Real Life Exorcisms In The Berkshires

By on October 16, 2012 in News 56

Exorcisms in the Berkshire Mountains? Apparently so, per this report from Adam Poulisse for the Berkshire Eagle:

The word “exorcism” can cause a flurry of disturbing images: a young girl’s head spinning around; profanity too vulgar to be uttered by anyone, let alone a 12-year-old; two priests dying during the ritual.

But those iconic images surrounding a possessed girl named Regan (Linda Blair) and her eventual exorcism in the 1973 film “The Exorcist” are “highly inaccurate” compared to the real-life ritual of casting out demons or spirits, according to Glenn Shuck, an assistant professor of religion at Williams College.

“It’s not done so haphazardly,” he said. “Priests should focus on driving the demon out, not engaging in the sensational activities depicted in ‘The Exorcist.’ Sometimes the individual has to be restrained, preferably by a family member, but that’s very, very rare. The film has to play up every possible exaggeration.”

Hollywood dramatizations notwithstanding, exorcisms under several different names and religions still occur today, and they might even be on the rise.

According to the Episcopal Rite of Exorcism, the ritual is “the practice of expelling evil spirits by means of prayer and set formulas [and] derives its authority from the Lord himself who identified these acts of his messiaship.”

Just as in the church’s earlier days, exorcism is reserved only for the bishop, who can delegate the rite to others deemed competent…

[continues in the Berkshire Eagle]

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  • bobbiethejean

    I can’t believe people actually still believe this bullshit in the 21rst century. It’s so, so very sad. For fuck’s sake. I mean really. Wow.

  • bobbiethejean

    I can’t believe people actually still believe this bullshit in the 21rst century. It’s so, so very sad. For fuck’s sake. I mean really. Wow.

    • Miracles

      Sounds like you need a little exorcism there little lady.  Demons’ talkin.

    • Miracles

      Sounds like you need a little exorcism there little lady.  Demons’ talkin.

      • bobbiethejean

        Prove it. 

      • bobbiethejean

        Prove it. 

        • Calypso_1

           If you need any assistance in the exercise of your demons, I will be more than happy to bequeath a few impish minions to tickle your fancy.

        • Calypso_1

           If you need any assistance in the exercise of your demons, I will be more than happy to bequeath a few impish minions to tickle your fancy.

          • 1plakat

            yum fancies being tickled, that’s my kind of party.

          • 1plakat

            yum fancies being tickled, that’s my kind of party.

          • Calypso_1

            How do you feel about restraints?

          • 1plakat

            if we use them on bobbie jean im down. im not the passive type unless the restraining device is a couch, beer and football. typical but sports are a big part of my entertainment routine.

          • 1plakat

            if we use them on bobbie jean im down. im not the passive type unless the restraining device is a couch, beer and football. typical but sports are a big part of my entertainment routine.

          • Calypso_1

            Oh, its not the passive types that need restraints.

          • Calypso_1

            Oh, its not the passive types that need restraints.

          • 1plakat

            lol, in a sense I have to agree.

          • 1plakat

            lol, in a sense I have to agree.

          • bobbiethejean

            Now, by “impish minions” do you happen to mean “naughty, androgynous pretty-boys?” And how many is “a few?” Will there be any whip cream involved?

          • bobbiethejean

            Now, by “impish minions” do you happen to mean “naughty, androgynous pretty-boys?” And how many is “a few?” Will there be any whip cream involved?

          • Calypso_1

            I may need to subcontract with some of Jin’s minions. My own androgynine imps tend towards the gamine.
            “A few” 0_0 …how many do you need?
            Is bacon flavored whipped cream OK?

          • Calypso_1

            I may need to subcontract with some of Jin’s minions. My own androgynine imps tend towards the gamine.
            “A few” 0_0 …how many do you need?
            Is bacon flavored whipped cream OK?

          • Calypso_1

            I may need to subcontract with some of Jin’s minions. My own androgynine imps tend towards the gamine.
            “A few” 0_0 …how many do you need?
            Is bacon flavored whipped cream OK?

          • bobbiethejean

            Gamines are perfectly acceptable and…… *continues reading* b-bacon…… bacon flavored…….. bacon…. *faint*

          • bobbiethejean

            Gamines are perfectly acceptable and…… *continues reading* b-bacon…… bacon flavored…….. bacon…. *faint*

  • 1plakat

    If bitches are not levitating and throwing up strong acid that burns, I’m not buying it. Seems to me the priest is possessed by the demon of fame. If exorcisms by the church were such a big deal there would be more specialist priests. Seems more likely that these people are experiencing a form of reaction formation http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reaction_formation#_ which I have been studying lately. If the churches demons are real they would be way more bad ass than some screaming sexually deprived fugly Spanish woman, having fits for attention or due to some chemical imbalance, mental illness or even some form of hypnosis. If anything I’d say characters like Hitler are a case of demonic possession, something thats is truly dark and evil and truly powerful.

  • 1plakat

    If bitches are not levitating and throwing up strong acid that burns, I’m not buying it. Seems to me the priest is possessed by the demon of fame. If exorcisms by the church were such a big deal there would be more specialist priests. Seems more likely that these people are experiencing a form of reaction formation http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reaction_formation#_ which I have been studying lately. If the churches demons are real they would be way more bad ass than some screaming sexually deprived fugly Spanish woman, having fits for attention or due to some chemical imbalance, mental illness or even some form of hypnosis. If anything I’d say characters like Hitler are a case of demonic possession, something thats is truly dark and evil and truly powerful.

    • kowalityjesus

      I don’t think you can that easily dismiss the entire numinous force behind the idea of angels and demons.  I have to admit, this seems like a weak case if one at all.  

      But I think there is enough accumulated evidence, even if much of it is anecdotal, to give you the ole’ one-liner from Bill Shakespeare:”There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy.”

      I think the greatest casualty of the ‘scientific’ mindset is the humility that comes from allowing yourself to be subjected to the mysteries and forces of the Universe, without blinders or rationality.  To be rational is more or less to be practical, but the practicality of existence can never be fully explained.  Hopefully that made sense.

    • kowalityjesus

      I don’t think you can that easily dismiss the entire numinous force behind the idea of angels and demons.  I have to admit, this seems like a weak case if one at all.  

      But I think there is enough accumulated evidence, even if much of it is anecdotal, to give you the ole’ one-liner from Bill Shakespeare:”There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy.”

      I think the greatest casualty of the ‘scientific’ mindset is the humility that comes from allowing yourself to be subjected to the mysteries and forces of the Universe, without blinders or rationality.  To be rational is more or less to be practical, but the practicality of existence can never be fully explained.  Hopefully that made sense.

      • 1plakat

        I never said that I believe that angels and demons do not exist, I just said that this is not a case of true demonic  possession (maybe the priest is possessed is something I said). A case of demonic possession would be umm, a little more sinister from what I understand. This is clearly engineered to scare feeble minded followers, its easy to squirm around and swear at a priest while pretending to be restrained but if she levitated, I would be interested in finding out more about the case as it would be something truly extraordinary. If you knew me, you would know that I deal with some pretty far out stuff from time to time, this is nothing compared to some of the things i’ve experienced and heard about. some tales you would probably have a hard time accepting. If you want to read about some crazy awe-inspiring tales of the occult,  try reading The Occult by Colin Wilson or The Power of the Pendulum by T.C. Lethbridge or what the students of G.I Gurdjieff could do and last but not least some of the experiences of the infamous Aleister Crowley. Some people even say that demons are the Anunaki reptilians  taking over people via the 10th dimension, pick your poison. The hard thing is to discern what is truly occult and what is charlatanism, which is also occult in a sense just in a crude form.  By your logic, knowing what you can and can’t ever explain is also impossible (how do you know that one can’t explain existence) the infinite why and because, you can dance with the paradox and drive yourself crazy all you want, I rather trust in my intuition and say that this exorcist priest is full of shit and this intuitive conclusion is also backed by many cases in which the church lied to impress followers.  I believe that what you truly believe in from your individual point of view is true or eventually will become true and I choose not to believe in this watered down version of the occult, that’s bush league, plus demons are not so bad if you know how to charm them.

      • 1plakat

        I never said that I believe that angels and demons do not exist, I just said that this is not a case of true demonic  possession (maybe the priest is possessed is something I said). A case of demonic possession would be umm, a little more sinister from what I understand. This is clearly engineered to scare feeble minded followers, its easy to squirm around and swear at a priest while pretending to be restrained but if she levitated, I would be interested in finding out more about the case as it would be something truly extraordinary. If you knew me, you would know that I deal with some pretty far out stuff from time to time, this is nothing compared to some of the things i’ve experienced and heard about. some tales you would probably have a hard time accepting. If you want to read about some crazy awe-inspiring tales of the occult,  try reading The Occult by Colin Wilson or The Power of the Pendulum by T.C. Lethbridge or what the students of G.I Gurdjieff could do and last but not least some of the experiences of the infamous Aleister Crowley. Some people even say that demons are the Anunaki reptilians  taking over people via the 10th dimension, pick your poison. The hard thing is to discern what is truly occult and what is charlatanism, which is also occult in a sense just in a crude form.  By your logic, knowing what you can and can’t ever explain is also impossible (how do you know that one can’t explain existence) the infinite why and because, you can dance with the paradox and drive yourself crazy all you want, I rather trust in my intuition and say that this exorcist priest is full of shit and this intuitive conclusion is also backed by many cases in which the church lied to impress followers.  I believe that what you truly believe in from your individual point of view is true or eventually will become true and I choose not to believe in this watered down version of the occult, that’s bush league, plus demons are not so bad if you know how to charm them.

        • kowalityjesus

          Thank you for your input.  I have noted the sources of occult knowledge you cited.  Although I really am quite frankly sure that they are full of fascinating anecdotes, I will refrain from reading them any time soon to avoid the state known as “being full of shit.”  

          Beware belittling the Church.  It has conserved the wisdom of posterity better than many other human institutions.  The test of time is one which a man truly cannot shake his dick at.  

          I have a modest notion of what it would take to appease a demon, and I am quite sure that it is not a matter of semantics.  Tread that ground carefully, those who walk to bring light in darkness have my prayers.

        • kowalityjesus

          Thank you for your input.  I have noted the sources of occult knowledge you cited.  Although I really am quite frankly sure that they are full of fascinating anecdotes, I will refrain from reading them any time soon to avoid the state known as “being full of shit.”  

          Beware belittling the Church.  It has conserved the wisdom of posterity better than many other human institutions.  The test of time is one which a man truly cannot shake his dick at.  

          I have a modest notion of what it would take to appease a demon, and I am quite sure that it is not a matter of semantics.  Tread that ground carefully, those who walk to bring light in darkness have my prayers.

          • 1plakat

            fuck the church, i shall not fear anything. Tread carefully when walking across a busy intersection but when it comes to spiritual matters I jump right in.  Millions of ways to die if I feared most of them I would never leave the bed. The texts I listed are masterful, full of insight. Stay in your ignorance, no one needs your prayers, from your previous post it seems like you are not sure of anything.

          • 1plakat

            fuck the church, i shall not fear anything. Tread carefully when walking across a busy intersection but when it comes to spiritual matters I jump right in.  Millions of ways to die if I feared most of them I would never leave the bed. The texts I listed are masterful, full of insight. Stay in your ignorance, no one needs your prayers, from your previous post it seems like you are not sure of anything.

          • kowalityjesus

            you crazy.  Enjoy your fate and your bizarre literatures.  I am beholden to the God of this world through Jesus Christ. 

          • kowalityjesus

            you crazy.  Enjoy your fate and your bizarre literatures.  I am beholden to the God of this world through Jesus Christ. 

          • http://www.ContraControl.com/ Zenc

            You are referring to the God of this world as indicated in 2 Corinthians 4:4?

          • http://www.ContraControl.com/ Zenc

            You are referring to the God of this world as indicated in 2 Corinthians 4:4?

          • kowalityjesus

            I was thinking Mark 12:26, but that passage of course refers to the same.

          • kowalityjesus

            I was thinking Mark 12:26, but that passage of course refers to the same.

          • 1plakat

            I find your writing excellent, nice vocab but you need to broaden your horizons. My whole family is catholic and follows the teachings of Cathol and even they find insights via my bizarre spirituality.  You are damn right I am crazy, I make a living out of it but I have never been called boring ever. Don’t call me boring…

          • 1plakat

            I find your writing excellent, nice vocab but you need to broaden your horizons. My whole family is catholic and follows the teachings of Cathol and even they find insights via my bizarre spirituality.  You are damn right I am crazy, I make a living out of it but I have never been called boring ever. Don’t call me boring…

          • kowalityjesus

            AS Hunter S Thompson said, “If you’re going to be crazy, you have to make a living at it or they will put you away.”
            my praises…
            I have had a long pre-catholic life period, which honestly can probably account for a lot of my more intriguing characteristics. Thus, I dig.

          • kowalityjesus

            AS Hunter S Thompson said, “If you’re going to be crazy, you have to make a living at it or they will put you away.”
            my praises…
            I have had a long pre-catholic life period, which honestly can probably account for a lot of my more intriguing characteristics. Thus, I dig.

          • 1plakat

            And Ive had a catholic upbringing, even went to catholic school, it actually triggered my interest in other doctrines and explanations. To me the catholic church was spirituality 101, I just have seen different things, novel approaches to the mystery and can’t picture myself going back to a single system but that’s no reason for me to lack respect and I apologize. Sleep deprivation can make me a little cranky, rude, a troll. If anything I find myself to be a Gnostic Christian, since I could never turn my back on my roots. All the best.

          • 1plakat

            And Ive had a catholic upbringing, even went to catholic school, it actually triggered my interest in other doctrines and explanations. To me the catholic church was spirituality 101, I just have seen different things, novel approaches to the mystery and can’t picture myself going back to a single system but that’s no reason for me to lack respect and I apologize. Sleep deprivation can make me a little cranky, rude, a troll. If anything I find myself to be a Gnostic Christian, since I could never turn my back on my roots. All the best.

          • Calypso_1

            Like Hell it does.

          • Calypso_1

            Like Hell it does.

          • Calypso_1

            Unless you believe in an Abraxasial Yahweh.

            …in which case I would have truely underestimated you.

          • Calypso_1

            It also burned a great deal of the wisdom of posterity, both of the written and living varity.

            You also have little notion of demonic appeasement sir, I assure you of this – you can shake your dick at it all you want…Well, actually that does work, (they’ll come back for more, and you may develop…responsibilities), but semantics, grammar, glamour, glimmer, grimoire, spelling, spell – you’re Catechistic sensibilities probably won’t let you broach these topics with any degree of freedom, but hey its your religion, get out of it what you can. 
            I suggest self-flagellation & the Palestrina Motets:

            http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TD0ve6ZYtIA

            Bringing light into darkeness is easy.  Trying not to fall into the shadows of false light….different story entirely.
             

          • Calypso_1

            It also burned a great deal of the wisdom of posterity, both of the written and living varity.

            You also have little notion of demonic appeasement sir, I assure you of this – you can shake your dick at it all you want…Well, actually that does work, (they’ll come back for more, and you may develop…responsibilities), but semantics, grammar, glamour, glimmer, grimoire, spelling, spell – you’re Catechistic sensibilities probably won’t let you broach these topics with any degree of freedom, but hey its your religion, get out of it what you can. 
            I suggest self-flagellation & the Palestrina Motets:

            http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TD0ve6ZYtIA

            Bringing light into darkeness is easy.  Trying not to fall into the shadows of false light….different story entirely.
             

      • bobbiethejean

        I don’t think you can that easily dismiss the entire numinous force behind the idea of angels and demons. 

        No proof, no evidence, no testable hypotheses, no predictive models, not a trace of falsifiability, dismissed. That was extremely easy.

      • bobbiethejean

        I don’t think you can that easily dismiss the entire numinous force behind the idea of angels and demons. 

        No proof, no evidence, no testable hypotheses, no predictive models, not a trace of falsifiability, dismissed. That was extremely easy.

      • Calypso_1

        “The humility that comes from allowing yourself to be subjected to the mysteries and forces of the Universe” usually involves things like radiation burns, deionization of tissues, electrocution or the rapid decompensation of respiratory function & boiling of blood in the presence of high vacuum. 

        All conundrums I must note that science has overcome with a sufficient degree of humility, triumph and aplomb.

  • http://buzzcoastin.posterous.com BuzzCoastin

    “Be careful, lest in casting out your demon you exorcise the best thing in you.”
    Fred Flintstone

  • http://buzzcoastin.posterous.com BuzzCoastin

    “Be careful, lest in casting out your demon you exorcise the best thing in you.”
    Fred Flintstone