTora]

all part of TWWOTB.

[naomi24]

I'd hazard a guess that, like me, most reading that won't have the foggiest idea what you're talking about, TTT.  What is the point of posting gobbledegook other than to make yourself ridiculous?

[ToraToraTora]

The Wonderful World Of Total Bowlock. I'd have thought you of all people would be well aware of it.

[ToraToraTora]

***!

[naomi24]

Why do you imagine anyone would be aware of something you invented?  There's no point posting - profanity or otherwise -  if no one knows what you're talking about.

[david small]

Evil does exist, if that evil is sentient, is open to interpretation and opinion. Pure evil, the evidence?......everywhere.

[ToraToraTora]

TWWOTB is well known on here.