Exorcism: Religious Phenomena or Medical Diagnosis?

“To bind by oath,” does not seem that terrifying. However, this is the definition of exorcism. Exorcism is the expulsion or attempted expulsion of an evil spirit from a person or place. It is when a demon or multiple demons posses a person and have to be exorcised to have the spirits compelled to leave by a higher authority. Demons are evil spirits or the devil tormenting a person. The rites of casting out demons include the use of commands, prayers, fumigations, salt, roses, and holy water. These are used because the uses of these things are precious to the church.

The practice of exorcism can be dated all the way back to the New Testament when Jesus casted out evil spirits. He healed many people, but only a quarter of his miracles were considered exorcisms. The apostles were also exorcists by definition because it was known to be a true sign of discipleship. In ancient cultures, such as Mesopotamia, both physical and psychological sickness was connected to the idea of being possessed. As time passed, others, including Martin Luther who was a German theologian who led a reformation, used this form of casting out of evil spirits. However, by 1600, all Protestants rejected this idea as being superstitious. In the 1900s American evangelicals invigorated exorcism, but it did not catch on until 1970 when the movement swept Protestant and Catholic Churches (Rivenburg).

Every cultural tradition and major religion has formed the idea of possession and has had the need for some form of exorcism. Catholics, Jews, Hindus, Islam’s, Buddhists and scientists all have different views on exorcism. Although these religions believe in the idea of exorcism, science proves to have different explanations to this phenomenon.

Throughout history, th...

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...as decreased the amount of exorcisms because religions put stipulations on the behaviors that qualify them for an exorcism. A medical diagnosis seems more practical in the twenty-first century, but people will still hold the same superstitions.

No matter which philosophy on exorcism is most believable, it remains to have difficult concepts that are hard to trust. Belief is dependent upon one’s beliefs, customs, and expectations of society. Fear of the unknown may be the reason that drives this real belief. But, it also could be a reality or just a way to rationalize an uncontrollable behavior. “Civilized people lose their religion easily, but rarely their superstition about evil,” said Karl Goldmark (Wolpe). Religion gives society a way to accept and to believe “out of this world” behaviors through demons and encourages people to be afraid of devil-like creatures.