Exorcism

[society]

What do you think about exorcism? Do you believe performing exorcism is evil?
Do you think it's a form of voodoo or witchcraft?

[beso]

Not voodoo or witchcraft but rooted deeply in the rites of the Abrahamic faiths.

[trt]

Sorry society, I thinks its a load of dogs bollocks!

[LazyGun]

I think it is primitive nonsense, and I do believe in this day and age some of the rituals surrounding exorcism could be considered evil.

This article, for instance, from 2014 where 2 kids are murdered as a consequence of exorcism rituals;
http://edition.cnn.com/2014/01/19/justice/maryland-exorcism-deaths/

[society]

I think it (exorcism) is a cult which falls in the same category as voodoo and witchcraft.

[Graham-W]

I find it significant that the number of exorcisms carried out by the catholic faith declined to almost zero until the 1950's and 60's, when films turned to haunting, daemonology etc, and brought it back into the public eye.

[sandyRoe]

It is almost as old as Mother Church itself. Remember the Gadarine Swine?

[Graham-W]

Exorcism isn't a cult. It's a set procedure carried out by the Roman Catholic Church in a belief that it will remove a daemon from someones body. Catholicism isn't a cult.

[Graham-W]

Just checked and other, mainstream religions, also practice exorcism.
Notably: Hinduism, Islam, Judaism and some other Christian religions.

[society]

Sooo... praying over someone and burning of incense to remove or drive out the demon is just nonsense?

[Graham-W]

Depends whether YOU believe it or not.
I choose to think it's a load of cack.

[nescio]

Just remember - if you have an exorcism, make sure you pay for it, or you may be repossessed.

I'll get my coat...

[Davethedog]

Man & Woman needed an answer to the inexplicable. What were stars, where did the Sun go at night etc When these things were unexplainable, it had to be because of a great deity in the sky. Therefore anything that was un explainable was because of the deity.

When someone had an unexplainable mental illness, this was against the deitys "teachings" and there for had to be the work of the devil. Remember an illness like Epilepsy has been recorded since the beginning of recorded history - in fact it means possess in ancient greek.

As with so many things in ancient superstition and the "holy" books science has superseded all that has gone before it, showing these superstions for what they are.

So yes performing an excorcism is evil because there is a physical reason why someone is afflicted and it isn't possession.

[society]

Dave, then you believe praying is evil?

[Graham-W]

In the guidelines for a Catholic exorcism it stresses, "Priests are instructed to carefully determine that the nature of the affliction is not actually a psychological or physical illness before proceeding."

[2sp_]

The main problem I have with exorcism is that the poor souls who are/were subjected to it are/were usually suffering from mental health issues, or from seizures caused by epilepsy or other conditions.

How on earth can any rational person think that these conditions can be cured by hocus pocus.

Dangerous to the extreme.

[LazyGun]

@ Society - Exorcism is not always just "praying" though is it, Society? Read the link I provided you with; And there have been several instances in the news of children poorly treated over the primitive idea that they are "possessed".

[sandyRoe]

It should be left in the hands of people who know what they're doing.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-17255470

[Old_Geezer]

I think we could all do with more exorcise, or so the doctor tells me.

I have no idea if it actually does something but as far as I see it is only as evil or good as the result it achieves. If it causes problems for someone then it is bad. If it gives hope and so forth then it's fine.

[RATTER15]

Exorcism is a load of silly nonsense, usually used to extract non existent spirits and money from somebody, a bit like spiritualists and lawyers.

[Davethedog]

Society no I believe its futile