Thread: Exorcists on the telly Board: Oblivion / Ship of Fools.


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Posted by Deckie (# 17829) on :
 
So, my wife and I watched the 'Teenage Exorcists' programme from the BBC. I really don't know what to think.

The cynical non-religious reporter ended it saying something like, "Well, I don't know if they are actually casting out demons, because I don't know if I believe in demons. But after spending a lot of time with them, these girls don't seem like charlatans, just there for the money, or anything like that. They believe it, even if I'm not so sure."

OK. So, for the sake of argument, let's ignore the possibility that they're just doing the show to fake people's money out of them.

The whole, "you may have a demon in you, but you don't know it. You need to open up to it and let it manifest, so we can drive it out" thing just seems so insanely dodgy to me.

I was brought up believing something like, "There are demons out there, but not everywhere under every bush and tree. Those who Jesus has saved have the Holy Spirit living in them, and God's a helluva lot stronger than any demon (if you'll pardon the expression), and isn't going to share his people with any unclean spirit. Stick close to Him, and don't worry about them." (Roughly speaking)

Essentially, stay away from unclean spirits, stay close to God, and they can't harm/have you. If you go looking for them, watch out! If you open yourself to them, they do exist, and may well come.

So to me, inexperienced and naive, the idea of telling Christians to open themselves up for unclean spirits to manifest themselves seems like the most totally insane thing possible!

Tell demons to show up, and I don't think you should be surprised if they do.

On the other hand, these exorcists do appear at least, to be driving them out, and telling people that Jesus is the way. And so there's the whole, "if Satan is driving out Satan..." thing.

Alternatively, is it just a purely psychological thing, an opportunity for some Primal-Scream-Therapy, Jesus Style?

So. Gracious shipmates of varying persuasions, what do you think?

Deckie
 

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Posted by EtymologicalEvangelical (# 15091) on :
 
I got to 40 minutes in the documentary, and I have concluded that there is a large dose of psychological manipulation going on. What troubles me is the way they talk to the 'patient', but actually they are addressing the demon. This, in itself, is bound to cause considerable confusion in the mind of someone who feels extremely vulnerable and oppressed.

I certainly believe in the reality of Satan and evil spirits, but I find it hard to believe that this showbiz approach is the answer to deliverance.
 

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Posted by EtymologicalEvangelical (# 15091) on :
 
Oh, and I forgot to say...

Welcome to the Ship!
 

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Posted by Eutychus (# 3081) on :
 
I may have been jaded by recent events, but I would like to start by seeing the evidence for their claimed black belt qualifications in karate...
 

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Posted by Mere Nick (# 11827) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by Deckie:
The whole, "you may have a demon in you, but you don't know it. You need to open up to it and let it manifest, so we can drive it out" thing just seems so insanely dodgy to me.

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quote:

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Originally posted by Eutychus:
I may have been jaded by recent events, but I would like to start by seeing the evidence for their claimed black belt qualifications in karate...

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Though as a martial artist let me note that it is VERY easy sadly enough to get a black belt that means nothing, if that's your goal
 

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Posted by Shiprat (# 12808) on :
 
I have no doubt that the girls are deadly serious and earnest about what they are doing. I am also in no doubt that they are being manipulated by Bob Larson, who is an experienced showman, with at least 20 years of scandal to his credit. More detailed critique here though source links broken.

I do believe that there are occasions for exorcism, but they are much less common than Larson claims (he said something like 50% need exorcism. Not sure if he meant Christians, or population as a whole).

I do not believe that boasting about "kicking demon's butt" has any place in real spiritual warfare. I did not see humility, rather what I saw was sexed up, WWF smackdown theatre.
 

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Posted by Avila (# 15541) on :
 
Watched it, cringed, no way to deal with stuff, potentially very damaging, naïve on the girls' part(note the Harry Potter spells being real comment).

But the stories of those coming to the London event did raise questions for me - my blog on it
 

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Posted by jbohn (# 8753) on :
 

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Originally posted by Gwai:
Though as a martial artist let me note that it is VERY easy sadly enough to get a black belt that means nothing, if that's your goal

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Though as a martial artist let me note that it is VERY easy sadly enough to get a black belt that means nothing, if that's your goal [Frown]

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quote:

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... excited to hear that London is believed to be one of the most satanic cities on the planet and wondering how this is measured.

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Originally posted by Jane R:
Gwai:

quote:

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Though as a martial artist let me note that it is VERY easy sadly enough to get a black belt that means nothing, if that's your goal [Frown]

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Is it? That's not the impression I got from reading this book - though one of the comments on Amazon suggests that how easy it is depends on which martial art you choose.

Not the impression I got from a friend who has a black belt in tae kwon-do, either.

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quote:

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Originally posted by Stetson:
Zoey wrote:

quote:

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... excited to hear that London is believed to be one of the most satanic cities on the planet and wondering how this is measured.

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In the book Michelle Remembers, which helped kick off the satanic-abuse witch hunts in the 80s, it is claimed that Victoria, British Columbia(where the alleged satanic abuse took place) is one of the major places in the world for such activity. Along with Geneva, Switzerland, apparently.

This factoid is attributed to unnamed "experts". But having been to Victoria, I could see why it would have some believability. The place strives for a "Victorian" feel, in that stagey, Hollywoodized sort of a way. Restaurants advertising themselves as haunted and whatnot.

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I am from Victoria .For the record I doubt we are any more Satanic than any other place. These kind of claims are IMO empty and pointless except to sell books.
And if the people in the documentrary are being l;ed by Bob Larson well sorry that descredits the program. Larson has a fixation
on the evil one .
So take this program with a big block of salt. And please come to Victoria you will enjoy ypurselves.
 

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Posted by Stetson (# 9597) on :
 
PaulBC wrote:

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I am from Victoria .For the record I doubt we are any more Satanic than any other place. These kind of claims are IMO empty and pointless except to sell books.

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quote:

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And please come to Victoria you will enjoy ypurselves.

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Oh yes, it's a nice city, for sure. I've got a friend living out there who quite likes it.

As far as I know, they do play up the anglophilia thing a bit in their tourist-promotion, but most cities are probably guilty of that sorta thing.
 

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Posted by PaulBC (# 13712) on :
 
Setson
thanks for the calrification. As for Victoria playing up being a "bit of old England" not such much now a days .
 

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Posted by Jane R (# 331) on :
 

quote:

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In the book Michelle Remembers, which helped kick off the satanic-abuse witch hunts in the 80s, it is claimed that Victoria, British Columbia(where the alleged satanic abuse took place) is one of the major places in the world for such activity. Along with Geneva, Switzerland, apparently.

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