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Exorcisms Are Gaining Popularity in the U.S.

theatlantic.com

1–10 of 47 posts

Re: Exorcisms Are Gaining Popularity in the U.S.

#3

"[...] in the form of people seeking salvation from demons through the Catholic faith’s most mystical ritual." Funny that they used the word "salvation" in that sentence, given that exorcism is NOT on the list of the Catholic faith's four "most mystical rituals".

Other Christians just call it deliverance, not salvation. You seek deliverance from demons, or demonic strongholds.

Re: Exorcisms Are Gaining Popularity in the U.S.

#5
My (I would consider) fairly deranged father was astounded that repeated beatings, threats to kill or abandon me, encouragements to commit suicide etc. caused 12 year old me to have anxiety and develop odd social behaviors and diagnosed me with having a demon. He brought someone from his church (who later went to jail for pedophilia) to examine me for demons, and took my instant dislike of the guy as more evidence for them. My friend who immigrated from India at a young age was astounded that people believe in these things in America when I told him the story. I suppose he associated it only with less educated / developed parts of the world.

Re: Exorcisms Are Gaining Popularity in the U.S.

#6

Interesting article, I suppose. This seems to parallel a resurgence of TLM that I've noticed over the last couple years.

TLM = Traditional Latin Mass, for the unfamiliar. It's the mass that was used pre-Vatican II, all in Latin and with the priest facing away from the congregation.

Re: Exorcisms Are Gaining Popularity in the U.S.

#9
I wonder if it's partly due to the growing use of "alternate/traditional medicine" pathways people are taking in opposition of modern medicine.

Whereby the use of exorcisms is now less of a religious driver, but that of a way to cure disease or behavior outside of traditional medicine.

I'm looking at you anti-vaxers...

Re: Exorcisms Are Gaining Popularity in the U.S.

#10
post #7

What parts of the U.S.? I understand all the states are supposed to be united, but that's not so true in practice.

Their example is in Tacoma, WA. If I had to guess it would be in the south west U.S. and up the west coast where Catholicism has the highest population numbers because of Latino populations. Maybe up into the north eastern U.S. where it held sway with Italian and Irish populations traditionally, but I thought it had been on the decline. Maybe not.
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