Deliver Us From Evil

[Satori]

Ok, this is pretty odd.

Last night there was a whacky show on The Learning Channel about modern day exorcisms (no kidding, it actually still goes on).

Before I write some of the details, I want to say that this was not pleasant for me to watch, and here's why: I felt embarassed and sorry for those poor people, but at the same time I was shocked and amused by their antics. This created a weird blend of emotions in me that I really can't describe. Maybe disgust, empathy, and apprehension about covers it. Anyway, it was highly unpleasant to watch.

Perhaps needless to say, all this took place in the southern US, mostly Texas, where such things are much more common than we'd like to believe. The show started out with this dude named Larson who is a small-time televangelist/exorcist, he was holding some gathering and he started "calling out demons". He would say things like "I'm calling out the demons that are causing anger, heart problems, headaches..." and people in the place would start moaning and growling and stuff. It was the most ridiculous thing I've ever seen. He brought one (middle-aged obese) woman up to the front and there he and some other people wearing doileys on their heads (you know, those round flat crotia things your gramma puts on her coffee tables underneath pictures and vases and stuff) "exorcized" the woman's demons. The woman struggled and said "no" a lot, and "we are not leaving" in snarled voice and basically acted out a scene from the movie the Exorcist. I thought she was obviously faking it for attention, but perhaps she was a little insane too, she just didn't seem like it.

A commentor said that after the movie the Exorcist came out, the numbers of supposed demonic possessions and exorcists to treat them shot way up, showing how suggestable people really are.

Anyway, this silly woman who got exorcized later got a "recovered memory" (cough, cough), one that happened when she was really young, she was forced to take part in a "satanic black mass" and "stab a newbon baby" to death. hehe. This woman's church, the one that exorcized her, of course "believed" her delusion and just made it deeper and worse I think. This woman has apparently been exorcized a number of times, but the demons keep coming back (?). It's hilarious, and sad (see, those conflicting emotions again).

They showed a woman with schizophrenia getting exorcized, a 3 day ritual. This was the most disturbing part of the show because she's actually sick, she's not just unloved or unhappy and seeking attention, or simply deluded. She was pretty severe and was on VERY heavy medication. They were holding her down and yelling at her for hours, and this went on for 3 whole days. Schiz. experts said that such a traumatic experience can likely cause a "psychotic break" in such a patient, from which "they may never recover", so it's not as if this is harmless fun. Anyway, after yelling at this poor sick womans "demons" for long time and her having many schiz. hallucinations and passing out from exhaustion and such, the woman said she felt the demons leaving her. Then one of the people in the room yelling at her and holding her down, a woman, "caught" the demon from the schiz. patient and started doing her own impression of the little girl from the exorcist movie. She was not a very good actress, and it was just ridiculous and I felt embarassed for her in a very deep sense. Then the schiz. patient was encouraged to help exorcize the demon from this woman, so they all yelled at the other woman for a few minutes and then the demon left her and all was well. Then about 10 minutes later the schiz. patient had more visual hallucinations, she had "caught the demon again". Oh boy. Isn't that sad?

There's even a some guy doing exorcisms over the radio ways, casting out the demons of people who call in. It really is that whacky. Amazing.

One exorcist even said something like "I'm calling out all yoga demons, all those demons that entered people through yoga.." hehe. I guess "demons" just love it when people breathe and stretch, hhehe.

Anyway, psychological experts say that this sort of thing is ok for people who aren't actually ill, but if someone is suffering from mental illness this can make this worse. Particularly with depression and schizophrenia, because these people need REAL help, not such and exercise in self-delusion. I feel that saying to a schiz. person that their delusions are real is simply wrong. That's not what they need to hear. The absolutely last thing they need is more delusions imposed on them, and that is exactly what this stupid and barbaric practice is supposed to achieve. But anyway, for slightly insane/superstitious people seeking attention/release or whatever, it's ok, they get to act out and express their dark emotions in a safe place with people who seem to care about them, and that can be therapeutic.

People never cease to amaze me with their antics, and I doubt they ever will.

Satori

[dawnghost]

thread migration?

[Satori]

Indeed. Isn't it wonderful? heheh

[$cirisme]

Thread Moved

Satori,

The coach's quarters is used for proposing structered debates only.

If you are not proposing a structured debate, please post it in another forum.

Thanks.
-AJ

[Satori]

Oh gee, no one replied to the content of the initial post of this thread. Why am I not suprised in the least?

I would appear that dawnghost's and Dee Dee's assurances that I would be "thrashed" on this site were in vain. I expected as much.

Nonetheless, I'll keep posting here, in the off chance that a tiny ray of reason and wisdom may be bestowed on you all. One can only hope.

best wishes,

Satori

[ACow]

Reminds me of a line i heard from another board in regards to such "miracles":

"See that person thrashing around on the ground? That's how infinite wisdom, love and compassion reveals itself".

Or some such.

[$cirisme]

I would appear that dawnghost's and Dee Dee's assurances that I would be "thrashed" on this site were in vain. I expected as much.

People will do whatever they wish.

Perhaps you don't get replies because of your attitude?

[The Laughing Man]

02-23-2003 @ 02:05 PM
cirisme:Perhaps you don't get replies because of your attitude?

Indeed. I could easily reply, but considering Satori's condescending attitude and boorish comments, I think I shall refrain until such a time as Satori deems himself humble enough to issue an honest apology to everyone for his last post.

[dawnghost]

Minsc: "the bigger they are, the harder I hit!"

[The Laughing Man]

Did Satori go AWOL?

[dawnghost]

what does AWOL mean?

[The Laughing Man]

AWOL: Absent without leave. Primarily a military term.

[$cirisme]

Apparently he has.