Demonic Possession

By: Sam Little

Demonic possession has always been a topic of debate among paranormal researchers and your average joes as well. It links the field of paranormal research with that of theological research. The experience is highly debatable mainly because it is difficult to authenticate such conditions. Films have glorified possessions with titles such as "Excorsism", "The Possessed", and recentally, "The Excercism of Emily Rose". These films serve to peak the interest in the subject but at the same time they cause the matter to be taken a bit lightly. It is not possible to say 100% that any possession case is simply the unwanted intrusion of a demon or spirit but we can say for certain it also equally difficult to verify they all have medical explanations.

Most doctors and men of science look at possession as nothing more than foolish medieval superstition that has for some unknown reason stayed alive despite other such beliefs falling through. It is often looked at as religious stupidity or scientific ignorance, which is hilarious to me as science does not have the answer either so is that to be assumed as a form of ignorance also? I have read a great deal about scientists who claim that the entire possession experience is nothing more than misinterpretations of psychotic episodes. (isn't that sciences excuse for everything paranormal?) Don't get me wrong many possession cases exhibit signs and symptoms that do point to mental or emotional illnesses.

Conditions such as epilepsy, hysteria, and multiple personality disorder can produce reactions that may be misdiagnosed as demonic possession. Epilepsy which is rather common in the sense of illnesses can create a variety of possession like symptoms. It can cause convulsions that result in foam excreted from the mouth which in older times was a sign of demonic entry. Enlarged or dilated pupils is also a common effect of epilepsy. This causes a person's eyes to look as if they are completely black. Of course this has been recorded in many possession accounts. Epileptic sufferers also have a tendency to experience a shaking that generally causes the body to rock back and fourth and appear in a trance like state. The face may become distorted and appear demonic in nature or full of pain and discord. Grunts and muffled sounds are also very common with epilepsy as well as demonic possession.

The seizures involved with epilepsy may also come with hallucinations. This could result for the demonic appearances possessed people claim to see. The seizures usually only last five minutes or less and that is enough time to scare anybody. Undiagnosed these epileptic symptoms can lead to sever injury or even death. Epilepsy does share a multitude of possessed symptoms. The time frame is a very different portion though. 5 minutes a seizure is not equivalent to the hours, days or months demonic possessed individuals remain in their seizure like state.

Hysteria is also a very clear cut mental illness that could be misinterpreted as demonic possession. The hysteria symptom most like one of demonic possession is what has become known as the hysterical arch. The body becomes stiff and curled in a half circle. This contortion appears to be a result of outside force but really it is the body itself doing it. We obviously can look at split personality disorder as a culprit of possession. Some researchers even claim there is no split personality syndrome, but that demonic possession is the reason for the multiple personalities displayed by the patient.

We have looked at a few illnesses that could be the real reason for demonic possession but what about those cases that defy these illnesses and go beyond the spectrum of scientific inquiry? Many cases have appeared in which no mental, emotional, or even physical illnesses could be detected. Some cases have events that are not symptoms of a disease or any illness. I have read of cases in which red lice have appeared mysteriously on the head of the possessed. Some cases have made claims that super human strength was displayed and the possessed was able to accomplish feats unnatural to human kind. I have read of many cases were languages were spoken that were unknown to the possessed, often times Aramaic is the language. We cannot dismiss these cases to medical reasons unless of course a condition we are unaware of exist. Many involved in excorsisms have reported that the possessed knew things about them noone could have known. They would hear secrets they had kept for ages spoken back to them by the possessed. One of the strangest effects not seen in mental diseases is the ability to speak with multiple voices. Most priest keep a recording of their work with a possessed individual. Many of these tapes have the voice of the possessed but many voices are speaking with them and coming from the same person. This was a trick that some monks have been able to do but not to the caliber of some of these recordings which contain up to 12 separate voices.

Sometimes the paranormal and the scientific or medical collide and the results are usually not in the favor of paranormal research. There are a number of cases in which the world of paranormal research and medical evaluation came to blows but none are as celebrated as that of Anneliese Michel. Most people are unaware of that name but they know the case well. Her story was adapted for film under the title "Excorsism of Emily Rose". While some points in the film are accurate a lot of it was left out. Anneliese was a very attractive, and friendly young lady. She lived in West Germany and attended collage at the University of Wurzburg. It was there in November of 1973 her parents decided to take her to see the parish priest. While at school Annaliese began to exhibit strange and erratic behavior. She refused to eat, slept very little, flying into unprovoked rages, screaming at and attacking those around her. Her friends and family were deeply concerned and they felt the priest could help her with her new found illness.

Quickly it was deemed a case of possession and the priest ordered the rites of excorcism be done in order to free the girl of the demonic intruders. The priest did not feel Anneliese was sick in the medical sense of that word but religiously under an attack that had to be stopped or she would suffer beyond words. Excorcism is a very serious subject and the catholic church requires an evaluation before the act can be made a possibility. Father Adolf Rodewyk, an 81 year old Jesuit was chosen to evaluate the young girl and decide if the rites were needed. After much debate and thourogh research of the case he felt the decision requested was the best one for Anneliese and the rites were approved. He made a request to the church stating that Anneliese Michel was in fact at war with a demonic presence and the safety of her very life was in jeopardy.

The two men chosen for the task of removing the evil within the child was Reverend Arnold Reuz and Reverend Ernst Alt. It would fall into their hands the fate of this scared girl in West Germany. A task they took very serious and cautious. By the time all preparations were made Anneliese was being treated for epilepsy and other mental illnesses that made it difficult for her to live an everyday life. On July 1st of 1976 after enduring several long months of excorcism, Anneliese Michel succumbed to the pain and torture and passed away. Cause of death was malnurisment and dehydration. She left this world at age 23, not yet knowing the possibilities of life. Her fragile and ravaged body weighed only 80 pounds upon death and she looked as if she was a victim of a car crash. She suffered many cuts and bruises as a result of the violent episodes the possession had brought on.

Sadly on March 2nd 1978 the two priest and both parents were charged with negligent homicide for refusing to acknowledge the girl's epilepsy and seek medical attention. The courts felt it was their doing that caused the girl's condition to worsen, ultimetly leading to her death. In April of 1978 the two priest were found guilty of the crime and received a suspended prison sentence of 6 months. The catholic church was humiliated and shocked at the result of the ritual.

The case started a trend that still holds today. Excorsicm is not to be attempted without medical personal present at the time of the ritual. The case spawned many films and documentaries, some making the priest and parents out to be crazy pursuers of religious healing and others showing them as caring people who did not feel the child had an illness other than demonic possession. No real valid prof could be given that Anneliese did have epilepsy, but at the same time none could be presented that defended the possession argument either. I encourage you to rent the film made about "Emily Rose". It is well made and I would like to end with a thought from the film. Is it possible? Happy Hunting.