Is diabolical possession a fact or a myth?

[tonyrey]

What do you think and why?

If it is a fact is there any reason why some people are possessed?

 

[Charlemagne_III]

M.Scott Peck’s book *People of the Lie *is instructive.

A psychiatrist, Peck attended several exorcisms as a skeptic; but later, based on his observations of the ones being exorcised, he expressed his conviction that demonic possession is a fact.

Why possession occurs is anybody’s guess. Peck seems to think that the victims of possession have somehow given themselves over to possession by consent. This would be to surrender to the supreme lie that evil is preferable to good.

John 8:42

“42 Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I have come here from God. I have not come on my own; God sent me. 43 Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say. 44 You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.”

 

[tonyrey]

M.Scott Peck’s book *People of the Lie *is instructive.

A psychiatrist, Peck attended several exorcisms as a skeptic; but later, based on his observations of the ones being exorcised, he expressed his conviction that demonic possession is a fact.

Why possession occurs is anybody’s guess. Peck seems to think that the victims of possession have somehow given themselves over to possession by consent. This would be to surrender to the supreme lie that evil is preferable to good.

John 8:42

“42 Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I have come here from God. I have not come on my own; God sent me. 43 Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say. 44 You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.”

Thanks for that swift reply, Charlie. Christians who reject possession need to explain what Jesus was doing when he "cast out devils.

I think the victims don’t necessarily give their consent explicitly but demonstrate by their behaviour they are ignoring Christ’s teaching and are on the side of the enemy at least to some extent

I believe my friend who committed suicide was possessed because, among other reasons, I said something that upset her and she looked at me in a way I shall never forget. It’s the only time in my long life I’ve felt really afraid and in the presence of evil. Usually she was a mild person and so depressed she didn’t say anything for hours on end…

 

[AnneElizabeth]

Thanks for that swift reply, Charlie. Christians who reject possession need to explain what Jesus was doing when he "cast out devils.

I think the victims don’t necessarily give their consent explicitly but demonstrate by their behaviour they are ignoring Christ’s teaching and are on the side of the enemy at least to some extent

I believe my friend who committed suicide was possessed because, among other reasons, I said something that upset her and she looked at me in a way I shall never forget. It’s the only time in my long life I’ve felt really afraid and in the presence of evil. Usually she was a mild person and so depressed she didn’t say anything for hours on end…

I’m sorry to hear about your friend. My condolences and sympathy.

I think you may be confusing oppression with possession. A soul can be oppressed by a demon. In your friend’s case, it is most likely the case. I’m not really sure about that, but that is what I read before.

You are certainly correct in your statement about Christians who reject the notion of possession… Those who do are those in which it is written in 2 Timothy 3:5:

“having a form of godliness** but denying the power thereof. **From such turn away.”

Psychology and science makes it all too easy to dismiss spiritual notions as fantasy. Its a terror when those in charge of the church employ those studies to cover over that which could be spiritual. It denies a soul in need of hope.

 

[JurisPrudens]

What do you think and why?

If it is a fact is there any reason why some people are possessed?

Of course, what I gonna tell you is not a real “possession”, but still…

Every time I get close enough to God and become really devout, “something” in my subconsciousness rebels against this and starts trying to pull me back. My speaking blasphemies against the Lord in my mind. By making me suddenly make absolutely wild and crazy deeds. And I sincerely do not wish all this, but it is extremely hard to resist!

If this is not the devil, I don’t know what it is.

 

[ChurchSoldier]

I’m not sure what accepatable evidence of a fact would be, but I would say it is incontrovertible that people have been, and some currently are possessed.

How does it happen? Basically people need to call upon a spirit and give permission for it to enter. As has been stated, this could be through action such as a ouija board or calling upon a spirit to show up such as visiting a medium, psychic or ghost hunting.

This is why the “kid’s games” which call upon spirits are so dangerous.

 

[ChurchSoldier]

Of course, what I gonna tell you is not a real “possession”, but still…

Every time I get close enough to God and become really devout, “something” in my subconsciousness rebels against this and starts trying to pull me back. My speaking blasphemies against the Lord in my mind. By making me suddenly make absolutely wild and crazy deeds. And I sincerely do not wish all this, but it is extremely hard to resist!

If this is not the devil, I don’t know what it is.

Could be a variety of things. Generally if people are having that type of trouble it is suggested they talk to a psychiatrist to rule out a psychological issue and a Priest to discuss their concerns.

Sorry you are having difficulty.

 

[Vivian42]

It may be real, but it’s a subjective thing. It can’t be demonstrated. It’s also usually confused with mental illness and other deviations.

However, given that there’s still the possibility of it being real… why do demons ,from the cases of possible possession that I’ve read about, act so idiotic (sorry, for the lack of better terms)?
Growling , spitting and swearing shouldn’t intimidate any serious person and can’t they seriously hide their presence? It’s plain dumb to trash the body around and make spooky sounds to frighten people. I don’t know, I know that they’re supposed to be very intelligent. This doesn’t seem intelligent - demonic possession alone.

This isn’t meant to be offensive. Can anybody clarify?

 

[Upgrade25]

Pfft. In elementary school voices in my head whispered my name.

Now they whisper Jesus doesn’t really love you, and heresies like predestination, sola fide, and works alone. All three!

They also tell me to recite the shahada, the Muslim profession of faith; to deny God, deny Jesus as God, or even having existed at all; deny the Catholic Church for Orthodoxy or Protestantism, Judaism, Islam, Mormonism, JW, deism, etc. .

I also am struggling with a few certain sins, and am situationally depressed.

Would that be considered oppression?

 

[peter26]

Demonic possession (and exorcism for that matter) is in the Bible.

And when he went forth to land, there met him out of the city a certain man, which had devils long time, and ware no clothes, neither abode in any house, but in the tombs.

28 When he saw Jesus, he cried out, and fell down before him, and with a loud voice said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God most high? I beseech thee, torment me not.

29 (For he had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. For oftentimes it had caught him: and he was kept bound with chains and in fetters; and he brake the bands, and was driven of the devil into the wilderness.)

30 And Jesus asked him, saying, What is thy name? And he said, Legion: because many devils were entered into him.

31 And they besought him that he would not command them to go out into the deep.

32 And there was there an herd of many swine feeding on the mountain: and they besought him that he would suffer them to enter into them. And he suffered them.

33 Then went the devils out of the man, and entered into the swine: and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the lake, and were choked.

Luke 8:27-33

 

[Micosil]

There seem to be a handful of documented cases that have, perhaps not compelling, but nevertheless interesting things going on that make one think that something strange is happening.

This relatively recent event has bizarre testimony from medical staff, social service workers and senior police officers:

dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2546850/Children-possessed-200-demons-levitated-walked-backwards-walls-hospital-staff.html

There’s a channel on YouTube with related videos. This one details the more well known documented cases.

Read, watch, and judge for yourself.

One thing I will say though. Don’t get too caught up with this issue. Yes, it is a Church teaching that angels who fell became demons, yes, they can oppress us, they can even possess us.

But a detailed, thorough knowledge of this issue is the domain of demonologists and exorcists. As one gets deeper into a rational inquiry of this issue, the allure of the “dark arts” can become stronger… And if you’re not spiritually prepared, going one-one-one with a fallen angel is extremely dangerous.

In the words of St. Peter: “Be sober, be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking some one to devour.”

 

[Josie33]

Here are talks about spiritual warfare given by exorcist Fr. Chad Ripperger, which may answer some of these questions: Demons & Possession and see also Weapons Against the Demonic.

God bless

 

[edwest2]

The Church always rules out psychological conditions first.

boston-catholic-journal.com/an-interview-with-father-gabriele-amorth-the-church’s-leading-exorcist.htm

ncregister.com/daily-news/mexican-exorcist-among-sainthood-causes-advanced-by-pope/

amazon.com/Exorcist-Tells-His-Story/dp/0898707102/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1456698260&sr=1-1&keywords=exorcist

Ed

 

[Dorothy]

Of course, what I gonna tell you is not a real “possession”, but still…

Every time I get close enough to God and become really devout, “something” in my subconsciousness rebels against this and starts trying to pull me back. My speaking blasphemies against the Lord in my mind. By making me suddenly make absolutely wild and crazy deeds. And I sincerely do not wish all this, but it is extremely hard to resist!

If this is not the devil, I don’t know what it is.

If you have not spoken to a priest about this…please do. Of course the evil one would attempt this when one is trying to get closer to the Lord…a holy experienced priest can give you much help.

I will keep you in my prayers,

Peace in Jesus and Mary,

Dorothy

 

[Charlemagne_III]

As one gets deeper into a rational inquiry of this issue, the allure of the “dark arts” can become stronger… And if you’re not spiritually prepared, going one-one-one with a fallen angel is extremely dangerous."

To be sure. If we can be successfully tempted to sin by the devil, we can be successfully tempted by the devil to let him into possession of our bodies. In a gamble with the devil, the house usually wins.

Yet as Vivian noted above, the devil is not so clever (perhaps even idiotic) in the long run. His short gain is possession of a body, but he suffers a heavy loss in the revelation that he truly exists and is the personification of evil. This strategy is self defeating, since if we become increasingly convinced of the devil’s existence, we have all the more reason to believe in the existence of his chief adversary … God Almighty.

 

[Bookcat]

Fact.

See the Sacred Scriptures, the Catechism of the Catholic Church, the reality of Exorcists (and their experience with such) and the Rite of Exorcism…etc

 

[hu324b]

Father Juan José Gallego, the exorcist for the archdiocese of Barcelona, Spain has done interviews - look it up on the internet.

 

[Joelle_M]

Fact. 100%

Read Hostage to the Devil. There are 5 documented cases of possession detailed in the book. They go in depth with each victim, as well as the exorcist. It’s quite eye opening. I was terrified of possession before, but now in understanding it more I fear it less. The devil is real- and he can only take over if you give in. Unfortunately for those who are possessed- most don’t understand what’s happening to them since they either don’t believe, or are just too broken to know what to do.

 

[PolarGuy]

It is most assuredly real.

Fr. Malachi Martin wrote a book called Hostage to the Devil, detailing 5 cases of diabolic possession. It’s a true story. It is also the most terrifying book I’ve ever read, so much so that it made an impact on me for years afterward. I recommend it highly, assuming readers could get through it. This stuff is no for the faint of heart or faith.

 

[St_Francis]

I posted this elsewhere–I can’t figure out how to copy the post it links to so I apologize for the maze like aspect of this.Fr Ripperger’s talks are very informative, and he also says that a lot of demonic activity can be taken care of with meditative prayer and frequent (like weekly) Confession.

Here is a link to a post which links and explains information which you might find helpful. Fr Ripperger is a priest with the FSSP (in union with Rome), and some of the other talks may also be useful; you will be able to tell from their titles.

If you need more help in these lines, your diocese should be able to direct you to an exorcist, who will require a psych evaluation, probably with someone he knows.

ETA: Exorcists work with all levels of demonic influence, not just possessions.