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Exorcism (from Late Latin ''exorcismus'', from Greek ''exorkizein'' - to adjure, correctly pronounced ''"exercism")'' is the practice of evicting Demon s or other evil Spiritual Entities from a person or place which they are believed to have Possessed (taken control of). The practice is quite ancient and still part of the belief system of many Religion s. The person performing the exorcism, known as an Exorcist , is often a Priest , or an individual thought to be graced with special powers or skills. The exorcist may use Prayer s, and religious material, such as set formulas, Gesture s, Symbol s, Icon s, Amulet s, etc.. The exorcist invokes God and/or several different Angel s and Archangel s. The Priest also uses Crosses and Holy Water often when performing one. In general, possessed persons are not regarded as Evil in themselves, nor wholly responsible for their actions. Therefore practitioners regard exorcism more as a cure than as a punishment. HISTORY The concept of possession by evil spirits and the practice of exorcism are very ancient and were widespread, and may have originated in prehistoric Shamanistic beliefs. The Christian New Testament includes exorcism among the Miracles performed by Jesus . Because of this precedent, Demonic Possession was part of the belief system of Christianity since its beginning, and exorcism is still a recognized practice of Catholicism , Eastern Orthodox and some Protestant sects. The Church Of England also has an official exorcist in each diocese. In recent times, the practice of exorcism has diminished in its importance to most religious groups and its use has decreased. Generally, it is currently found mainly in Eastern Europe and Africa, with some cases gaining media coverage; Anneliese Michel is perhaps the most recent of these. This is due mainly to the study of Psychology and the functioning and structure of the human Mind . Many of the cases that in the past which were candidates for exorcism are often explained to be the products of Mental Illness , and are handled as such. EXORCISM IN CHRISTIANITY Jesus According to the Catholic Encyclopedia article on Exorcism : :"Assuming the reality of and Fasting (,; ; ). In other words the success of exorcism by Christians, in Christ's name, is subject to the same general conditions on which both the efficacy of prayer and the use of Charismatic Power depend. Yet conspicuous success was promised (). St. Paul (,), and, no doubt, the other Apostles and Disciples, made use of regularly, as occasion arose, of their exorcising power, and the Church has continued to do so uninterruptedly to the present day." According to the Jewish Encyclopedia article on Jesus he: :"was devoted especially to "casting out demons," i.e., according to the folk medicine of the time, healing nervous and mental diseases. It would appear that Jesus shared in the current belief of the Jews in the nominal existence of demons or evil spirits; and most of his miraculous cures consisted in casting them out, which he did with "the finger of God" (), or with "the Spirit of God" (). It would seem also that he regarded diseases like fever to be due to the existence of demons (). One of the chief functions transmitted to his disciples was the "power over unclean spirits, to cast them out" (), and his superiority to his followers was shown by his casting out demons which they had failed to expel () ... he drove out the unclean spirits, "rebuking" them (; ,,,; compare '' ga'ar '' in ; ; ) with some , 2,000 in number, out of a maniac living in a cemetery and made them enter a herd of swine to be drowned in the adjacent lake ( and parallels; comp. Ta'an. 21b; Ḳid. 49b; B. Ḳ. vii. 7)." In the time of Jesus, non-New Testament Jewish sources report of exorcisms done by administering drugs with poisonous root extracts or other by making sacrifices. ( Josephus, "B. J." vii. 6, § 3 ; Sanh. 65b). They do not report of Jesus being an exorcist, but do mention that exorcisms were done by the Essene branch of Judaism ( Dead Sea Scrolls at Qumran). See also Demonic Possession#Demonic Possession In The Bible . Roman Catholicism of Saint Francis Borgia performing an exorcism.]]An ancient ritual method, known from the African Rite , was called Exsufflation (blowing out the spirit from the possessed). Solemn exorcisms, according to the . The Catholic Church revised the Rite of Exorcism in January 1999, although the traditional Rite of Exorcism in Latin is allowed as an option. The act of exorcism is considered to be an incredibly dangerous spiritual task; the ritual assumes that possessed persons retain their free-will, though the demon may hold control over their physical body, and involves prayers, blessings, and invocations with the use of the document '' Of Exorcisms And Certain Supplications ''. Other formulas may have been used in the past, such as the Benedictine '' Vade Retro Satana ''. In the modern era, the Catholic Church authorizes exorcism exceedingly rarely, approaching would-be cases with the presumption that mental or physical illness is in play. In mild cases the Chaplet Of Saint Michael should be used. Anglicanism In the Church Of England , every Diocese has an official exorcist, who will usually be an elderly priest and from the Anglo-Catholic wing of the church. In The Episcopal Church the ''Book of Occasional Services'' discusses provision for exorcism; but it does not indicate any specific rite, nor does it establish an office of "exorcist". "Concerning Exorcism", ''Book of Occasional Services'', Church Publishing. Diocesan exorcists usually continue in their role when they have retired from all other church duties. Anglican exorcisms sometimes take the form of a mass for the dead if it is suspected that the souls suffering in Purgatory are responsible for the disturbance. Anglican priests may not perform an exorcism without permission from the Diocesan (regional) bishop. Exorcism is an extremely dangerous ritual and must not be performed unless the bishop and his team of specialists (including a psychiatrist and physician) are convinced that the individual's problem is not a form of mental illness or a behavioural disorder. The theological danger of exorcism is that if the cause of illness is not demonic in nature, the patient will perceive the continuation of their condition as a sign that they are rejected by God and beyond divine healing. They may interpret the continuation of their distress (which may be behavioural or physiological in origin) as a sign of damnation. They may enter into a state of despair which is spiritually dangerous as one cannot enter into a trust relationship with God because one feels divine rejection or unworthiness. Protestant denominations Most traditional Protestant denominations such as , it states that if you "resist the devil he will flee from you". (James 4:7) God is considered - as in Catholicism - the only true exorcist and his children merely his obedient tools in which to use. Therefore God has ultimate power and control, which in the Southern Baptist interpretation eliminates the need for multiple attempts of an exorcism. Some Protestant denominations also recognize possession and exorcism, although the practice is generally less formalized than it is in the Catholic Church. While some denominations perform exorcism very sparingly and cautiously, some may perform it almost routinely, as part of regular religious services (especially Pentecostal denominations). Some denominations hold that all Christians have the authority to perform exorcism, not just the clergy. A test which is often used to determine whether a mental disturbance is psychological or spiritual in nature is to pray over the person for the healing of their affliction and throw holy water on them. If the person reacts violently or uncharacteristically in response to prayer in the name of Jesus, it is often taken as a good indication that the affliction is demonic in nature. Psychiatrist M. Scott Peck researched exorcisms (initially in an effort to disprove demonic possession), and claims to have conducted two himself. He concluded that the Christian concept of possession was a genuine phenomenon. He derived diagnostic criteria somewhat different from those used by the Roman Catholic Church. He also claimed to see differences in exorcism procedures and progression. Contemporary exorcist Richard Rossi filmed exorcisms with multiple cameras for documentation. Rossi's footage and clinical approach is considered by many the best Extant evidence of exorcism in recent years. The footage has been used in university courses on Animism and Paranormal studies, and has been used on national television programs and purchased by National Geographic . (Some of the footage appears in the award-winning documentary "Quest for Truth" ( 1992 ). Rossi has also trained teams of exorcists. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons) Many Latter-day Saints (Mormons) believe in exorcism. "While [in Colesville, New York , Joseph Smith ] challenged Newel Knight to pray vocally. In the attempt, Newel was attacked by an evil spirit that lifted him from the floor 'and tossed him about most fearfully.' Neighbors gathered, and then saw the Prophet command the devil in the name of Jesus Christ to depart. Newel felt great relief and gladly accepted baptism. (This exorcism was the first miracle performed in the restored church.)" "The Knight Family: Part I By William G. Hartley, LDS.org Elder Alexander B. Morrison of the Seventy opined, "Some blame their problem on demonic possession. While there is no doubt that such has occurred, let us take care not to give the devil credit for everything that goes awry in the world! Generally speaking, the mentally ill do not need exorcism" "Myths about Mental Illness" LDS.org In Latter Day Saint tradition, the act of casting out evil spirits is performed by a worthy male member of the church who holds the Melchizedek Priesthood though a Priesthood Blessing , after a confirmation from the Holy Ghost. EXORCISM IN JUDAISM In Kabbalah and European Jewish folklore (which does not believe in possession by demons), possession takes on a different (and often much more positive) context. A person may be possessed by a spirit called a Dybbuk — which is believed to be the dislocated Soul of a dead person, returned from Gehenna (a Hebrew term for the in between world or purgatory that all spirits go to before entering heaven. It literally refers to the valley outside Jeruselem where the city's garbage and dead bodies were burned. The word later came to mean "the valley of dead", and became very loosely translated as " Hell " by later Christian researchers). According to those beliefs, on rare occasions a soul which has not been able to fulfill its function in its lifetime is given another opportunity to do so in the form of a dybbuk. The soul then seeks out and "attaches" itself to a living person who is going through things or in a similar "life position" to what the soul was in during its lifetime. It is believed there are good dybbuks and bad, with a good dybbuk's "attachment" performing more the role of a "spiritual guide" there to help the person through their current trials and tribulations that the soul was attracted to. These "good" possessions are usually referred to as a 'sod ha'ibbur. In the case of a negative dybbuk, the spirit is not there to help as much as cause the same mistakes and chaos that it originally experienced during its own lifetime. In the case of exorcism, there are generally two types - though both take on a much less negative confrontational manner than in the Christian context. Briefly, the first involves a non-invasive approach (which generally is applied to the non-negative type of attachment but can be used in both) and involves treating the person and attached entity as a whole. Helping "him" to identify his goal or path in life (his true identity and purpose) and guiding them along it. In the case of a positive attachment, the spirit will leave when the "path" or purpose is significantly engrained and pursued. In the case of a negative, the pursuant of the "path" keeps it in check and eventually causes it to loose its connection (sometimes referred to as the "void" in the host) thereby forcing it to move on. The second approach is a little more confrontational, but still far less than those commonly seen in Christian rites. It involves 10 people (including the rabbi) who surround the possessed individual. Each person (including the rabbi leading the ritual) represents the 10 kabbalistic Sephirot . The rabbi that leads the ceremony also requires a Shofar , which is interestingly used in a manner similar to the bell in buddhist and other east Asian meditative practices. The group repeatedly recites Psalm 91 and then the rabbi proceeds to blow the shofar in a specific pattern. This "shocks" both the possessed and the possesser, causing a loosening between the two enabling the addressing of each individually. The rabbi then enters in to dialogue with the spirit to find its purpose, and the group proceeds to heal it through dialogue and prayer meant to have it feel it has accomplished its goal. This is also done for the possessed. As Rabbi Gershon Winkler puts it: "We don't drive anything out of anybody. What we want to do is to heal the soul that's possessing and heal the person. It's all about healing -- we do the ceremony on behalf of both people." EXORCISM IN HINDUISM Beliefs and practices pertaining to the practice of exorcism are prominently connected with the ancient Dravidians in south. Of the four Vedas (holy books of the Hindus), the Atharva Veda is said to contain the secrets related to magic and medicine. Many of the spells described in this book are for casting out demons and evil spirits. These beliefs are particularly strong and practiced in West Bengal , Orissa and southern states like Kerala . Basic means of exorcism are Mantra and Yajna used in both Vedic and Tantric traditions. Vaishnava traditions also employ a recitation of names of Narasimha and reading scriptures (notably Bhagavata Purana ) aloud. According to Gita Mahatmya of Padma Purana reading of 3rd, 7th and 8th chapter of Bhagavad Gita and mentally offering the result to departed persons helps them to get released from their ghostly situation. Kirtan , continuous playing of mantras, keeping scriptures and holy pictures (esp. of Narasimha) in the house, burning incense offered during a Puja , sprinkling water of holy rivers and blowing conches used in puja are other effective practices. Main Vedic resource on ghost- and death-related information is Garuda Purana . EXORCISM IN SCIENTOLOGY On Scientology advanced level "OT3," " Body Thetan s" are exorcised using a complicated technique. Body thetan exorcism, with a simpler technique, is revisited on advanced level "OT5," also known as "New Era Dianetics for Operating Thetan s." EXORCISM IN ISLAM Possession by Jinn or the Devil ( Shaitan ) and exorcism of those who are wicked at heart is warned about in Islam since its beginning. It is believed that jinn can gain control only over those who do not hold true to God. According to Islamic scholars, "The Jinn enters the one seized by fits and causes him to speak incomprehensible words, unknown to himself; if the one seized by fits is struck a blow sufficient to kill a camel, he does not feel it." (ibn Taymiyyah, Majmoo al-Fatawa.) Islamic clergy caution against the overuse of exorcism, citing that most cases are due to psychological and physical causes mistaken for possession. Real cases of possession are very rare and the faithful are warned to watch out for exorcists who encourage a diagnosis of possession too quickly, as they may merely be seeking profit. Islamic authorities also deny the possibility of possession by souls of deceased persons, and warn that evil spirits may make this claim in order to encourage sinful behavior among the living. Curing the person possessed In Quran Allah the Almighty says 'We send down (stage by stage) in the Qur'an that which is a healing and a mercy to those who believe: to the unjust it causes nothing but loss after loss'. (Al-Isra- Chapter 17, Verse 82) Following are the steps mentiond in book 'Reality of Magic' by Abdul Azeez Abdullh Bin Baaz rahimahullah (Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia) 1. After offering Fard Salah, should recite 'Adhkaar'. 2. Before sleeping recite Ayatal kursi. '' Allahu laaa ilaaha illaa Huu. Al-Hayyul-Qayyuum. Laa ta'-khuzuhuu sinatunw-wa laa nawm. Lahuu maa fissamaawaati wa ma fil-'arz. Man-zallazii yashfa-'u'indahuuu 'illaa bi-'iznih Ya'-lamu maa bayna 'aydiihim wa maa khalfahum. Wa laa yuhiituuna bi-shay-'im-min 'ilmihiii 'illaa bimaa shaaa'. Wasi-'a Kursiyyu-hus-Samaawaati wal-'arz; wa laa ya-'uuduhuu hifzu -humaa wa Huwal-'Aliyyul-'Aziim.'' Which means 'Allah. There is no god but He,-the Living, the Self-subsisting, Eternal. No slumber can seize Him nor sleep. His are all things in the heavens and on earth. Who is there can intercede in His presence except as He permitteth? He knoweth what (appeareth to His creatures as) before or after or behind them. Nor shall they compass aught of His knowledge except as He willeth. His Throne doth extend over the heavens and the earth, and He feeleth no fatigue in guarding and preserving them for He is the Most High, the Supreme (in glory). (Al-Baqra Chapter 2, Verse 255)' 3. Recite '3 Qul'/'Mau o zatain'. 3 times if possible after every Salah morning and evening a) Qul Huwa Allāhu 'Aĥad Allāhu Aş-Şamad Lam Yalid Wa Lam Yūlad Walam Yakun Lahu Kufūan 'Aĥadun. Which means: Say (O Muhammad (Peace be upon him)): "He is Allāh, (the) One, Say (O Muhammad (Peace be upon him)): "He is Allāh, (the) One, "He begets not, nor was He begotten; "And there is none co-equal or comparable unto Him." b) Qul 'A`ūdhu Birabbi Al-Falaq, Min Sharri Mā Khalaq, Wa Min Sharri Ghāsiqin 'Idhā Waqab, Wa Min Sharri An-Naffāthāti Fī Al-`Uqad, Wa Min Sharri Ĥāsidin 'Idhā Ĥasad. Which means: Say: "I seek refuge with (Allāh) the Lord of the daybreak, "From the evil of what He has created; "And from the evil of the darkening (night) as it comes with its darkness; (or the moon as it sets or goes away). "And from the evil of the witchcrafts when they blow in the knots, "And from the evil of the envier when he envies." c) Qul 'A`ūdhu Birabbi An-Nās, Maliki An-Nās, 'Ilahi An-Nās, Min Sharri Al-Waswāsi Al-Khannās, Al-Ladhī Yuwaswisu Fī Şudūri An-Nās, Mina Al-Jinnati Wa An-Nās. Which means: Say: "I seek refuge with (Allāh) the Lord of mankind, "The King of mankind, "The Ilāh (God) of mankind, "From the evil of the whisperer (devil who whispers evil in the hearts of men) who withdraws (from his whispering in one's heart after one remembers Allāh), "Who whispers in the breasts of mankind, Of jinns and men." 4) Recite last 2 verses from Chapter 2 (Al-Baqra) Āmana Ar-Rasūlu Bimā 'Unzila 'Ilayhi Min Rabbihi Wa Al-Mu'uminūna Kullun 'Āmana Billāhi Wa Malā'ikatihi Wa Kutubihi Wa Rusulihi Lā Nufarriqu Bayna 'Aĥadin Min Rusulihi Wa Qālū Sami`nā Wa 'Aţa`nā Ghufrānaka Rabbanā Wa 'Ilayka Al-Maşīru. Lā Yukallifu Allāhu Nafsāan 'Illā Wus`ahā Lahā Mā Kasabat Wa `Alayhā Mā Aktasabat Rabbanā Lā Tu'uākhidhnā 'In Nasīnā 'Aw 'Akhţa'nā Rabbanā Wa Lā Taĥmil `Alaynā 'Işrāan Kamā Ĥamaltahu `Alá Al-Ladhīna Min Qablinā Rabbanā Wa Lā Tuĥammilnā Mā Lā Ţāqata Lanā Bihi Wa A`fu `Annā Wa Aghfir Lanā Wa Arĥamnā 'Anta Mawlānā Fānşurnā `Alá Al-Qawmi Al-Kāfirīna. Which means: The Messenger (Muhammad ) believes in what has been sent down to him from his Lord, and (so do) the believers. Each one believes in Allāh, His Angels, His Books, and His Messengers. They say, "We make no distinction between one another of His Messengers" - and they say, "We hear, and we obey. (We seek) Your Forgiveness, our Lord, and to You is the return (of all)." Allāh burdens not a person beyond his scope. He gets reward for that (good) which he has earned, and he is punished for that (evil) which he has earned. "Our Lord! Punish us not if we forget or fall into error, our Lord! Lay not on us a burden like that which You did lay on those before us (Jews and Christians); our Lord! Put not on us a burden greater than we have strength to bear. Pardon us and grant us Forgiveness. Have mercy on us. You are our Maulā (Patron, Suppor-ter and Protector, etc.) and give us victory over the disbelieving people." (Al-Baqarah 2:286) 5) Recite 'Aaudhu bikali maatil lahit taam maati min sharri maa qhalaqa' as many times as possible. Which means: I seek refuge in Allah with the help of kalima (verses/statements/adhkaar) from the outcast of all the creatures. 6) Recite 'Bismillahillazi laa yazurru maa ismehi shaiun fil arz walaaa fis samaai wa huwas sameeul aleem'. 3 times morning and evening. Which means: I seek refuge in Allah with the help of His names from everything in between Sky and earth and Allah the Almighty is all hearer and all knowing. Exorcism in the Qur'an and Sunnah There is no explicit statement in the Qur'an referring to possession by Jinn . The closest is the following Qu'ranic verse which compares the state of sinners on the Day of Judgment to the state of those made insane by the Devil : Some cite this verse as proof against Muslims who deny the possibility of jinn possession. There are also ) do three things which no one before or after me saw. I went with him on a trip. On the way, we passed by a woman sitting at the roadside with a young boy. She called out, 'O Messenger of Allah, this boy is afflicted with a trial, and from him we have also been afflicted with a trial. I don't know how many times per day he is seized by fits.' He ( Sallallahu àlaihi Wa Sallam ) said: 'Give him to me.' So she lifted him up to the Prophet. He ( Sallallahu àlaihi Wa Sallam ) then placed the boy between himself and the middle of the saddle, opened the boy's mouth and blew in it three times, saying, 'In the name of Allah, I am the slave of Allah, get out, enemy of Allah!' Then he gave the boy back to her and said: 'Meet us on our return at this same place and inform us how he has fared.' We then went. On our return, we found her in the same place with three sheep. When he said to her, 'How has your son fared?' She replied: 'By the One who sent you with the truth, we have not detected anything (unusual) in his behavior up to this time.... (Musnad Ahmad (vol: 4, p. 170), and al-Haakim, who declared it Saheeh)}} On the nature of jinn In Islamic belief, Jinn are intelligent creatures made from fire. Much like human beings, they have free will to choose between right and wrong. While a jinni may possess a human for pure wickedness, it may also do it for other reasons. Shaikh al-Islam ibn Taymiyyah suggests that a jinni may do it in order to experience the physical world, for reasons of desire or love. In this case, a jinni may not have a malicious intent, or may be unaware of the harm it is causing. A jinni might also use possession for revenge. Jinn are said to be quick to anger, especially when they believe themselves to have been purposely harmed (since jinn are usually invisible to humans, a person can accidentally injure a jinni). FAITHS OPPOSING EXORCISM In Sikhism , exorcism is not permitted and is seen as a violation of the Sikh Rehat Maryada (Code of Conduct), since Sikhs do not believe in demons, ghosts, or the sort. If a Sikh person were to be found practising exorcism, an ordained Ghiyanhi (priest) would have the power to strip that individual of any ties to the Sikh faith. This anti-exorcism stance separates Sikhism from what are viewed as the exorcism rituals of Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Taoism, and Shintoism. Also Jainism does not believe in exorcism. EXORCISM-RELATED DEATHS Exorcism and other forms of Spiritual Healing have been related to Abuse {Link without Title} and have been known to cause considerable physical harm to the exorcee, particularly when it is performed by those who believe that exorcism is necessarily a violent process. Some of the most notorious recent cases are listed below.
{Link without Title} EXORCISM IN FICTION that appears briefly on screen during The Exorcist .]] Exorcism has been a popular subject in fiction, especially Horror .
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