Today I watched the first two episodes of the 2016 television series “The Exorcist” before I lost interest. As a result, I was mulling over the lost opportunity that this series represents. And along the way I started wondering, if you were performing an exorcism and you cited The Message, would it work? And if […]
exorcism
How to tell if somebody is demon possessed: points 3-5
It’s time for me to wrap up this strange little series in which I discuss the criteria Father Thomas outlines for diagnosing an instance of demon possession. In this final article I’m going to summarize and evaluate points 3, 4, and 5. 3. New Language We begin with the third point which involves the demoniac suddenly speaking […]
How to tell if somebody is demon possessed: 2. hidden knowledge
In this article I’m continuing my modest series reflecting on exorcist and priest Father Gary Thomas’ criteria for distinguishing a genuine instance of demonic possession. In his Catholic Answers interview, Father Thomas describes the second criterion as follows: A knowledge of hidden things can be a sign. So people who know something they have no […]
Demon-possessed or mentally ill?
Last week Catholic apologist Matt Fradd kindly sent me the following Catholic Answers interview, “What You Need to Know About Exorcism: The Devil, Evil Spirits, and Spiritual Warfare” in which Patrick Coffin interviews well known exorcist Father Gary Thomas. You can read the transcript of the interview here. Demonic Possession and Veridical Evidence for Supernaturalism and […]
28. Robin Parry on demons
The ministry of Jesus was characterized by many miraculous signs, chief among them his victory over demonic forces. In one dramatic encounter in Mark chapter 5 we read of Jesus confronting a demon-possessed man living out among the tombs. “Then Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” “My name is Legion,” he replied, “for we are many.” […]
