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Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine Volume 72 March 1979
criticism arises; if personal or family tragedy, such as murder or suicide, follows then moral issues are raised and intervention requires justification. Therapeutic competence Whoever deals with the phenomena of possession, and whatever model is used, two important considerations are evident: first, personal insight is necessary into the complexities suggested above. These complexities may be concrete, perhaps clinical; they may be spiritual; or they may be abstract and conceptual as, for example, insight into the personal relativity of perception. Secondly, the person who intervenes must be competent - whether it be practically, clinically, spiritually or behaviourally. Anyone who becomes involved in the phenomena of possession or exorcism should know the uses and limitations, the contraindications and dangers, of his own concepts and techniques of therapeutic intervention.
References Davis D R & Welbourn R B (1977) In: Dictionary of Medical Ethics. Ed. A S Duncan, G R Dunstan & R B Welbourn. Darton, Longman & Todd, London; pp 131-132 Trethowan W H, Cupitt D & Marteau L (1976) Journal of Medical Ethics 2, 127-137
Theories underlying exorcism: theological and psychic The Worshipful Chancellor the Reverend E Garth Moore MA Fellow, Corpus Christi College, Cambridge
Exorcism is a meeting point- for those interested in medicine (especially psychology), in theology and in psychical research. It presupposes: (1) the existence of God; (2) the existence of nonmaterial entities, commonly called spirits; and (3) that these spirits are sometimes trespassers in a place where they ought not to be. It postulates that these spirits may be either pure spirit (an angel or demon) or discarnate entities - i.e. the spirit of a deceased human or of an animal. It postulates two sorts of trespass: trespass in a place, commonly called haunting; and trespass in a person or animal, commonly called possession. It further postulates that these trespasses are contrary to God's will and can be terminated by the power of God. It is this termination which is called exorcism. The method essentially is by commanding the trespassing entity, in the name of God, to depart, accompanying the ceremony with prayer - with or without sacramental extras, such as holy water - and preceding it by the preparation of the exorcist and his assistants by prayer and perhaps by fasting and by reception of the Sacrament. Since, in the exorcism of a person, there is a danger of the patient becoming violent, the exorcist usually provides himself with two strong assistants and seats the patient in a comfortable armchair. The command to the possessing entity is often to depart forthwith and, doing no harm to anyone, to go to the place appointed and there to remain forever. The last part of the command is, it is submitted, doubtful because it presupposes: (1) that the entity is evil; (2) that it is beyond redemption; and (3) that there is a place appointed for it. In the Western Church it has long been a requirement of Canon Law that the permission of the Bishop should be obtained before the exorcism of a person is attempted; but this is not necessary before the exorcism of a place. This is presumably a recognition on the part of the Church that attempted exorcism of a person can be fraught with considerable danger to the patient. The exorcist need not be a priest. In the Eastern Church the power to exorcize is regarded as a charismatic gift to be exercised by anyone so endowed. In the early Church, and still today in the Roman Catholic Church, the office of exorcist is one of the minor orders. But in practice in the West, both in the Church of England and in the Roman Catholic Church, the exorcist is usually a priest who is considered to be specially experienced in this type of work. The question immediately arises whether there is any reality in all this. Are persons really 4. 19, 2016The 1979 0 1 41-0768/79/030220-02/$ODownloaded 1.00/0 from jrs.sagepub.com at MCMASTER UNIV LIBRARY on February
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possessed, or are they really cases of secondary personality? Are places really haunted, or are these all old wives' tales? Personally I believe that there is at times, though not always, reality behind it all; and, further, I doubt whether anyone who has not made a study of psychical research is in a position to form a judgment. It is impossible to go into the evidence here; but to my mind several types of psychic phenomena have been shown conclusively to exist, though their explanation is quite another matter. Among these phenomena whose existence it is in my view impossible to doubt are apparitions, telepathy and precognition. They are far from being satisfactorily explained; but their existence points to the fact that the physical world around us is not the only world, that the known laws of physics are not the only laws, and that, in addition to the physical dimension, there is also a psychic dimension about which we know very little. We must remember, too, that the names given by psychiatrists to various types of mental and psychological disturbance are but labels attached to symptoms. The secondary personality, for example, may exist; but so also may possession. When the patient speaks in a recognized language, but one which is unknown to him, that is a strong indication that it is not the patient but a possessing entity who is speaking. If possession of a person (or animal) is a reality, as personally I believe it sometimes is, it is a rare phenomenon. But 'obsession' or 'infestation' (both technical terms) is much more common. It occurs when an alien entity plagues its victim without actually obtaining possession of him. In such cases it is often the victim who seeks relief by engaging an exorcist, whereas, in cases of complete possession, the victim is in no condition to seek relief because he has been taken over by the possessing entity. In both cases the possessing or obsessing entity is a trespasser in that it is there against the will of the true owner of the body possessed or obsessed. The possessing or obsessing entity may well have been invited in the first instance as, for example, when a medium deliberately lends her body to alien entities at a seance; but, by remaining there, the entity is overstaying its welcome and thus becomes a trespasser. In the case of hauntings, though we tend to regard the haunting entity as a trespasser, the entity may regard itself as rightfully there and look upon us as the trespassers. We should be slow to assume that such entities are evil. They may sometimes be; but they may also at times be lost discarnate souls, perhaps unaware that they are what we call dead, and may be in need of help to enable them to escape from their misconceived bondage to a scene in their life on earth. In such cases a requiem is thought by many to be the appropriate remedy, while others may seek the services of a person thought to be psychically sensitive, for example a medium, to talk to the entity and persuade it that this is not the appropriate place for it. In all cases of possession or obsession of a person a differential diagnosis is important in order to try to establish whether the patient is truly possessed or obsessed, or is simply mentally unbalanced. Such differential diagnosis is difficult - though, for example, speaking in a real language unknown to the patient may be an indicator - and the difficulty is enhanced by the fact that it is quite possible that the patient is at once mentally unbalanced and also the victim of an alien attack. Cooperation between the exorcist and the psychiatrist is clearly desirable, if for no other reason than to obviate the danger of the psychiatrist's work being hampered by an ill-judged attempt at an unnecessary exorcism. Bibliography Neil-Smith C (1974) The Exorcist and the Possessed. James Pike, St Ives, Cornwall Omand D (1970) Experiences of a Presentday Exorcist. Kinber, London Petitpierre R ed (1972) Exorcism. Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, London Richards J (1974) But Deliver Us From Evil. Dartman, Longman & Todd, London.
Downloaded from jrs.sagepub.com at MCMASTER UNIV LIBRARY on February 19, 2016
Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine Volume 72 March 1979
criticism arises; if personal or family tragedy, such as murder or suicide, follows then moral issues are raised and intervention requires justification. Therapeutic competence Whoever deals with the phenomena of possession, and whatever model is used, two important considerations are evident: first, personal insight is necessary into the complexities suggested above. These complexities may be concrete, perhaps clinical; they may be spiritual; or they may be abstract and conceptual as, for example, insight into the personal relativity of perception. Secondly, the person who intervenes must be competent - whether it be practically, clinically, spiritually or behaviourally. Anyone who becomes involved in the phenomena of possession or exorcism should know the uses and limitations, the contraindications and dangers, of his own concepts and techniques of therapeutic intervention.
References Davis D R & Welbourn R B (1977) In: Dictionary of Medical Ethics. Ed. A S Duncan, G R Dunstan & R B Welbourn. Darton, Longman & Todd, London; pp 131-132 Trethowan W H, Cupitt D & Marteau L (1976) Journal of Medical Ethics 2, 127-137
Theories underlying exorcism: theological and psychic The Worshipful Chancellor the Reverend E Garth Moore MA Fellow, Corpus Christi College, Cambridge
Exorcism is a meeting point- for those interested in medicine (especially psychology), in theology and in psychical research. It presupposes: (1) the existence of God; (2) the existence of nonmaterial entities, commonly called spirits; and (3) that these spirits are sometimes trespassers in a place where they ought not to be. It postulates that these spirits may be either pure spirit (an angel or demon) or discarnate entities - i.e. the spirit of a deceased human or of an animal. It postulates two sorts of trespass: trespass in a place, commonly called haunting; and trespass in a person or animal, commonly called possession. It further postulates that these trespasses are contrary to God's will and can be terminated by the power of God. It is this termination which is called exorcism. The method essentially is by commanding the trespassing entity, in the name of God, to depart, accompanying the ceremony with prayer - with or without sacramental extras, such as holy water - and preceding it by the preparation of the exorcist and his assistants by prayer and perhaps by fasting and by reception of the Sacrament. Since, in the exorcism of a person, there is a danger of the patient becoming violent, the exorcist usually provides himself with two strong assistants and seats the patient in a comfortable armchair. The command to the possessing entity is often to depart forthwith and, doing no harm to anyone, to go to the place appointed and there to remain forever. The last part of the command is, it is submitted, doubtful because it presupposes: (1) that the entity is evil; (2) that it is beyond redemption; and (3) that there is a place appointed for it. In the Western Church it has long been a requirement of Canon Law that the permission of the Bishop should be obtained before the exorcism of a person is attempted; but this is not necessary before the exorcism of a place. This is presumably a recognition on the part of the Church that attempted exorcism of a person can be fraught with considerable danger to the patient. The exorcist need not be a priest. In the Eastern Church the power to exorcize is regarded as a charismatic gift to be exercised by anyone so endowed. In the early Church, and still today in the Roman Catholic Church, the office of exorcist is one of the minor orders. But in practice in the West, both in the Church of England and in the Roman Catholic Church, the exorcist is usually a priest who is considered to be specially experienced in this type of work. The question immediately arises whether there is any reality in all this. Are persons really 4. 19, 2016The 1979 0 1 41-0768/79/030220-02/$ODownloaded 1.00/0 from jrs.sagepub.com at MCMASTER UNIV LIBRARY on February
Royal Society of Medir;,n--
Journal of the Royal Society ofMedicine Volume 72 March 1979
221
possessed, or are they really cases of secondary personality? Are places really haunted, or are these all old wives' tales? Personally I believe that there is at times, though not always, reality behind it all; and, further, I doubt whether anyone who has not made a study of psychical research is in a position to form a judgment. It is impossible to go into the evidence here; but to my mind several types of psychic phenomena have been shown conclusively to exist, though their explanation is quite another matter. Among these phenomena whose existence it is in my view impossible to doubt are apparitions, telepathy and precognition. They are far from being satisfactorily explained; but their existence points to the fact that the physical world around us is not the only world, that the known laws of physics are not the only laws, and that, in addition to the physical dimension, there is also a psychic dimension about which we know very little. We must remember, too, that the names given by psychiatrists to various types of mental and psychological disturbance are but labels attached to symptoms. The secondary personality, for example, may exist; but so also may possession. When the patient speaks in a recognized language, but one which is unknown to him, that is a strong indication that it is not the patient but a possessing entity who is speaking. If possession of a person (or animal) is a reality, as personally I believe it sometimes is, it is a rare phenomenon. But 'obsession' or 'infestation' (both technical terms) is much more common. It occurs when an alien entity plagues its victim without actually obtaining possession of him. In such cases it is often the victim who seeks relief by engaging an exorcist, whereas, in cases of complete possession, the victim is in no condition to seek relief because he has been taken over by the possessing entity. In both cases the possessing or obsessing entity is a trespasser in that it is there against the will of the true owner of the body possessed or obsessed. The possessing or obsessing entity may well have been invited in the first instance as, for example, when a medium deliberately lends her body to alien entities at a seance; but, by remaining there, the entity is overstaying its welcome and thus becomes a trespasser. In the case of hauntings, though we tend to regard the haunting entity as a trespasser, the entity may regard itself as rightfully there and look upon us as the trespassers. We should be slow to assume that such entities are evil. They may sometimes be; but they may also at times be lost discarnate souls, perhaps unaware that they are what we call dead, and may be in need of help to enable them to escape from their misconceived bondage to a scene in their life on earth. In such cases a requiem is thought by many to be the appropriate remedy, while others may seek the services of a person thought to be psychically sensitive, for example a medium, to talk to the entity and persuade it that this is not the appropriate place for it. In all cases of possession or obsession of a person a differential diagnosis is important in order to try to establish whether the patient is truly possessed or obsessed, or is simply mentally unbalanced. Such differential diagnosis is difficult - though, for example, speaking in a real language unknown to the patient may be an indicator - and the difficulty is enhanced by the fact that it is quite possible that the patient is at once mentally unbalanced and also the victim of an alien attack. Cooperation between the exorcist and the psychiatrist is clearly desirable, if for no other reason than to obviate the danger of the psychiatrist's work being hampered by an ill-judged attempt at an unnecessary exorcism. Bibliography Neil-Smith C (1974) The Exorcist and the Possessed. James Pike, St Ives, Cornwall Omand D (1970) Experiences of a Presentday Exorcist. Kinber, London Petitpierre R ed (1972) Exorcism. Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, London Richards J (1974) But Deliver Us From Evil. Dartman, Longman & Todd, London.
Downloaded from jrs.sagepub.com at MCMASTER UNIV LIBRARY on February 19, 2016
