Exorcism is the practice of evicting or destroying demons or other evil spiritual entities which are supposed to have "possessed" (taken control of) a person or a building. The concept is very ancient and is still part of the belief system of many religions.
The person performing the exorcism, known as an exorcist, is often a priest, or an individual who is thought to have special powers or skills. The exorcist may use a combination of magical and religious methods, such as prayers and set formulas, gestures, icons and amulets. Usually the exorcist's goal is to force the evil spirit to leave, or to invoke some benign supernatural power that will perform the task.
The influential horror movie The Exorcist (1973, re-released 2000) was inspired in the Catholic exorcism ritual and folklore. After its release, the Catholic diocese of Chicago was inundated with so many requests for exorcism that it had to add exorcists to its existing staff.
History
The concept of "possession" by "evil spirits" and the practice of exorcism are very ancient and widespread, and may originate in prehistoric Shamanistic beliefs.
The Christian New Testament includes exorcism among the miracles performed by Jesus. Because of that precedent, possession was part of the belief system of Christianism since the beginning, and exorcism is still part of the ritual of Catholicism and some Protestant sects.
In recent times, Exorcism has diminished in importance and use. This is due mainly to a greater understanding of psychology and the functioning and structure of the human mind. Many of the cases that in the past might have been candidates for exorcism have been found to be the products of mental illness. These cases are treated through medical means instead of exorcism, although some religious persons believe that certain psychological disorders are actually spiritual problems - generally the more severe types such as Dissociative Identity Disorder and Schizophrenia.
Exorcism in Roman Catholicism
In the former ministry of the Roman Catholic Church, the third of the minor orders was that of exorcist. In some dioceses, priests have been given the title of "Exorcist" for their diocese. The exorcist is invested with the authority of casting out devils from persons possessed, through use of the document Of Exorcisms and Certain Supplications. This power, however, according to the present law of the church, may be only exercised by priests, and by them only with the express permission of the local bishop; and this permission is rarely given. However, Pope John Paul II encouraged the use of exorcism (and performed three himself during his papal reign); as a result a number of dioceses have designated a priest as the Exorcist for the diocese. Gabriele Amorth is the chief exorcist of the Roman Catholic Church. Only a priest or a higher prelate may perform the Rite of Exorcism.
Of exorcism, the Catholic Encyclopedia (1908) enjoined: "Superstition ought not to be confounded with religion, however much their history may be interwoven, nor magic, however white it may be, with a legitimate religious rite."
A well-known formula for exorcism, originating from a 1415 manuscript found in the Abbey of Metten in Bavaria, says
- Crux sancta sit mihi lux / Non draco sit mihi dux
- Vade retro satana / Nunquam suade mihi vana
- Sunt mala quae libas / Ipse venena bibas
- "May the Holy Cross be my light / Let not the dragon lead me
- Step back Satan / Never tempt me with vain things
- What you offer me is evil / Drink the poison yourself."
The verse Vade retro satana was probably inspired on a phrase by Jesus to Peter in the Vulgate New Testament, Mark 8:33: vade retro me, satana ("Step back from me, Satan!"). In Catholicism, it is used to repel any possible evil thing or happening, as a "spoken amulet". The initials of this formula (VRSNSMV SMQLIVB or VRS:NSMV:SMQL:IVB) were usually engraved around crosses or Catholic religious medals featuring Saint Benedict, to whom the formula is traditionally ascribed.
See list of exorcists.
Exorcism in Islam: Roquia Chariya
As long as fifteen centuries ago with the beginning of Islam, Prophet Muhammad and his followers had performed exorcism to expel either the devil himself or his cousins the jinns from the bodies of some believers using verses from the holy Qur'an, supplications from Allah, and holy ZamZam water.
In Islamic belief jinns are intelligent creatures created by God from a fire substance, co-habit earth with us humans, live in civilised societies like us but in remote and secluded areas away from humans such as in deserts, oceans, forests, and mountains. Some of them venture to live in human deserted areas like castles, old houses. They have the same religious beliefs and denominations as humans. There are good jinns and bad jinns. Jinns who possess humans are automatically considered bad and treated in exorcism as their cousins the devils who used to be good jinns.
Exorcism-related deaths
Because of the popular image that exorcism is necessarily a violent process, the practice may end up bringing considerable physical harm or even death to the patient, even when performed by supposedly trained priests. In the past eight years, there have been at least five non-Roman Catholic exorcism-related deaths in the United States:
- Kyung-A Ha was beaten to death in 1995 in San Francisco, California by members of the Jesus-Amen Ministries.
- Kyung Jae Chung died in 1996 in Glendale, California from blunt-force trauma by her husband (a reverend) and members of the Glendale Korean Methodist Church.
- A five-year-old girl in 1997 in the Bronx, New York, died after being administered ammonia, vinegar, and olive oil, and then gagged and bound with duct tape.
- Charity Miranda, was suffocated with a plastic bag in 1998 in Sayville, New York by her mother and sister during a Cuban voodoo exorcism ritual.
- Terrance Cottrell Jr, an eight-year-old autistic child, died of asphyxiation in 2003 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin during an exorcism carried out by members of the Faith Temple Church of the Apostolic Faith, in an attempt to expel the boy's demons. The coroner ruled that the boy died "due to external chest compression" as the part-time evangelical pastor lay on top of him. On July 10, 2004, the pastor was convicted of child abuse.
Help
Although many scientists and some religious people are doubtful of the existence of demons and the possibility of demon possession, oppression, or harassment there is help available for people who believe they may be experiencing problems caused by demons. Many religions have official exorcisms and also deliverance ministries available.
See also
References
External links
Last updated: 10-24-2005 03:21:08
