jjares reviewed Demonic Possession and Exorcism: The History of the Belief that the Devil Possesses People on + 3275 more book reviews
Stunningly, we learn that virtually every human culture has had a belief in human possession and exorcism. This idea is generally negative in nature. When someone is possessed, it usually requires an exorcism. This book follows the idea of possessing a person from earliest times. Some of the most famous were the Salem Witch Trials.
Then, this book moves to Sigmund Freud, Carl Jung, and psychology. They believe possession is a form of mental illness. However, the book notes that reports of possession have increased since the 1950s. Over the years, the reports of possession have increased to such a point that a group of Catholic Church priests created the International Association of Exorcists (IAE) and asked the Catholic Church to recognize them. In 2004, the Catholic Church approved and encouraged each parish to appoint a trained exorcist.
During this time, the belief in possessed individuals has increased. This is surprising in a modern, industrial world. However, an exorcist for the Archdiocese of Indianapolis reported in October 2018 that he'd had 1,700 requests for an exorcism so far that year. Thus, possession and exorcism are not ideas steeped in distant, medieval times. They are ongoing in the current era as well.
Then, this book moves to Sigmund Freud, Carl Jung, and psychology. They believe possession is a form of mental illness. However, the book notes that reports of possession have increased since the 1950s. Over the years, the reports of possession have increased to such a point that a group of Catholic Church priests created the International Association of Exorcists (IAE) and asked the Catholic Church to recognize them. In 2004, the Catholic Church approved and encouraged each parish to appoint a trained exorcist.
During this time, the belief in possessed individuals has increased. This is surprising in a modern, industrial world. However, an exorcist for the Archdiocese of Indianapolis reported in October 2018 that he'd had 1,700 requests for an exorcism so far that year. Thus, possession and exorcism are not ideas steeped in distant, medieval times. They are ongoing in the current era as well.
