Possession by Evil Spirits?
In the UK, as in many other parts of the world - (more advanced, as well as lesser advanced) its good to remember that many people don't follow the latest medical advances in the understanding of schizophrenia and related brain disorders - and therefore have some very archaic views towards people with psychosis (and their behavior).
In an editorial in The Guardian newspaper this week, a writer discusses a local British television station that plans to do a "live exorcism" on one of its TV programs.
In the 21st century, in a modern country - such a practice is unbelievable. "Even within the Church of England, the idea of possession raises eyebrows." the newspaper reports. "The number of metaphysical assumptions it makes is quite incredible. It means there are such things as non-human evil spirits that can take possession of a human being and require to be told to go somewhere else by a greater power," says Canon Michael Perry, who holds a doctorate in deliverance and edits the Christian Parapsychologist.
"Some Christians believe it happens frequently - they see demons under every rug and will perform exorcisms at the drop of a hat. My view is possession is very rare."
Most knowledgeable psychiatrists would say that anyone accused of "possession" should be thoroughly evaluated for possible mental illness - which is the most likely cause of strange behavior in people.
For the full story - see this link:
Can people be possessed by evil spirits?
Posted by szadmin at February 18, 2005 08:39 PM
More Information on
Schizophrenia Causes, Risk Factors & Prevention
It may be rare in the UK, but in my part of the world in NW Georgia USA it is almost commonplace to view mental illness as demon possession, and to throw one's "possessed" family members out on the street. I have helped one such to a great degree whose mother used to sprinkle her with Holy Water and take her to "Christian" psychiatrists, and the term psychiatrist I use laughingly. These people are ignorant in the worst way, and should be loudly condemned. I say this is a Christian myself, but, fortunately for me, I was raised a reasonble Methodist.
Posted by: Gilthoron at June 29, 2005 04:29 AM
hi thier i just read what you wrote on this sight. i myself am posessedby something i dont know but hear in africa people use witchcraft so as the demons can do thier dirty work. writing now am scared and made sick by this demons they attack when am sleeping i have done everthing possible to get rid of them but till now i have no one to help me am thinking about running away
Posted by: ilhan yassin at June 13, 2006 06:03 AM
Hello, I have been exposed to both sides of this phenomenon. I have seen sick people who claim to be possessed. I believe that there are demons. However, possession is not common what so ever. One of my brothers has experienced strong demon obsession in his life, but not to the degree of possession. At that point, medication does not help.
There are demon possessions, but they are rare, very rare indeed. Most of the time it will be someone who his sick and has no other means to observe his pain than as demons.
As well, the thought of having a live excorcism is absolute absurdity! A person claimed to be possessed if knowing will be on tv, can certainly act his way through. Might as well host the event on Jerry Springer.
-Spenny
Posted by: Spenny at February 22, 2007 08:04 AM
I would like to know the truth. I suffer from schizophrenia. I also know that in the hospital where I was at, a lot of the mentally ill people practiced witchcraft. Perhaps there is a link. I pray and pray about it, and God tells me that it is a gift of the mind used for prophecy, that the devil can play with it. Look at those who can "see into the future". A psychiatrist can diagnose them as schizophrenic because they can see what others can't see. And people pay for that. Hell, when I was in the hospital, they were reading horoscopes. Helping, huh?
Posted by: Tracey Heim at July 18, 2007 08:24 AM
I was diagnosed with scizophrenia last January of 2007. Before that I didnt have the faintest idea that this was my condition. I thought the voices were a deeper intuition and even of mystical proportions. Now I know thats its purely chemical reaction to high levels of dopamine, and the medication has worked perfectly
Posted by: Mark at January 26, 2008 09:42 AM
I'm possessed right now, but I think the spirit is leaving me. I have had absolutely no help dealing with this whatsoever, and was stigmatized and thrown into a hospital for 7 weeks. The drugs they forced on me did nothing, and I hated being there. Prayer was, in the end, what helped. I'm not of any religion, but I believe I received some kind of divine help. It's easy for people to point and name names like "schizophrenic" (it's also hurtful), but due to the series of events I knew this couldn't just be my mind. I also saw a levitating object (in my hand), which can't possibly be a sign of psychosis! I wish it would hurry up and leave, because it's just annoying now, whereas before it was destructive.
I think many people labeled as mentally ill could be possessed. I have one man in my life who has helped me learn more about this. It's a blessing when people believe me.
Posted by: Sarah at February 7, 2008 08:10 PM
Hello. I am doing a research project for school. My topic is the religious and scientific views of schizophrenia. I have found lots on the scientific portion, but am getting no where on the religious. If you have any information i would greatly appriciate it. You can email me at lindsaynicole240@aol.com. i need as much information as i can get by May 26, 2008
Posted by: Lindsay at May 25, 2008 06:14 PM
It may be rare in the UK, but in my part of the world in NW Georgia USA it is almost commonplace to view mental illness as demon possession, and to throw one's "possessed" family members out on the street. I have helped one such to a great degree whose mother used to sprinkle her with Holy Water and take her to "Christian" psychiatrists, and the term psychiatrist I use laughingly. These people are ignorant in the worst way, and should be loudly condemned. I say this is a Christian myself, but, fortunately for me, I was raised a reasonble Methodist.
Posted by: Gilthoron at June 29, 2005 04:29 AM
hi thier i just read what you wrote on this sight. i myself am posessedby something i dont know but hear in africa people use witchcraft so as the demons can do thier dirty work. writing now am scared and made sick by this demons they attack when am sleeping i have done everthing possible to get rid of them but till now i have no one to help me am thinking about running away
Posted by: ilhan yassin at June 13, 2006 06:03 AM
Hello, I have been exposed to both sides of this phenomenon. I have seen sick people who claim to be possessed. I believe that there are demons. However, possession is not common what so ever. One of my brothers has experienced strong demon obsession in his life, but not to the degree of possession. At that point, medication does not help.
There are demon possessions, but they are rare, very rare indeed. Most of the time it will be someone who his sick and has no other means to observe his pain than as demons.
As well, the thought of having a live excorcism is absolute absurdity! A person claimed to be possessed if knowing will be on tv, can certainly act his way through. Might as well host the event on Jerry Springer.
-Spenny
Posted by: Spenny at February 22, 2007 08:04 AM
I would like to know the truth. I suffer from schizophrenia. I also know that in the hospital where I was at, a lot of the mentally ill people practiced witchcraft. Perhaps there is a link. I pray and pray about it, and God tells me that it is a gift of the mind used for prophecy, that the devil can play with it. Look at those who can "see into the future". A psychiatrist can diagnose them as schizophrenic because they can see what others can't see. And people pay for that. Hell, when I was in the hospital, they were reading horoscopes. Helping, huh?
Posted by: Tracey Heim at July 18, 2007 08:24 AM
I was diagnosed with scizophrenia last January of 2007. Before that I didnt have the faintest idea that this was my condition. I thought the voices were a deeper intuition and even of mystical proportions. Now I know thats its purely chemical reaction to high levels of dopamine, and the medication has worked perfectly
Posted by: Mark at January 26, 2008 09:42 AM
I'm possessed right now, but I think the spirit is leaving me. I have had absolutely no help dealing with this whatsoever, and was stigmatized and thrown into a hospital for 7 weeks. The drugs they forced on me did nothing, and I hated being there. Prayer was, in the end, what helped. I'm not of any religion, but I believe I received some kind of divine help. It's easy for people to point and name names like "schizophrenic" (it's also hurtful), but due to the series of events I knew this couldn't just be my mind. I also saw a levitating object (in my hand), which can't possibly be a sign of psychosis! I wish it would hurry up and leave, because it's just annoying now, whereas before it was destructive.
I think many people labeled as mentally ill could be possessed. I have one man in my life who has helped me learn more about this. It's a blessing when people believe me.
Posted by: Sarah at February 7, 2008 08:10 PM
Hello. I am doing a research project for school. My topic is the religious and scientific views of schizophrenia. I have found lots on the scientific portion, but am getting no where on the religious. If you have any information i would greatly appriciate it. You can email me at lindsaynicole240@aol.com. i need as much information as i can get by May 26, 2008
Posted by: Lindsay at May 25, 2008 06:14 PM