exorcism n : freeing from evil spirits [syn: dispossession]

English

Noun

1. the ritual act of driving out supposed evil spirits from persons, places or things who are possessed by them.

Translations

Derived terms

• exorcise
• exorcist

Exorcism (from Late Latin exorcismus, from Greek exorkizein - to adjure) is the practice of evicting demons or other evil spiritual entities from a person or place which they are believed to have possessed (taken control of). The practice is quite ancient and part of the belief system of many religions.

The person performing the exorcism, known as an exorcist, is often a member of the clergy, or an individual thought to be graced with special powers or skills. The exorcist may use prayers, and religious material, such as set formulas, gestures, symbols, icons, amulets, etc.. The exorcist invokes God, Jesus and/or several different angels and archangels to intervene with the exorcism.

In general, possessed persons are not regarded as evil in themselves, nor wholly responsible for their actions. Therefore practitioners regard exorcism more as a cure than as a punishment. The mainstream rituals usually take this into account, making sure that there is no violence to the possessed, only that they be tied down if there is potential for violence.

History

The concept of possession by evil spirits and the practice of exorcism are very ancient and were widespread, and may have originated in prehistoric Shamanistic beliefs.

The Christian New Testament includes exorcism among the miracles performed by Jesus. Because of this precedent, demonic possession was part of the belief system of Christianity since its beginning, and exorcism is still a recognized practice of Catholicism, Eastern Orthodox and some Protestant sects. The Church of England also has an official exorcist in each diocese.

After the enlightenment, the practice of exorcism has diminished in its importance to most religious groups and its use has decreased, especially in western society. Generally, in the 20th century its use was found mainly in Eastern Europe and Africa, with some cases gaining media coverage; Anneliese Michel is perhaps the most recent of these. This is due mainly to the study of psychology and the functioning and structure of the human mind. Many of the cases that in the past which were candidates for exorcism are often explained to be the products of mental illness, and are handled as such.

However in 1973 the movie The Exorcist came out, and the idea of Exorcisms became thrust into the limelight. After its release a very large response came from the public in the United States and Europe, and belief in Demon Possession and Exorcisms found a place in contemporary society. Belief in the validity of the practice became less of a radical idea, and more widespread.

Exorcism in Christianity

Jesus

In Christianity, Exorcisms are performed using the "power of Christ" or "In the name of Jesus." This is founded in the belief that Jesus commanded his followers to expel evil spirits in his name(Bible verse |Matthew|10:1,Bible verse |Matthew|10:8; Bible verse |Mark|6:7; Bible verse |Luke|9:1),(Bible verse |Mark|16:17). According to the Catholic Encyclopedia article on Exorcism: Jesus cast out demons as a sign of his Messiahship and empowered his disciples to do the same.

The Jewish Encyclopedia article on Jesus stated that Jesus "was devoted especially to casting out demons" and also believed that he passed this on to his followers, however he was superior to them in the Exorcisms."

In the time of Jesus, non-New Testament Jewish sources report of exorcisms done by administering drugs with poisonous root extracts or other by making sacrifices. (Josephus, "B. J." vii. 6, § 3; Sanh. 65b). They do not report of Jesus being an exorcist, but do mention that exorcisms were done by the Essene branch of Judaism (Dead Sea Scrolls at Qumran).

Roman Catholicism

• Possessed (1994 Book: Version of the actual events depicted in The Exorcist by T. Allen) Isbn: 0595132642
• Of Love And Other Demons (1995 novel by Gabriel Garcia Marquez)
• The Biggest Douche in the Universe (2002 South Park Television episode)
• Exorcism (2003 movie directed by William A. Baker)
• Kya Dark Lineage (2003 video game)
• Constantine (2005 movie) is based on the DC/Vertigo comic book Hellblazer.
• The Exorcism of Emily Rose (2005 movie) was inspired by the Anneliese Michel case.
• Requiem (2006 German-language movie by Hans-Christian Schmid) is based on the Anneliese Michel case.
• An American Haunting (2006 movie)
• Blackwater Valley Exorcism (2006 movie)
• The Devil You Know (2006 novel by Mike Carey)
• D.Gray-man (2006 Japanese animation series by Hoshino Katsura)
• The VAXorcist (1991 script by Christopher Russell)
• Bhool Bhulaiya' (2007 Hindi movie an adaptation of Malayalam movie "Manichithrathazhu" - The lead female actress heard the story of a spirit of a love deranged courtesan hell-bent on killing all kings and their heirs, because a king, whom she entertained, killed her lover - a dancer and courtesan. On hearing this story she developed Dissociative Personality Disorder & was routinely taken over by the personality of the dancer or more precisely the vindictive spirit of the dancer, trying desperately to kill the present king, who is actually her beloved husband.)
• A Haunting Shows true stories many involving demons and exorcisms

Stigmata (1999 film starring Patricia Arquette and Gabriel Bryne)

• Grudge 2 (2006 English movie; Director - Takashi Shimizu; written by - Stephen Susco,Takashi Shimizu (movie Ju-On: the Grudge); In Tokyo, a young woman (Tamblyn) is exposed to the same mysterious curse that afflicted her sister (Gellar). The supernatural force, which fills a person with rage before spreading to its next victim, brings together a group of previously unrelated people who attempt to unlock its secret to save their lives. In a particular chapter of this movie shown a exorcism did by a very old woman to her 18 - 22 year old girl (who became the main ghost in the movie) in flashback which describe a strong and very dangerous demonic possession for cure other affected people who were attacked by demons.)
• El Orfanato (The Orphanage) (2008 movie directed by Guillermo Del Toro) Aurora (an exorcist) comes to the house of Laura and Carlos to seek out the ghosts of the dead children in order to help the find their son, Simon.

See also

• Anneliese Michel and the Klingenberg Case
• Deliverance ministry
• Demon
• Demonic possession
• Deprogramming
• International Association of Exorcists
• Kecak
• List of exorcists
• Roman Ritual
• Satanism
• Shamanism
• Spiritual healing
• Spiritual possession
• Spiritual warfare for a broader discussion of demonic activity and Christians.
• Yoruba mythology

References

Resources

• William Baldwin, D.D.S., Ph.D., "Spirit Releasement Therapy". ISBN 1-88-265800-0. Practitioner & Instructor of Spirit Releasement Therapy, containing an extensive biliography.
• Shakuntala Modi, M.D., "Remarkable Healings, A Psychiatrist Discovers Unsuspected Roots of Mental and Physical Illness." ISBN 1-57174-079-1 Gives cases, and statistical summaries of the kinds of maladies remedied by this therapy.
• Malachi Martin, Hostage to the Devil. ISBN 0-06-065337-X.
• M. Scott Peck, Glimpses of the Devil : A Psychiatrist's Personal Accounts of Possession, Exorcism, and Redemption. ISBN 0-7432-5467-8
• Max Heindel, The Web of Destiny (Chapter I - Part III: "The Dweller on the Threshold"--Earth-Bound Spirits, Part IV: The "Sin Body"--Possession by Self-Made Deamons--Elementals, Part V: Obsession of Man and of Animals), ISBN 0-911274-17-0,

External links

• Specialized Catholic web about Possession and Exorcism. Spain Exorcist Father Jose Antonio Fortea
• British doctors using exorcism to treat patients - UK newspaper article.
• "The Return of the Exorcists" (film) - the resurgence of exorcism in Italy
• Catholic Encyclopedia: Exorcism
• Jewish Encyclopedia: Exorcism
• Exorcism tradition in Islam and Interviews with Muslim Exorcists Islamic View
• Exorcism Video clips Islamic View
• Encyclopedia Britannica: Exorcism
• Diocese of Worcester webpages on Ministry of Deliverance Anglican View
• On ghosts and exorcism in Vedic traditions
• Wall Street Journal: "Exorcism: The Comeback"
• Exorcism in the Orthodox Church
• Exorcism (Greek Orthodox Archdiocese)
• Exorcism article from OrthodoxWiki

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