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This is NOT EXORCISM: New Zealand makutu exorcism ceremony leads to death

richard — Sat, 16 May 2009 15:35:13 +0000

Convinced that their family member had contracted a curse after moving a sacred object, members of a New Zealand native tribe performed their version of an exorcism rite on nine members of their family. One woman died, several more were injured.

This case has attracted an immense amount of attention in the New Zealand press, and understandably so. I have said before that all tribes, from all traditions, all over the world have concepts of evil, demons, and therefore exorcism rituals. This is further proof. Unfortunately it is proof I would rather not have.

Caveat: I am not personally familiar with exorcism rituals of native New Zealand. Any mistakes in this article are my own.

Synopsis: elders from a native tribe in New Zealand meet and decide that a young woman is cursed in connection with a concrete lion statue which the elders believed to be an ancient relic. They performed an exorcism rite on the child and several others which consisted of pouring water into the eyes and down the throat as well as gouging of the eyes. (I am very sure there was more to this ritual than just this – prayers, chanting are likely, possibly vision seeking – but that is what is being reported in the media to date.) Obviously the recipient was restrained. In the course of several hours of this, one child died of drowning and another lost vision in one eye due to having the eye gouged. Several elders of the tribe are now on trial.

So let’s be clear: THIS IS NOT EXORCISM AS WE PRACTICE IT.

I find learning about the exorcism rites of various tribes to be completely fascinating. I have studied the practices of several different groups, and in the process have learned a few things:

Different exorcism rites work in different situations. A Catholic exrocism ritual, for example, probably would not have worked. (If the girl was indeed cursed, which I am not sure I’m convinced of.)
Some exorcism rituals are more effective than others!

I find that last point particularly fascinating. What makes one ritual more effective than another? To a large extent it has to do with whether the ritual depends entirely on the faith/devotion/personal power of the exorcist alone or whether the ritual and/or the tools used in the ritual have intrinsic power by themselves. A simple example: a ritual that uses holy relics will be more powerful, all things equal, than a ritual that does not. The holy relic is an object that has intrinsic power of its own accord. Added to the power of the prayers and other aspects of the exorcism ritual makes the ritual more powerful and more effective.

When selecting an exorcist, it is important to consider what traditions they have studied and mastered. At Demon Slayer we have studied at least 5 different traditions of exorcism and we continue to study, hone, and refine our skills on an ongoing basis today.

PS: A particularly meaty question, which has not been taken up by the media in New Zealand yet, is this: IF the girl was indeed cursed, could there have been a different/more effective/less brutal way of ridding her of that curse? Either within the native tradition or from another native tradition or from another tradition altogether? I do not know the traditions or beliefs involved…but from my own experience working within other native traditions of exorcism, I strongly suspect the answer is “yes”.

Links:

http://www.news.com.au/story/0,27574,25428584-401,00.html
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10570460
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/2383955/Alleged-makutu-exorcism-witnesses-shocked-and-lost
http://theoriginalgreenwichdiva.com/2009/05/05/new-zealand-drowned-during-exorcism/
http://arbroath.blogspot.com/2009/05/mother-drowned-during-maori-exorcism.html
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/2388943/Exorcism-weapon-against-the-demon
http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/name-suppression-lapses-exorcism-accused-2710420
http://www.odt.co.nz/news/national/54454/teen039s-eyes-oozed-blood-after-maori-exorcism-ceremony-witness
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/2392167/Exorcism-drowning-unique
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10571686
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/2401389/Exorcism-went-on-day-and-night
http://www.upi.com/Top_News/2009/05/11/Womans-fatal-exorcism-went-on-for-hours/UPI-72581242077311/

This is NOT EXORCISM: New Zealand makutu exorcism ceremony leads to death is a post from: Demon Slayer

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The Bobby Jindal Exorcism – Was it a true exorcism?

richard — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 17:40:58 +0000

Since this is an exorcism blog written by practicing exorcists, the question I am most interested in considering is: was Bobby Jindal’s experience a true exorcism?

But first, a bit of an introduction…

Recently in the media there has been quite the hubub about a supposed exorcism that US Republican up and coming star Bobby Jindal attended in his university years. Mr. Jindal wrote publicly about his exorcism experience in an article in the New Oxford Review while he was still in university.

I have attached a copy of the full text of the article here.

Much has been made in the media of how this seemingly normal politician, someone who is in fact rising in the ranks of the political world, could have participated in such strange behaviour. Some are pointing to this episode as an example of him somehow being unfit for office, while others dismiss it in the same vein as drinking or doing drugs when young – pardonable as long as those days are long over.

This attitude does no justice to Mr. Jindal or his experience. I am not speaking about politics here; I am speaking about someone’s personal experience with and confrontation with evil.

I believe that what many fail to appreciate is that confrontation with evil – personal and direct confrontation such as documented in Mr. Jindal’s article – is a fact of life for many people on this planet. In the United States, there is a strong base of Christian spiritual warriors who are very clear about the nature of this world, that evil is real, and that it needs to be opposed; they volunteer if you will to do this. I would propose to you, in fact, that the spiritual warrior is not only a Christian thing. In every tribe and every religion there are found the warriors, those who take the power of spirit and use it to fight the forces of evil. This exists in Tibetan Buddhism, in Hinduism, in Shinto, in Christianism and in Islam. If all of these religions and all of these peoples from all over the world have the same notion of evil – that it exists, that it must be countered – does that not suggest that there is something we should pay attention to here?

OK. Off my soap box!

Since this is an exorcism blog written by practicing exorcists, the question I am most interested in considering is: was Bobby Jindal’s experience a true exorcism?

After reading through the full text of his article, I would have to say yes. For the following reasons:

His friend exhibited many of the symptoms of possession. (I also wrote about these here.)
These symptoms got progressively worse over a period of time.
You can see the clash emerge quite clearly. (The clash is a stage in the process of exorcism.)
The exorcism progresses along lines that I am very familiar with…exorcism is not a straight line, it has ups and downs as the side of evil and the side of light get stronger or weaker. Mr. Jindal’s recount of the exorcism seems very honest; he shares the times when they almost lost as well as the times when they were near victory.
The recovery of his friend was not linear. This too is normal. She was largely recovered after the first big exorcism, but had at least one smaller relapse. She was shaken and traumatized and needed healing, help, and gentleness afterwards. (As an aside, “healing after exorcism” is something that I hope to write more about in the future.)
The lives of every person involved changed dramatically after the incident. Universally it appears this change was for the better, bringing them deeper into their faith. This often happens often after a real, true exorcism.

So for all of these reasons, I do believe that the experience Mr. Jindal wrote about was a true exorcism.

What do you think?

The Bobby Jindal Exorcism – Was it a true exorcism? is a post from: Demon Slayer

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The Bobby Jindal Exorcism – Full Text

richard — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 17:37:38 +0000

BEATING A DEMON: Physical Dimensions of Spiritual Warfare
By Bobby Jindal
New Oxford Review
December 1994

Bobby Jindal received his M.Litt. in Politics from Oxford University, where he was a Rhodes Scholar. He is currently Governor of Louisiana. A convert to Christianity, he was born and raised Hindu. Some of the names in this article, but none of the details, have been altered by the author.

Though she had not said anything, I knew something was wrong. Susan and I had developed an intimate friendship; indeed, our relationship mystified observers, who insisted on finding a romantic component where none existed. I called her after the University Christian Fellowship (UCF) meeting — UCF is an Inter-Varsity Christian group composed of undergraduate and graduate students. Though the interdenominational group’s weekly program of songs and prayers had produced the usual emotional high among most members, Susan had left the meeting in a very sullen mood. I asked her to join a group of us who were attending a Christian a cappella concert to be held on campus that same evening.

Despite our intimacy, Susan and I had not spent much time together this past year. We had succumbed to pressure from our friends and decided we should not be so emotionally interdependent without a deeper commitment. To be honest, my fears of a relationship and the constraints of commitment had kept us apart; our friends’ objections merely provided a convenient excuse. Still, I felt comfortable asking her to come to the concert, and she accepted the invitation. Though Susan appeared composed throughout the concert, her sudden departure in the middle of a song convinced me otherwise and affirmed my earlier suspicions.

There was no doubt in my mind that I had to leave my friends and follow her outside. I was not exactly sure what I would do or say, but I knew I had to run after her. I found that she had not gone far, but was sobbing uncontrollably outside the auditorium. Since we had been very careful to avoid any form of physical contact in our friendship, I was not sure how to respond. My inaction and her sobs produced a very awkward situation. Fortunately, a female friend who followed us out was able to comfort Susan with hugs and soothing words of reassurance; her quick action was in stark contrast to my paralysis. Once Susan had regained her composure and fell silent, I knew I had to intervene. The female friend meant well, but did not know Susan well enough to provide the advice Susan was sure to seek.

Not even knowing the cause of this raucous scene, I asked Susan if she would like to talk, and volunteered to walk her home. Wanting to avoid any additional embarrassing scenes, I thought it best to remain in silence while we walked. I dared not cause another emotional outpouring until we were safely behind closed doors. When we finally reached her dorm room, I promptly sat Susan on a bed and placed myself in a chair located several feet across the room. This physical arrangement was hardly conducive to the love and support I was supposed to be providing, but I was too scared and unsure of myself to get any closer.

Taking a very businesslike approach, I queried Susan as to the cause of her distress. At first the words were slow to come and the few that she uttered made little sense. Gradually the words formed sentences and the sentences arranged themselves into a coherent story. A jumble of events was transformed into a logical sequence with a common theme of cause and effect. She had noticed a lump on her scalp, had visited the university health clinic, and had a biopsy performed. “Biopsy!” One thought replaced all others — “benign or malignant?” The results had indicated skin cancer. Cancer, in any form, is a disease with a very powerful ability to capture our attention and unleash great waves of fear within us all. The word itself, and the hopelessness it conjures up, causes us instinctively to whisper condolences; our minds automatically turn to the horrors of chemotherapy. Radiation, hair loss, and death all seemed very real. No wonder poor Susan was devastated.

I quickly collected my thoughts and returned my attention to Susan. Not only had the prognosis scared her, but she had found little or no comfort among her friends. They considered skin cancer a minor affliction, something that affects those whose vanity causes them to tan in the sun too long. The only friend who expressed concern was worried about the possibility of contagious cancerous cells. Her friends, many of them pre-meds aspiring to be compassionate and skilled physicians one day, noted that a simple operation would remove the tumor, and then simply laughed the entire matter away. She had felt foolish about her worries and joined their laughter; however, her smile merely masked her inner worries and fears. It was these repressed fears that had led to her emotional outburst earlier that night.

As I listened to Susan recount these events, I wondered how we had grown so far apart. There were now other guys in her life and many friends I had barely met. I had insisted on emotional distance to allow us to develop independence, but that was ridiculous. Susan was my best friend and I hardly knew what was happening in her life. I soon found myself breaking my silence; until this point, I had hardly needed to prompt Susan to speak and had not even provided soothing remarks. Now, I suddenly started comforting her and validating her feelings. Of course I would be there for her. Of course I understood her fears and worries. Of course I would reach out and touch her?

The interaction of Susan’s revelations and my assurances had produced another outpouring of emotion, hysteria, and tears. Against my will, I found myself reaching out and holding her hand. I promised to stand by her forever, to be the rock against which she could lean, to accompany her to the doctor’s office and the operating room. I never stopped to think of the significance of my valiant pledges; I assumed any good friend would react similarly in the same situation. How could any decent person turn away a desperate woman in such need?

The tears vanished as suddenly as they appeared several times throughout the night. Susan was even stable long enough for me to buy her milk to ease the gastric pains caused by her anxiety. She was literally worrying herself sick. I realized my words of comfort were only temporary measures and were not enough to provide her with long-term support. However, I did not go far enough. Instead of directing Susan to depend on a source far more dependable and stronger than myself — i.e., our Christian faith, her own inner strength, or even a professional care provider — I continued trying to solve her problems myself.

During Susan’s next wave of tears, I found myself putting my arm around her to provide both physical and emotional support. We were soon sitting on the bed next to each other, and I told her a fairy tale. Instead of tackling all of her problems at once, we took each individual concern — e.g., upcoming finals — and magically solved it. Her problems began to seem insignificant and our ability to overcome adversity soon assumed heroic proportions. We were soon laughing, and despair was definitely vanquished, at least for the night. We were both startled to find my arm around her shoulder, but she asked that I continue to hold her for just a few moments longer. I happily complied and we embraced her problems away; along with my soothing words, the simple gesture of a hug was enough to bring peace to Susan’s heart for one night.

Susan had finally found a friend willing to believe and understand her worries; she no longer had to pretend that cancer did not frighten her. She was terrified, and I understood. I was able to mix the almost contradictory states of empathy and aloofness; Susan needed me to share her fears and yet still be strong enough to comfort her. I was her partner in misery and yet also served as her knight in shining armor.

The peace and our renewed closeness were not to last long. Susan and I had consciously maintained a fairly distant friendship over the year and the night’s openness was a glaring exception. Scared of her own feelings and dependence on me, Susan made it a point to avoid me the next few days and answered my queries about her well-being succinctly and coldly. Our relationship stayed in this détente mode for an entire month. During this time, Susan’s doctors were preparing her for the operation. The relatively simple procedure would not involve many days in the hospital and had a very high chance of success.

Susan and I may have never confronted each other had it not been, ironically, for our pride. We continued meeting for meals and engaged in superficial conversation, focused on the weather, sports, and any other topic except for cancer and our friendship. The catalyst for our confrontation was a silly misunderstanding over a dinner. Susan did not show up at the cafeteria at our agreed upon time and made little effort to warn me of the scheduling conflict that caused her absence. This inconvenience, minor under normal circumstances, proved to be the starting point of an intense struggle of wills. We fought to prove who could be the most stubborn and arrogant; the result was a tie, with both of us losing.

Waiting for an apology, I refused to talk with Susan for a week. She decided I was being silly and refused to admit any error on her part. Somehow, we finally searched deep and found the maturity to discuss our differences. The strain of our open hostility during the week and quiet indifference during the month had beaten down both of our wills. We could hold our breath no longer.

We quickly settled the matter about the dinner and then turned our attention to the real cause of the tension between us. For the first time in a month, one of us mentioned the night of the concert, the night I first heard of Susan’s affliction. This talk was very different in character from our last serious discussion; whereas before I had provided support and comfort for a helpless Susan, this was truly a battle of wills between two strong and independent individuals. We discussed issues as varied as our true feelings for each other and Susan’s upcoming operation.

Then Susan confessed that she was disturbed by recent nightmares. I accepted this as a normal reaction to a very difficult semester. One of Susan’s closest friends from home, her Bible study leader there, had committed suicide shortly before Susan found the lump. Adding insult to injury, she learned of his death through a newspaper article, since her family and friends were too scared to tell her. The operation alone would have been overwhelming for any emotionally healthy individual. Given the loss of a dear friend from home, the tension with one’s best friend at school, and the pressures of a very demanding academic schedule, it is a miracle that Susan remained sane; nightmares hardly seemed a cause for alarm.

Then Susan started saying words like “visions” instead of nightmares, and I began to get worried and scared. I had always known that Susan was a charismatic Christian, but had thought little of what such labels meant. She had told me of speaking in tongues during certain prayers and even seeing visions in her dreams as a child, but I had never pushed her to talk about such things. I figured that what I did not know could not hurt me. How wrong I was!

Susan started describing various odors (which others would later ascribe to the sulfur that supposedly accompanies the devil), sounds, and appearances that both she and her roommate had witnessed. They had even called maintenance, which had found the odors but not the cause. Her roommate, neither charismatic nor Christian, had seen, heard, and smelled the same things, but had not known how to interpret the events. I was about to hear Susan’s understanding of her visions and the accompanying disturbances.

A senior in UCF and a leader of my Bible study group had once asked me if I believed in angels, spirits, and other such apparitions. I had recently heard a priest confidently proclaim that the Bible’s words on such phenomena were never meant to be interpreted literally; he had historical evidence that incidents involving spirits were merely metaphors for tangible events. Being a new Catholic and very eager to avoid the subject, I had accepted the priest’s views without question. After I related my doubts, the senior proceeded to describe recent incidents involving mutual acquaintances — e.g., a woman who claimed demons inflicted physical scars on her arms. I remained polite, but incredulous. The issue of spirits did not affect me, and I was thus content to leave its resolution to others. I had no opinions or feelings on the subject.

But Susan was forcing me to take a stand on the entire issue of spirits and charismatic Christians. Having given the subject little thought, I was hardly ready to present an informed opinion. Susan was my closest friend and I would have tried to believe her had she claimed Martians had kidnapped her; friends are supposed to believe in each other even when nobody else does. Despite my verbal reassurances and lack of condemnations, Susan knew me well enough to see that I was having problems accepting her visions and spirits. I was doing everything I could to convey my support and sympathy; however, I was definitely in unfamiliar territory and was overwhelmed by the strength of her convictions. I wavered between my loyalty to Susan and the apparent irrationality of her claims.

I left the room we were in for a moment, on some flimsy pretense, made the sign of the cross in desperation, and pleaded with God for divine assistance. Seconds after I re-entered the room, Susan angrily lashed out at me, telling me she never wanted to talk with me again since I did not love her, and ran out in tears. I tried following her, to no avail. I did not understand what I had done. All I could think was, “Gee, thanks God. So much for prayer.” I realized that Susan had never fully presented her interpretation of the recent events in her life, and I had not had the chance to accept or reject her claims. The entire conversation remained very nebulous in my mind, and many of Susan’s reactions made little sense. I had a vague sense that her anger and tears involved both my inability to care for her and also my inability to understand her recent experiences.

I was stunned, and so was hardly prepared for what was to follow the next day. While Susan’s older sister flew in to provide comfort during this trying time, Susan visited the doctor for one last set of tests. UCF had organized a prayer meeting that night for Susan’s upcoming operation and the intense emotional trials she had endured. I called Susan, in an attempt to make peace, but was greeted with cold indifference. As she was hanging up, I asked if she wanted my presence at the prayer meeting. She declined the offer, but suddenly changed her mind just before the line was disconnected. I, along with several other students, gathered in a classroom, despite the hectic finals schedule, to offer our prayers and support for Susan. Since she was a very active member and Bible study leader in UCF, many upperclassmen were in attendance. These students, the most active and experienced Protestant leaders on campus, came from different churches with different creeds.

The meeting started, as did any other UCF gathering, with group songs and a few prayers. We sat in a circle on the floor so we could face one another. Susan refused to acknowledge my presence when I entered. Though I was accustomed to feeling an emotional high during these meetings, I felt the initial songs were a bit dry. Given the circumstances, the group had lost much of its normal enthusiasm. Susan’s sister then asked for a period of meditative prayer, the entire group would fall silent while individuals would pray aloud “as the Spirit led them.” This is a common practice in both Bible studies and group meetings within UCF. My inexperience as a new Christian and my reserved nature prevented me from speaking during these times; rather, I prayed silently.

After a period of group prayer, a student made a movement to end the meeting. Suddenly, Susan emitted some strange guttural sounds and fell to the floor. She started thrashing about, as if in some sort of seizure. Susan’s sister must have recognized what was happening, for she ordered us to gather around and place our hands on Susan’s prostrate body. I refused to budge from my position and froze in horror. I will never forget the first comprehensible sound that came from Susan; she screamed my name with such an urgency that the chill still travels down my spine whenever I recall this moment.

Confused as to the events occurring before my very eyes, I responded to the desperation and cry for help so evident in Susan’s voice. I wanted to rescue my friend from these horrible people who were holding her down and ridiculing her dignity. I tentatively approached the group and placed the edge of my fingertip on her shoulder, as if afraid of becoming infected with the disease that was ravaging her body. I had yet to realize that the affliction was ravaging her soul.

In a voice I had never heard before or since, Susan accused me: “Bobby, you cannot even love Susan.” Before I even noticed the sound of her voice, I thought it funny that Susan would refer to herself in the third person. Then the full impact of the words hit me. Forgetting the frantic students around me and even poor Susan lying on the floor, I thought of our conversation the day before. The real argument had been whether I was capable of loving Susan. I needed the answer to be yes, more for my sake than ours. I have always been a closed and relatively unemotional person and needed to know that my best friend felt that I at least could love her, due to some very strong remarks made two years before by my former girlfriend (hardly an objective source), I was beginning to doubt that I had the capacity for feeling.

Knowing that I was doing Susan no good, I quickly retreated to the opposite side of the room. Susan proceeded to denounce every individual in the room, often citing very private and confidential information she could not possibly have known on her own. It was information capable of hurting individuals — attacking people, as she did, by revealing their hidden feelings, fears, and worries. The night was just beginning!

The students, led by Susan’s sister and Louise, a member of a charismatic church, engaged in loud and desperate prayers while holding Susan with one hand. Kneeling on the ground, my friends were chanting, “Satan, I command you to leave this woman.” Others exhorted all “demons to leave in the name of Christ.” It is no exaggeration to note the tears and sweat among those assembled. Susan lashed out at the assembled students with verbal assaults.

Though I attempted to maintain a stoic attitude and an expressionless face, my inner fear must have been apparent to all present. I was the only one present who remained silent and apart from the group.

I repeated to myself that such things do not happen to normal people. I had attended a charismatic church once, out of curiosity, but had merely seen a congregation dance wildly, pray enthusiastically, and speak in a language that sounded like gibberish. I wondered how the horror unfolding before my eyes could make any sense. I desperately wanted it all to end, but could not leave.

Then the fear and doubts began. Though I have experienced the normal periods of questioning, I have never come so close to abandoning my faith as I did that night. I could not pray to God. I tried as hard as I could, but I couldn’t. Out of desperation, I called upon the saints to articulate my prayers and rescue me from this living nightmare. Though I had never prayed with the saints before, I began to understand the Church’s teaching of the unity within the One Body. I pleaded with the saints in Heaven to offer God the prayers I was unable to formulate.

Susan’s sister sent someone to call a local minister experienced in such matters. Some desperate part of my brain wondered if we should also call the campus priest. I wanted the full authority of the Church to confront this demon, or whatever was causing this horrible scene. I wanted the priest to bring the Eucharist and watch the spirits fall before the power of Christ’s Real Presence. But I was scared. I wondered what would happen if the Eucharist did nothing and the priest was helpless. What if the consecrated Bread was just bread? What if the Church had no power over the cause of Susan’s bizarre behavior? I was unable to pray and too frightened to test my Church’s spiritual strength.

I, like many other students feeling the effects of the night, was swaying from exhaustion. I was mentally, emotionally, physically, and spiritually drained of everything I possessed. I was ready to give up. I rubbed my hands over my face and through my hair in an attempt to stir hidden reserves of energy. Though her eyes had been closed the entire time and I was kneeling several feet away, Susan must have sensed my actions. Addressing me for the second and last time, Susan told me to leave because I was tired.

Whenever I concentrated long enough to begin prayer, I felt some type of physical force distracting me. It was as if something was pushing down on my chest, making it very hard for me to breathe. Being a biology major at the time, I greeted this feeling with skepticism and rational explanations. I checked my pulse for signs of nervousness and wondered what could cause such a sensation. Shortness of breath is a common symptom that can mean very little or may signal the onslaught of a fatal stroke. Though I could find no cause for my chest pains, I was very scared of what was happening to me and Susan. I began to think that the demon would only attack me if I tried to pray or fight back; thus, I resigned myself to leaving it alone in an attempt to find peace for myself.

I gave up all attempts at prayer and admitted conditional defeat. The effort succeeded and I felt relief immediately. There were no more mysterious forces and I was able to watch the proceedings with the security of an outsider, beyond the immediate reality of the frenzied action I was witnessing. It may have been I was trying too hard to pray and be there for Susan; however, the sense of fear and dread felt like more than mere anxiety at the time.

Maybe she sensed our weariness; whether by plan or coincidence, Susan chose the perfect opportunity to attempt an escape. She suddenly leapt up and ran for the door, despite the many hands holding her down. This burst of action served to revive the tired group of students and they soon had her restrained once again, this time half kneeling and half standing. Alice, a student leader in Campus Crusade for Christ, entered the room for the first time, brandishing a crucifix. Running out of options, UCF had turned to a rival campus Christian group for spiritual tactics. The preacher had denied our request for assistance and recommended that we not confront the demon; his suggestion was a little late. I still wonder if the good preacher was too settled to be roused from bed, or if this supposed expert doubted his own ability to confront whatever harassed Susan.

Alice’s presence countered Susan’s recent burst of energy, and Alice’s confidence inspired us all. Surely Crusade’s experienced leader would be able to rescue us and reaffirm our faith in Christ, the Bible, and everything good. Even I felt confident enough to approach God once again; Susan’s lunge for the door awakened and invigorated me. Strangely, I found myself repeating the Hail Mary until it became a chant. Being a recent convert to Catholicism, I had yet to accept the Catholic doctrines concerning Mary and considered any form of Marian devotion to be idolatry. Though I had never before prayed a Hail Mary in my life, I suddenly found myself incapable of any other form of prayer. Somehow, Mary’s intercessions allowed me to find peace during that long night; I knew that I had survived the worst and that I would exit with my faith intact. It terrified me to recall how close I came to turning away from Christ out of fear.

The crucifix had a calming effect on Susan, and her sister was soon brave enough to bring a Bible to her face. At first, Susan responded to biblical passages with curses and profanities. Mixed in with her vile attacks were short and desperate pleas for help. In the same breath that she attacked Christ, the Bible’s authenticity, and everyone assembled in prayer, Susan would suddenly urge us to rescue her. It appeared as if we were observing a tremendous battle between the Susan we knew and loved and some strange evil force. But the momentum had shifted and we now sensed that victory was at hand.

While Alice and Louise held Susan, her sister continued holding the Bible to her face. Almost taunting the evil spirit that had almost beaten us minutes before, the students dared Susan to read biblical passages. She choked on certain passages and could not finish the sentence “Jesus is Lord.” Over and over, she repeated “Jesus is L..L..LL,” often ending in profanities. In between her futile attempts, Susan pleaded with us to continue trying and often smiled between the grimaces that accompanied her readings of Scripture. Just as suddenly as she went into the trance, Susan suddenly reappeared and claimed “Jesus is Lord.”

With an almost comical smile, Susan then looked up as if awakening from a deep sleep and asked, “Has something happened?” She did not remember any of the past few hours and was startled to find her friends breaking out in cheers and laughter, overwhelmed by sudden joy and relief.

My expression must have betrayed my former fears; Stacy, a freshman I hardly knew, asked about my welfare. I was startled that anyone would be offering me assistance when Susan should have been the focus of attention. I eventually left the room in a stupor. As I was leaving in a crowd, Susan’s sister, who had met me once years before, called my name and asked that I “commit my nightlife to prayer.” I hardly understood what she meant and was startled that others continued to single me out for attention. I nodded and looked gently at Susan, who thanked me for coming.

Though I waited for a friend to avoid being alone during the walk home, the rest of the night proceeded without incident. My nightly prayers, despite my apprehensions, came to me easily and I no longer had any problems approaching God; indeed, I left that night with a reaffirmed faith in God’s power over any force in or out of this world. If the night’s events had not seemed so real, I would have thought my earlier fears silly.

Susan stayed in the house of a missionary with experience in spiritual warfare in foreign countries. Her sister thought it best she stay out of her own room. Susan’s roommate, the daughter of a Hmong faith healer, had decorated the room with supposedly pagan influences. Other theories explaining the night’s events soon surfaced. Susan’s mother had once worshipped and offered a sacrifice at a pagan altar in the Far East for her husband’s health, though he had been healed, she had been warned not to repeat such practices, but had returned to that same altar in the Far East upon hearing of Susan’s illness. The UCF staff member dismissed Susan’s affliction as a psychological disorder, precipitated by the semester’s stress, and advised her to seek professional help. Susan, who had experienced visions and other related phenomena as a child, thought her intense flirting with guys and straying away from God had led to this punishment.

When the operation occurred, the surgeons found no traces of cancerous cells. Susan claimed she had felt healed after the group prayer and can remember the sensation of being “purified”; she saw her physical and spiritual afflictions as being related. The physician’s improbable explanation that the biopsy may have removed all the cancerous tissue is no less far-fetched.

Susan still struggles with the theological implications of her experience. Though she recalls nothing of what happened that night, the tidbits she hears from others terrify her. Can a Christian be “possessed”? What precipitated her attack and will it happen again? Susan has talked with ministers, charismatic pastors, and others. It took months before we could reestablish our friendship and she was able to trust me. Though I do not have the answers she desperately seeks, I have provided comfort and support whenever Susan has fears or doubts. With holy water and blessed crucifixes, I have even given her physical protection from the demons that have only once reappeared, and then for a mere moment. We have resolved the tension in our relationship and I am developing the ability to selflessly care for others.

I now realize that Susan’s initial outburst during the concert was a cry for help. Even more terrifying than the threat of cancer and surgery were her nightly visions. However, Susan and I retreated behind the barriers we had built between us before she had the chance to seek my help. Given my response, it may have been just as well that I had not known about the true cause of her anxiety. I had attempted to solve her problems alone and had not once mentioned the power of prayer or the necessity of relying on God. I cannot imagine the disastrous consequences if I had attempted to confront Susan’s visions with my own strength.

The members and leadership of UCF have never publicly discussed what we witnessed and experienced that night, rationalizing that it may deter new Christians. Most of us were too scared to discuss it even among ourselves. Ironically, Alice, a lapsed Catholic and a practicing Evangelical, had deployed a crucifix blessed by the Pope and given to her by a friend. That night marked the beginning of her and Louise’s investigation into the Church; while serving as presidents of UCF and Campus Crusade for Christ, both left their leadership roles to be confirmed into the Catholic Church. Stacy, the freshman concerned about my welfare, became a close friend and another convert to the Church. Perhaps most amazing of all, Susan, despite her vicious attacks against the Church while in her trance and despite her sister’s staunch opposition, has also become an active member of the Catholic Church.

I left that classroom with a powerful belief in Mary’s intercessions and with many questions about spiritual warfare; I also learned a lasting lesson in humility and the limits of human understanding. Was the purpose of that night served when so many individuals were inducted into the Church? Did I witness spiritual warfare? I do not have the answers, but I do believe in the reality of spirits, angels, and other related phenomena that I can neither touch nor see.

The Bobby Jindal Exorcism – Full Text is a post from: Demon Slayer

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Two Supreme Courts Rule on Exorcism

richard — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 19:14:12 +0000

It has certainly been an exciting month for exorcism in the court systems. This past month two Supreme Courts had things to say about exorcism and those who practice it.

In Singapore, a fascinating case has unfolded about a woman who received an exorcism from two priests at her church; she claimed that the exorcism traumatized her and prevented her from leading a normal life. The Singaporean Supreme Court ruled in favour of the priests and the church (link to the Supreme Court case; here is another article on the matter). The judge’s ruling is lengthy, but two parts stand out:

He said that the defendents (the priests and their assistants from the community) “did what their religion taught them to do”.
He also said that “the substance of the defendants’ actions that night was the ‘invocation of divine assistance by prayer’”

What a wonderful vindication for these priests who, indeed, were doing what they felt was right according to the teachings they had received by their church.

Another interesting point: during the course of the exorcism, the woman had to be restrained. The judge ruled specifically on this, saying that any physical force applied to her that night was to stop her from hurting herself. He found that the defendants had acted reasonably that night and had not been negligent.

I feel this is a huge vindication for exorcists. This ruling validates exorcism as a reasonable response to clear symptoms of possession (such as this woman exhibited) and recognizes that restraining someone for their own protection during exorcism may be reasonable in certain situations.

Speaking of symptoms the woman exhibited, here is a sampling from the court transcript:

Slithering on the floor as a serpent, including accompanying noises;
Acting and dialoguing as a soldier;
Speaking in a deep male voice;
Assuming the name of Satan;
Spitting and cursing violently.

Do not forget that this woman was a member of the church; the priests and other congregants knew her well. Clearly they would have observed this behaviour and understood that it was abnormal in the extreme relative to her regular behaviour.

Some of the dialogue that occurred during the exorcism was reported. For example:

Priest: Who are you?
Plaintiff (in a male voice): I am Lucifer.
Priest: Why have you come?
Plaintiff (in a male voice): You all have no power over me, I am Lucifer. (The Plaintiff spat at the cross). What is your name?
Priest: My name is Simon
Plaintiff (in a male voice): I curse you. You will die in two years’ time. I will come and get all of you in two years’ time.

Given the sudden behaviour change, the dialogue, and particularly the references to being Satan…what do you think? Do you think this woman was possessed? And would you have done the same as the priests did? Let me know by leaving a comment!

Next week: the US Supreme Court also rule on exorcism! Stay tuned!

Two Supreme Courts Rule on Exorcism is a post from: Demon Slayer

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Can Christians Be Possessed?

richard — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 19:39:44 +0000

I stumbled across this web site today and noticed there were several articles discussing whether a Christian can be possessed. Can a Christian be possessed? Yes, Christians can be possessed. I have seen it.

To be clear, I have a lot of respect for the author of gracethrufaith.com; the author seems to be genuinely trying to “interpret” the Bible as little as possible, relying instead on the words as they are written. At the risk of paraphrasing, I think it would be fair to summarize the author’s position on this important question as:

It is not possible for a Christian to be possessed
It is very possible for a Christian to be harassed by Satan, for his life to be interfered with, for her mind to be attacked, etc.

To start with, I certainly agree with the latter; I have written about this before (for example, here and here). Evil is so subtle! Satan would certainly prefer to attack our minds, our faith, and destroy our lives rather than go to all the effort of attacking us directly. Demonic oppression is a common and awful way that demons attack us.

But I would vehemently disagree with the first point. Christians can be possessed. I have seen it, personally, with my own eyes.

I recall one young boy who was the middle son of a very Christian family. The boy – as much as he could for a 10 year old – was devout and believed in Christ. His family also was devout, praying regularly, attending church regularly, contributing to their community. In all senses of the word, this was a good Christian family. I am told that the first signs of trouble were subtle. Unfortunately, by the time we got to him, his illness had progressed to a full blown possession with all of the attendant phenomena. The room around him was freezing even though the rest of the house was warm, he cursed horribly in language which no 10 year old boy could understand, he knew things about us which no person could possibly have known, he could throw off grown men holding him down…it was a mess. Three days later we were able to save him and exorcise the demon. Three years later his family and his community are still broken, their faith shattered, their lives turned upside down.

Why would a demon attack a little boy? Why would demons choose to possess a Christian? I don’t know. I don’t think it is possible to know what motivates demons. But I do know this: by attacking someone so innocent, and largely succeeding, that demon destroyed great faith, innocence, and goodness.

Christians can be possessed. I have seen it. It happens.

Can Christians Be Possessed? is a post from: Demon Slayer

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Am I Going Crazy?

richard — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 04:50:16 +0000

As one of the few unbiased resources for exorcism related material on the web, we at Demon Slayer get a large number of inquiries every month. These inquiries come from people from all walks of life. By far the most common question we get goes something like this:

“I have experienced symptoms X, Y, and Z. Nobody understands me and/or nobody believes me and/or the doctors are baffled. Am I going crazy??”

The short answer is: no. No, you are not going crazy.

The long answer is … well, the long answer is pretty interesting.

The Long Answer to “Am I Going Crazy?”

The long answer goes something like this:

No, you are not crazy. As far back as we have recorded history, human beings have recognized that there is a war going on out there between forces of good and forces of evil. Furthermore, of the major religions of our world today, ALL OF THEM without exception recognize that there are demons, aka evil spirits, whose sole purpose in this world it is to harm humans.

It is only in our modern era, where we have embraced the religion of all that is measurable and quantifiable, that we have lost the basic understanding of good and evil. The fact is that our scientific era is only a few hundred years old. But for a few THOUSAND years, we have known that there are such things as demons, basic forces of evil on this planet, and that these demons were there to inflict pain upon us humans.

When a client comes to us and asks the question “Am I Crazy?” or “Am I Going Crazy?”, the reason they are asking this question is that their set of symptoms do not fit into a currently defined paradigm of modern science or medicine. For example, modern science says that things do not levitate off the ground without the aid of (possibly invisible) wires, ropes, etc. So understandably, someone who finds their son levitating even slightly off his bed each night is going to have a hard time understanding what is going on. “Modern science says that what I am seeing with my very own eyes is impossible. Therefore, the only remaining conclusion is that I must be going crazy.”

My dear client, I am here to tell you that there is another possibility. That other possibility begins with the realization that science does not have an explanation for everything yet. That other possibility is that what we have known for millenia is right: demons exist, and you are not crazy. So…in rare circumstances – so rare that it is basically not possible for science to systematically study – it is possible for things or people to levitate. It is possible for people who have their eyes closed to projectile vomit with incredible accuracy. It is possible for people to speak in languages they do not know. It is possible for an unseen something to enter your bedroom and touch you. What you are experiencing is possible. And you are not going crazy.

Actually, examples like the ones I have just mentioned (levitation, speaking in tongues, etc.) are relatively clear-cut. Over the centuries, exorcists have come to agree on a set of symptoms which show the probability of the presence of demons. These symptoms include:

Feeling like someone or something else is controlling you. You may feel controlled all the time or only some of the time.
Feeling like someone or something is pressuring you to do certain acts.
Hearing one or multiple voices in your head that are negative, persuasive, or commanding you to do something. For example, hearing a voice persuade you that a certain friend should be avoided, or asking you to let them “in” to your life in some way.
Deep personality changes. For example, someone stays at home all the time when they used to be very gregarious.
Creepy feelings.
An area of your house or your neighbourhood which feels negative or oppressive.
Any kind of phenomena. For example, scratching sounds, things falling off walls or shelves, religious or spiritual items being moved or changed.
Feeling attacked when others do not see or experience anything. Sometimes this feeling of being attacked may come with physical pain that is medically inexplicable. Usually it will come with psychological pain of some sort – terror or anguish for example.
An aversion to prayer or an inability to pray.
Being unable to stand any contact with religious or spiritual items. For example, sudden strong aversion to going into a church or temple, aversion to being touched by a crucifix, and so on.

The symptoms listed above are quite clear. On the other hand, as I have written before (here and here, for example), demons rarely employ flashy or showy attacks. They are much more likely to attack us in our minds than to attack us physically. Symptoms of a demon attacking your mind are much more difficult to diagnose. With symptoms like these, demons may be involved, but there is also a likelihood of psychological or psychiatric issues which must be considered. Examples of these symptoms include:

Thinking thoughts which are “not like you” or which “seem to come from somewhere else” or which “come out of the blue”.
Sudden depression. Sometimes the depression is severe, sometimes it is very subtle.
Feeling like suicide, like life is not worth living or wondering why you are here.
Having severe arguments with your spouse or friends.
Feelings of hopelessness.

If you are experiencing one or more of these symptoms

If you are experiencing one or more of the symptoms listed in this article and also listed here, or if you are experiencing other symptoms which you cannot explain, take heart that you are not alone. There are many others like you. Symptoms that may seem strange, even inexplicable or impossible, to science and medicine are par for the course for those like us at Demon Slayer who deal day in and day out with the inexplicable, the strange, and sometimes the scary.

If you think you are going crazy

First of all: if you feel you are in immediate danger, do not hesitate and promptly seek medical or police attention. We at Demon Slayer are not first responders. Those brave men and women are trained and are close to you – they should be your first recourse if you feel immediately in danger.

Second, we recommend that all of our prospective clients seek a medical and/or psychological evaluation. Certainly if you have symptoms in the 2nd group then a psychological evaluation would be appropriate. And equally certainly for some symptoms, such as “phenomena” (e.g. levitation), a medical evaluation is not going to be very helpful. But in general, if the symptoms could in any way be related to a physical illness or a psychological illness, we suggest that our clients start by getting a medical and/or psychological evaluation.

I have done that, and I still think I’m going crazy (aka medicine and psychology could not help me)

To be honest, by the time our clients get to us, the vast majority of them have gone through numerous medical and psychological evaluations – to no avail. If you are one of these people, take heart.

The unfortunate truth is that modern medicine is simply unable to help those afflicted by demons. Of course this is understandable: how can medicine cope with something which they do not admit the existence of?

Herein lies a catch-22: if science is not able to diagnose the presence of demons, then how do you know if the symptoms you are experiencing are the result of demonic influence? That is where we come in. Part of the training of an exorcist is to learn to be able to identify demon-sourced symptoms and situations. Consider the possibility that demons are involved in your situation. Contact us. We will work with you in a no pressure environment to help you determine if demons might be involved. If after discussing your situation we, together, decide that demons are likely at work, we can help you get relief. Our testimonials are testament to our effectiveness. We have helped others; we likely can help you.

No, you are not crazy. There are many others like you. We can help. Contact us.

Am I Going Crazy? is a post from: Demon Slayer

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Possession is not the only game in town! The Top 3 Ways Demons Attack Us

richard — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 00:32:38 +0000

If we say nothing else about demons, let us say this: demons are smart. A demon will use no more effort than is necessary to accomplish their aim – and they have had centuries, even millenia, to perfect their approach.

I have commented on the Demon Slayer web site that a demon usually does not manifest itself as a big hairy monster and come charging into your living room to engage in a manly brawl where great destruction is waged to all and sundry. Heck no! Demons are far smarter than that! Why waste so much effort when, by being a little bit patient and a little bit cunning, a demon can have us wage the destruction all on our own?

This is truly the way of demons.

Total Possession Is Rare

Total demonic possession – such as was shown in scenes from The Exorcist – is very rare! While it does happen fortunately these situations are rare. (As an aside, the Demon Slayer team has extensive experience working in such situations.) Total possession is intensely damaging both to the possessed and quite honestly to all those who come in contact with the possessed. Being possessed and even being witness to a possession can sear the soul for years and years. Healing is possible – resuming a normal life is possible – but no one is ever the same afterwards. Innocence truly is lost.

So the good news is that completely possessing a person like what is shown in the movies takes an enormous amount of effort for the demon and puts it at great risk. A demon will usually not go to so much risk and trouble…but when they do, you know the odds are heavily stacked against you!

Infestation is a Favorite

So if total possession is out, then what kinds of mischief remain? A favorite is known as “demonic infestation”. With demonic infestation, the demon basically “hangs out” and causes all kinds of pain and suffering but without actually taking up permanent residence inside a single person. In these situations the demon can attach themselves to a place (e.g. a home or a business or a graveyard), a person, an object (e.g. a cursed jewelery box), or even a family lineage.

In this situation the demon is free to cause great pain and suffering. Worse, since they are not bound to a particular person, the demon can affect many people all at once. Also, the demon can come and go at will. This makes eliminating them quite challenging because first you have to hunt them down, then fight them and finally expel them or deal with them in some other way.

Just like an infestation of bugs or rats, demonic infestation tends to get worse the longer it is allowed to go on. This is not a time to play around! Calling in REAL experts is the best way forward.

Dealing with infestation the right way is key!

As an aside, I am always a little sad when I hear of people who thought they had a demon problem and so they called in a priest or some other “expert” to bless the house. Along comes this expert and they bless the house and then they leave. But in the case of a demonic infestation, the demon was not tied to the house per se, so of course when the expert was there doing his thing the demon just left! And then, predictably, a while later it returned to torment the poor people some more. What is so sad about this is how people lose hope that their situation could ever be solved. This is not the way to deal with infestation! The demon literally has to be found, almost hunted down, and then destroyed!

Obsession, Obsession, Obsession…and more Obsession

Demonic obsession is the other favorite tactic of demons. With demonic obsession, the demon is attacking us through our minds! Demons are great masters at making us think thoughts and feel feelings – feelings like anger, rage, hopelessness, being totally alone or abandoned, despair, depression, sadness, overwhelming guilt, longing, desperation, and so on! The demon wages a campaign of psychological terror on their victim, causing them to feel increasingly isolated and alone and increasingly in psychological anguish, terror and pain.

Demons love this stuff!

One of the most common things we hear from prospective clients who come to us is: I think I’m crazy. No one has been able to validate their experiences, yet they are feeling things which they know are not right. At some level, deep, deep inside of us, even the most desperately demonically oppressed person retains their connection to God and knows, clearly and certainly, that the horrible things they are feeling come from outside themselves.

Only An Expert Can Help

These situations – possession, obsession, infestation – are very serious. Demons are actively malicious beings who wish great harm on people and who have the experience, motivation, and means to accomplish their goal. Eliminating demons is difficult – frankly, it is life threatening. It should be left to the experts. Please contact us to discuss your situation so that we can help you as soon as possible. The Demon Slayer team is a large team of professional, discrete experts. This is all we do — let us help you.

Possession is not the only game in town! The Top 3 Ways Demons Attack Us is a post from: Demon Slayer

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Top 10 Signs You Have a Ghost – A Quick Guide to the Paranormal

richard — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 01:21:45 +0000

Is my house haunted?? Key Signs to Note!

Here are some key signs to pay attention to. If you are experiencing more than 3 or 4 of these signs in one place, chances are you have a situation going on with ghosts.

Unexplained noises
Doors, cabinets, drawers opening and closing
Lights turning on and off
Items disappearing and reappearing
Objects moving by themselves
Unexplained shadows
Animals behave strangely
Feelings of being watched
Feelings of being touched
Cold or hot spots

What the heck is a ghost anyway?

A ghost is a being (usually a person but sometimes an animal) that has died but has not passed on to the next phase of their evolution. Since they have not passed on, ghosts are present in the same physical reality that we all live in. Ghosts are all around us – they are present far more than we realize.

In many ways ghosts are just like people. The movies have done a good job of portraying the truth about this for us. Ghosts have a history, they have thoughts and emotions, and they have a purpose (more on that later).

Most of us cannot “see” ghosts. In other words most of us do not see ghosts with our naked eyeballs the way we see a table or this keyboard that I am typing on. But most of us absolutely do “sense” ghosts. In a way, the fact that we sense ghosts but do not see them is what makes it creepy: a part of us knows that something is there, yet other parts of us are asserting there is nothing. Our senses go on high alert. Tension builds as we strain to see what we sense – yet we cannot…background music begins to play…Oh wait, that’s a movie!!

So how does one become a ghost?

Usually (but not always) ghosts are still here in our world because they need to achieve some kind of resolution. For example:

Someone who has died suddenly or violently may be trying to work out WHY it happened to them.
Someone who could not bear to leave their beloved children may stay behind to watch over them.
Someone who was angry may stay behind to exact revenge.

Generally speaking, ghosts are interested in obtaining resolution to their problem and moving on. Ghosts, like humans, can get confused; often a ghost has been so traumatized by their experience that they don’t really realize what is happening to them. In their confusion they don’t realize what they need and frequently even don’t realize that they are dead.

Is it a ghost? Is it a demon? It’s all Greek to me!

There is some overlap between symptoms of demons and symptoms of ghosts. Here is the basic rule:

Ghosts are by and large benign,
Demons are actively interested in harming people.

A ghost will certainly cause harm if provoked (the definition of “provoked” depends on why the ghost has stayed here). But a ghost generally is not consumed by a passion to cause pain, suffering and destruction of humans. Demons are very focused on causing pain and suffering – either of one particular person, a family, a lineage, or just people in general.

OK. I have a ghost. Or maybe a demon. Now what?

Ghosts, in their confusion, may cause harm to people. And demons (who are certainly not confused!) are definitely interested in causing harm to people. Either situation is best left to professionals. At Demon Slayer we are very experienced at removing both ghosts and demons. This is what we do full time all the time. If you think you might have a situation with ghosts, please contact us now so we can help you as soon as possible!

Top 10 Signs You Have a Ghost – A Quick Guide to the Paranormal is a post from: Demon Slayer

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Launch of the Demon Slayer Blog!

richard — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 05:53:21 +0000

Demons, demons, everywhere…I have long thought that we should start a blog on this web site, but quite honestly we are so busy traveling and working that it has been hard to conceive of maintaining a regular posting schedule or anything like that.

BUT! There is so much to say, so much to share, information and thoughts which are better suited to informal blog entries rather than specific pages on a web site…In the end I feel that the sharing of information is worth the risk that occasionally we may not be able to keep up a regular posting schedule.

Our hopes for this blog include:

Helping you, our readers, get to know us better – as real people rather than as an impersonal web page;
Sharing information about this world that is based on our experience – about demons, possession, exorcism, deliverance, healing after possession, and much more;
Answering questions you may have.

We encourage you to post questions or comments, either here or over e-mail. We travel extensively to do our work of clearing and exorcism, so we cannot always promise an instant response, but we sure do promise to read every note and every e-mail – we will respond as we are able.

Launch of the Demon Slayer Blog! is a post from: Demon Slayer

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