Do you believe in exorcisms?

[BCRanger10]

Do you believe in exorcisms? Do you believe that they are real and have effects on people?

[Maybe_Maybe_not]

I view exorcism exactly like I view shamanic rituals, and in both cases I believe there might be strong psychological effects.

Effects that would have something to do with this special and symbolic relation of authority between the exorcist and the exorcized. I believe that relation can have a tremendous power on minds involved. Especially if the exorcized suffers from psychotic symptoms, because then the exorcist would, through their authority, validate any alternate reality experienced by the exorcized. So instead of reassuring them, they could very much push them further into psychosis.

[lightbulb27]

I think people can be stuck, emotionally and spiritually and that stuck can be on what we'd all call evil energies. I think change, a catalyst, a release spiritually and emotionally can be effective. It may also be physical in combination. So sure... is it some demons flying around with supernatural energy, no idea, maybe. it's one big magnetic ball we are on, maybe there's some messed up vibes out there.

then there's people that put hexes, curses, and such on others... oathes. all ways of projecting of messing up energy and boundaries.

I also think your toilet can get clogged up and require an expert to unclog and may need a full replacement.

[TonyMetal___1986]

I know that some will argue with ne and questions my faith about what i'm going to say...

I'm a catholic but i consider myseld only a christian, the bible mentions that satan exists, one of jesus's miracles was sending out a demon who was controlling a man...

Tbh i have my doubts about exorcism, because i believe that it's found in people's nature, the good and the bad and god gave you the freedom to choose between being a good or a bad person, you make your own decisions, there's the bad choices and the good choices in life, it's up to you choose!

A priest can enlighten you to pick the right path but to cast a demon outside of you, well i don't know 🤷🏻‍♂️

[Grond21]

What does it mean to say you are a Catholic while not believing essential Catholic doctrines?

[TonyMetal___1986]

@Grond21 it's because religions were found to separate believers from each other, all the christian religions believes in jesus and his teachings but each sect interprets it in their own ways...

I'm a christian, a real christian who believes in Jesus and his teachings, as simple as that!

[TonyMetal___1986]

My late father was catholic and my mom is orthodox!

[Grond21]

So would it be more accurate to say that you are a non-denominational Christian? Just for the sake of clarity?

[TonyMetal___1986]

@Grond21 call it whatever you want, i'm just a christian 🤷🏻‍♂️

[Grond21]

Gotcha. Based on your description that makes the most sense.

[TonyMetal___1986]

@Grond21 thanks but i respect everyone...

[Grond21]

Good for you! I struggle to sometimes, but I know God is calling me to do that too

[TonyMetal___1986]

@Grond21 don't worry, no one is perfect, we are all doing our best to become the better version of ourselves, ofc speaking only about the good ones...

[Grond21]

Yeah, it's true. Everyone you meet is fighting a war that you can't see and some people are losing

[TonyMetal___1986]

@Grond21 👍🏻👍🏻

[purplepoppy]

Yes I do. It doesn't matter if you believe in demons or not, the thing is the sufferer does. I believe these people are experiencing some sort of mental trauma and having a priest perform a exorcism helps them in the same way a session on a psychologists couch helps some.

[Grond21]

So, you believe it's effectively the placebo effect? Or do you think there is actually something efficacious that is done by the priest?

[andreasderjuengere]

Absolutely correct. I had a girlfriend with schizophrenia. The 'spirits' disappeared when she joined a Christian group who prayed with her and for her. It was less spectacular than a Hollywood movie - but it worked.

[purplepoppy]

Kind of a placebo. The pent up hurt and anger we all suppress gets calmed once we know someone cares and is trying to help. Could be a shoulder to cry on, a prayer group or getting splashed with holywater, whatever works for you.

[Grond21]

I could see that being true in a few cases where there isn't any real demonic activity, but only the assumption of one.

[NathanDavis]

no, I don't have any sensible to "believe" in something that can quite easily be proven to be fake most of the times, if not every time

[AngryCarl3]

In the past people with certain types of mental illness were thought to be possessed by demons. I can't imagine that exorcism did anything but increase their trauma.

[DryGermanGuy]

No. We are in the 21st century and should have enough doctors to diagnose mental illnesses.

[Iron_Man]

I’m not Catholic. I don’t know. I’ve seen that stuff on scary movies. You’re the one that’s Catholic. You tell me? But I think it probably can’t help.

[Iron_Man]

I mean, I think it probably can help

[Grond21]

If it's okay for me to jump in here, I am Catholic also. And I think the evidence is very strong that exorcisms are real. After all, Catholics are not the only ones who perform them. Christians do, Muslims do, even Buddhists do. But the hard cases are always brought to the Catholic priests.

[Iron_Man]

@Grond21 Yes you’re very welcome to Jump in. Thats fine. I’m a Christian. I’ve just only seen this only in scary movies like the exorcist. If it works it works go for it. Nobody really talks about this and I haven’t seen it is all. But yeah, I can imagine it would work.

[Grond21]

It sounds like it's the topic that you haven't seriously engaged with before. And I don't mean that judgmentally, just that's the way it is. Popular movies are almost always designed to be entertaining rather than accurate. Anyone who is a historian knows that the vast majority of historical movies get a whole lot wrong. Same thing for this spiritual stuff.

[Iron_Man]

@Grond21 Yeah those are just the scary movies. I respect the catholics and I have been a guest at their church before but I’m a very serious Christian. I’m Baptist Christian.

[Grond21]

Right, exactly. Do you have any pastors or those in a deliverance ministry do exorcisms in the Baptist Church?

[Iron_Man]

@Grond21 no we’ve never done that or even talked about it

[Grond21]

Huh, interesting. I listened to part of a podcast where one of the guys on there was a member of a Baptist deliverance ministry and was heavily involved in exorcisms.

[Iron_Man]

@Grond21 well they don’t talk about that at my church or the Lutheran Church that I visit all the time. And if you ever listened to Joel Osteen, he doesn’t talk about it that I’ve heard.

[Grond21]

I'm not surprised Joel Osteen doesn't talk about it. He has a very narrow focus and it doesn't include topics like this.

I'm not sure if it means anything that both churches don't really talk about this. Even though it's known as a Catholic domain, there's a lot of Catholic churches that don't really talk about it either.

[Iron_Man]

@Grond21 Well I’m a Christian that’s what matters there’s only one God the Lord Jesus Christ and I respect the Catholics and we believe in the same God ✝️ My cousins are Catholic. My Lutheran friend was a Catholic. And he’s a deacon at the Lutheran Church for like 40 years. He’s an older man like 79 years old. He’s a very nice man.

[Grond21]

Yeah, I hear Protestants say that a lot. It does fit the belief system.

Thank you for respecting us. I respect you too, and we do follow the same God. Amen to that

[Iron_Man]

@Grond21 Amen brother. I appreciate your message.

[Grond21]

You too!

Do you ever talk religions with people?

[Iron_Man]

@Grond21 Yes I do, that’s a good thing to do 👍🏻

[Grond21]

I agree. I greatly enjoy talking with other people who want to do it in good faith

[Iron_Man]

Yes of course. 👍

[slatyb]

No, they are mostly abusive. If performed on children, they are absolutely abusive.

[Dargil]

I witnessed one. Appears to have had a positive outcome.

[exitseven]

YEs, some people just have evil in them.

[Paige2006]

I am on the fence about them.

[CarolineWhizz]

No -

[Agape93]

Sure

[Grond21]

Absolutely.