exorcism?

[danni182x]

Well i dont know if anything like this has been posted before so sorry if it has!

But i was watching the Original exorcist film last night which is supposely based on a true story and started thinking about all the other movies that are similiar and claim the same thing.
(I know the films will be more dramatic and not as factual).

But i was just wondering what everyone's opinion on this sort of thing is?
Does anyone beleive in any of the individual cases,or that it is possible to be possessed/taken over by the devil or some sort of demon?

And how to the church feel about this sort of thing? Does it actually happen these days, is it a something that happens often or do churches steer away from it?

When someone claims to be possessed...what actually happens to them?
Why would the devil or a demon choose to possess a certain person?

Dont wanna offend anyone, just want some opinions

Here's some info about some of the cases that have been made into movies.


http://www.chasingthefrog.com/reelfaces/emilyrose.php

http://www.associatedcontent.com/art..._exorcist.html

[Union Of V]

It's been a while since I looked this up... It has worked in some cases, but the evidence points more to a placebo or self-healing effect since no other supernatural occurances occur alongside the exorcism (so more "The Exorcism Of Emily Rose" than "The Exorcist"). The Catholic Church is very very reluctant to accept the idea of exorcism, contrary to popular belief.

[Voldemort]

Unfortunately I can't answer any of the questions you asked but I'm an open minded person and it seems possible. I can understand why lots of people are very opposed to the idea.
The second article seemed more believable for some reason, but maybe that's just me.
And congratulations for being able to watch that film. No way I could watch it.

[John 6:29]

For a time, in the Early Church, and is Jesus days (perhaps prior), I believe that demons were possessing people. I'm not sure about anymore, but I will not deny that it's possible. I've heard of some people (semi-close relationship-wise to me) in contact with demons, but for me, I'm very skeptical on those things.

Biblically, I am in the "it's possible but be skeptical" camp. Paul said to the Corinthians that Spiritual gifts and the like would end, which I would assume demon possessions would end as well. But again, I don't know. I cannot limit God or demons for that matter. And why demon possessions would end, I cannot really say. It's just my opinion. I'd definitely say it's possible, but I'm not sure on today's plausibility of it.

I'd say most Christians believe in such things, but I don't know, I'm just reluctant. I don't deny it, but I just don't know.

It's the same things with "speaking in tongues" and prophecy for me. A lot of people claim to have it, but I'm skeptical of them. I guess I'm kind of pessimistic on such ideas. I think the Bible shows that such things will end, but I can't really prove it. Nor do I want to deny it to it's entirety.

This site is usually fairly accurate and biblical (sometimes they're off), and I haven't read this yet, but it might be worth it if you're really interested:
http://www.gotquestions.org/demon-possession.html

[edit]
As to why a demon would possess anyone, I'd assume to keep them from God. The Devil is "the father of all lies," and there is a spirit in this world at work in all those opposed (non-followers) to Christ. The Bible also mentions that the god of this world (the physical world -- namely Satan), has blinded (not physically but spiritually) the world. So main purpose: I'd guess deception. So, that being said, I'd assume that if one was possessed, the demon/the devil wouldn't want the possessed to know. It's been said before, "The Devil's greatest objective is to get mankind to believe he [and the supernatural for that matter] doesn't exist."

[The Man And XX Master]

Years ago the Church did believe this, although even to this day, some people still believe in being possessed by a demon or the devil and exorcisms were the cure. I believe they're placebos with dramatic flash to them, especially in the movies. The thing of speaking some other language that you don't know and need an interpreter to translate, I've never bought into because in the churches with all the high adrenaline, anyone can babble away claiming that it's the work of their god. Some others would buy into it and the translator would probably translate into things that the bible states already so it's nothing amazing. The odd thing though is when people say that the Holy Spirit or God will work through you and such, to me that sounds like possession because it's saying if you accept a supernatural being to guaruntee your arrival at heaven by doing certain things, that's exactly like demonic possession, only you're not going to heaven. Not all people who believe also accept this and I don't want to make it seem like all do but many do, even some people on TH do.

To answer why a devil or demon would possess someone, you've got to look into occulate stuff, demonolatry and some polytheistic Satanism. I've looked into the last one for pure interest and it states that not all demons would possess people and not all are bad. There are some invocation passages to say, even for Satanism and some demons would have their own. As for why a random demon would randomly possess someone, that first requires belief demons exist (not a believer of that) and have to be a believer of possession.