Recently I came across an interesting article about demonic possession and exorcism. The idea that an evil spirit can take control of a person’s body is found in many societies. But most of the discussion in this article is focused on Christian beliefs about the subject.
I was surprised to learn that the first miracle of Jesus mentioned in the Gospel of Mark is an exorcism. Before he expelled the demon, he had a conversation with it, since it was able to control the vocal chords of the possessed man. Jesus expelled it simply by ordering it to leave the man’s body.
According to the article, in modern exorcisms the demon will often actively resist being expelled, and sometimes the process becomes so violent that the victim is tied down, beaten, or even starved. In a few cases, people have actually died as a result of attempted exorcisms.
John 7:20 says that Jesus himself was even accused of being possessed by a demon. The article says that this was an explanation for his ability to perform miracles. In ancient times it was thought that a possessed person could have unusual powers.
The article points out that the possessed people mentioned in the gospels probably had mental illnesses, and that demonic possession is similar to multiple personality disorder. And Jesus may have cured them by using psychological techniques.
To read this article, go to Demon Possession
