Exorcism

[society]

What do you think about exorcism? Do you believe performing exorcism is evil?
Do you think it's a form of voodoo or witchcraft?

[China Doll]

I think it is an incredibly dangerous and nonsensical practice and is an abuse of people who for whatever reason are usually the most vulnerable in society; children or the mentally ill for example.

[Graham-W]

If you truly believe in a religious system, where good and evil are at war with each other, where Angels and Daemons are the Earthly troops and either can infect a human host, you MUST believe there is a way to remove the daemon from the human body.
If you truly believe, exorcism can work for you, just as the placebo effect can work with those who believe that taking a series of tablet can cure an illness.
I must stress, I think, along with all religion, it's a load of pants, but I can see how it works.

[2sp_]

I think praying or chanting as a form of exorcism is harmless nonsense. It worries me that we do see such extreme examples where people are tortured and killed.

[society]

LazyGun, I was thinking along the lines of exorcism performed by the Catholic priest.

[LazyGun]

@ Society OK. Exorcism is exorcism though, it seems to me - comes from the same belief, that is a malign influence caused by demonic possession. I regard that notion as both primitive and potentially dangerous, in that it could lead to villification of the individual in question, or perhaps insufficient or timely medical/psychiatric care.

As far as I am aware, there is probably even less compelling evidence for demons and spirits than their is for god.

So, all in all I regard it as a regressive practice, one that should be dying away.

[society]

LG, I take it that you don't believe in ghost either? :)

[trt]

Do you believe in ghost society?

[society]

I think there are spooky, and unexplainable things out there.

[LazyGun]

@ society Well, I do not believe in ghosts in the way they are represented in the media and in the usual anecdotes and stories.

Again, just a general lack of compelling evidence, imo - and to be honest I find the whole notion utterly implausible :)

[pixie373]

I agree with lg, all round. I'm surprised it hasn't died out by now. It's superstition at it's most dangerous.

[pixie373]

...its most dangerous...

[jomifl]

The most basic form of exorcism is to beat the bejusus out of someone. Religions have made it more sophisticated but it is still basically the same thing plus psychological bullying. That's all, nothing spiritual or supernatural, just power and control and the occasional death when it goes too far.

[joggerjayne]

Heey, don't knock voodoo.

We voodooists don't hurt anyone.

[jomifl]

The lack of an explanation doesn't mean that something is unexplainable. The lasr 500 years have demonstrated that fairly convincingly.

[jomifl]

^ lasr=last

[naomi24]

Yes, I do believe it’s evil. The concept that a malignant, disembodied entity capable of influencing human behaviour even exists is unhealthy in the extreme. It is the construct of superstitious minds and a notion sustained today by equally superstitious minds. It’s irrational and it’s dangerous, not least to people exposed to backward cultures (and the west isn’t immune) who suffer medical conditions that manifest in observable physical effects. I wonder just how many epileptics or Tourette’s sufferers have been subjected to the horrors of ‘exorcism’? Difficult to believe that anyone in the 21st century would seriously consider demons to be responsible for anything - but they do. I recall someone here - a Christian who had converted from Islam - employing the services of an exorcist to cure his friend of ‘homosexuality’. Potty!

[goodlife]

You can see many people are searching for something more to life. The glaring failures of religious, political, economic and scientific institutions leave many hungrily reaching for anything to give life meaning.

So people turn to the exorcism. And it thrives because so many people actually seem to experience something personally. But do they know what is behind it all? (2 Cor. 4:4)

[jomifl]

GL, you are being ridiculous, people don''t 'turn to exorcism' in a search for the meaning of life.

[beso]

goodlife //You can see many people are searching for something more to life. The glaring failures of religious, political, economic and scientific institutions leave many hungrily reaching for anything to give life meaning. //

Many search for meaning because the religious tell them that their lives are meaningless. It is one of the insidious techniques religion uses to trap people.

As for failures, religion certainly comes a very clear first as it wallows in the primitive musings of ancient, arrogant misogynists.

Politics is compromised by self interest but we have seen vast progress of the past few centuries.

Economics actualy works but unfortunately the social costs and benefits are not included at sufficient value.

Science stands alone. By definition it cannot fail because what could be perceived as failure brings new understanding and hence advancement. It is why science is so incredibly successful.

[naomi24]

Goodlife, google 'exorcism'.