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Home , Demonic possession, Obsession (Spiritism), Ouija, Spirit possession

Theology ︱ Dr Marta Illueca possession Perspectives on pastoral assessment and care

Most of us are familiar with hroughout the past two decades, symptoms that are characteristic of both as depicted and despite widespread demonic possession, and mental health in popular culture, for example in T scepticism, there has been an disorders. Practitioners often fail to horror films such as The . increase in interest from the academic discern what a patient needs, i.e., medical While these representations community on the phenomenon of attention and psychiatric diagnosis, or are usually exaggerated, they spiritual distress related to spirit or spiritual intervention. The consequences are frequently based on real-life demonic possession. In her graduate of misdiagnosis can compromise well- accounts of the phenomenon. work at Yale Divinity School, Dr Marta being, and lead to social stigma. Evolution of the about demonic possession. Despite widespread academic Illueca researches the topic of demonic Graphic design by Cynde A. Bimbi, CAB Graphics & Design, USA. scepticism, pastoral care and possession: by an evil Dr Illueca notes that formal research mental health practitioners are entity. Her background in both medicine and empirical data are sparse, which possession, and how it differs from or microbial contamination. In the worst of demonic possession is described becoming increasingly aware and theology makes her ideally placed has led to a misrepresentation of those the mental health disorders with which cases the evil spirit controls and uses worldwide across cultures and continents. of the affliction, and the need to inform and advise on this topic. with genuine problems, based on it is commonly confused. Demonic the body as if it were its own. It takes An early study by Bourguignon (1973) for adequate care provision. She states that there is no intention depiction in popular culture such as possession is a real phenomenon and it deliverance , or in extreme cases, suggested North and In her recent paper, Dr Marta to prove or disprove the existence of horror films. For this reason, academic should not be ascribed to a psychiatric , to relieve a victim from this state to be most prominent in their belief Illueca collates the empirical spirits, the aim is to apply academic work such as hers is desperately needed condition any more than mental illness of possession. in spirit possession. Knowledge and data on spirit possession from rigor as far as possible in reviewing so that those with spiritual afflictions can should not be treated as demonic- understanding of local ritual practices is the medical and humanities belief in spirits, and their potential role be protected from social marginalisation induced. Hence, professional evaluation Dr Illueca’s scholarly paper tabulates the important for discerning whether spiritual literature, and aims to provide in causing disturbing conditions requiring and receive the professional care they and diagnosis is an essential step. key empirical data on the demographics, or psycho-social assistance is needed. a point of reference to benefit professional attention. need. In cases suspected of demonic those working in pastoral and healthcare settings. possession, individuals should be referred One classical characterisation of spirit DEMONIC POSSESSION AND for pastoral care, which may include the possession appears to lie in the scriptures Spirit possession should not be seen DELIVERANCE MINISTRIES use of deliverance ministries. This is a of the Judeo-Christian Bible where spirits Regardless of medical beliefs related to collective term used to describe - are described as benign e.g., the Holy as an isolated rare spiritual condition spiritual afflictions (or lack thereof), the based interventions that act to cleanse Spirit, or malignant e.g., /the . phenomena related to spiritual oppression a person of and evil spirits, While it is commonly believed that the but rather as a spectrum of and demonic possession are real for the and aid, in multi-disciplinary fashion with devil is mainly a by-product of the New manifestations of increasing complexity. affected person. People suffering from the physical, psychological, emotional, Testament (the Christian portion of the demonic possession often experience and spiritual problems that are attributed Bible), in the Old Testament’s Book of natural history and use of exorcism Mainstream Christian religion is extreme physical, emotional, and spiritual to them. The interventions can range from the Law called “Deuteronomy” the in cases of spirit or demonic possession. becoming more organised around pain, which calls for attention, careful specific deliverance prayers, to ritual- existence of demons as antagonistic Acknowledgment of spirit possession the practice of deliverance ministries evaluation, and professional assistance. based exorcism reserved for the extreme, to God is cited. For believers, there is in the pastoral and psychology literature with formal training and credentialing This could be pastoral care, mental rare cases of possession. The deliverance potential for influence from either type is increasing, and the phenomenon of . One of the fundamental healthcare, or a combination of both team is a multi-disciplinary group that of spirits, for example in the Gospel of depending on the individual needs. often includes ministers, social workers, Mark, Jesus was “driven” to the desert Determining the kind of care a person and psychologists. by the Spirit of God where he was requires can be difficult tempted by a malignant spirit, the devil. because they may LITERATURE ON Although empirical literature is limited, present with DEMONIC POSSESSION, a spiritual syndrome appears to manifest AND DIFFERENTIATION FROM along a spectrum ranging from spiritual MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES vexation, , oppression, and There are two main parts to Dr Illueca’s finally demonic possession. These various paper; first describing and defining manifestations all affect the victim’s demonic possession using primary behaviour and in extreme cases dominate sources and the available literature, the person’s overall being. The term Mainstream Christian religion is becoming One of the fundamental roles of deliverance more organised around the practice of ministers is to ascertain whether the and secondly presenting a review of spiritual infestation is used by Dr Illueca deliverance ministries. affliction observed has a spiritual basis. the defining characteristics of demonic as a description comparable to a parasitic

www.researchoutreach.org www.researchoutreach.org Dr Illueca’s four-step approach for management. roles of deliverance ministers is to ascertain whether the affliction observed Clinical Spectrum Risk Factors Behind the Research has a spiritual basis. The • Vexation • Psychosocial / (the original official ritual work of the • Obsession life history • Oppression • Childhood or Dr Marta Illueca compiled in 1614) • Possession recent trauma explains traditional signs of demonic •  practices, Aware Anticipate cultic rituals, possession based on early Christian E: [email protected] sources and practitioners’ observations. 1 2 Although the supportive scientific proof 3 4 is limited, there is consensus within Clinical History Consider Detail References circles around • Mental illness • Medical exam • Hallucinations, Assess Refer • Psychological the distinct characteristics of these behavioural patterns evaluation The Episcopal Church in Delaware Illueca, M. (2019). Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Spirit signs, and they are still used today as • Spirit possession signs • Prayerful support 913 Wilson Road Possession and Deliverance Ministries. Journal of Pastoral criteria for diagnosis. The four criteria • Deliverance ministry Wilmington, Delaware 19803 Care and Counselling, 72 (4), 269-277. are: newly developed fluency by the USA patient in a foreign tongue; knowledge American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and of hidden things such as identifying Graphic design by Cynde A. Bimbi, CAB Graphics & Design, USA. Bio statistical manual of mental disorders (5th edition). Arlington, hidden objects or private details related Marta Illueca, MD, MDiv, MSc is a physician and an ordained VA: American Psychiatric Association. to those present; strength diagnosis in order to tailor treatment for those afflicted. Having reviewed Episcopal priest who holds master’s degrees from Yale that is disproportionate to the size of and avoid the potentially dangerous the available medical data and spiritual Divinity School and Tufts University School of Medicine. Bourguignon, E. (1973). Religion, altered states of the person; and an aversion to sacred consequences misdiagnosis can lead literature, Dr Illueca recommends Her career spans three decades including Pediatric and social change. Columbus, OH: The Ohio objects such as the Christian cross, Holy to. In contrast to spiritual afflictions, a four-step approach to the assessment Digestive Diseases at Weill-Cornell Medical College, State University Press. Water or the Bible. When all four of psychiatric disorders are diagnosed by and management of spiritual distress New York, pharmaceutical research and she is a Fellow of these are present, they are considered medical professionals who use a specific for people who believe the cause the American Academy of Pediatrics. Her current research Hecker, T., Braitmayer, L., & van Duijl, M. (2015). Global to be specifically indicative of demonic set of criteria to do so. For example, in to be the influence of evil spirits. centres on spiritual wellness and the use of prayer for mental health and trauma exposure: The current evidence possession. Anti-gravitational abilities the case of dissociative identity disorder The first step is awareness; of the the management of pain. for the relationship between traumatic experiences and spirit (i.e., ) have also been reported (DID) formerly known as multiple of spiritual distress, and the spectrum possession. European Journal of Psychotraumatology, 6(1), as a rare sign. Large scale recent personality disorder, dissociative of manifestations. The second step Collaborators 29126. research in Low and Middle Income symptoms (e.g. -like states) is anticipation; of the likelihood that This paper was written in fulfilment of course work at Yale a care-seeker may fall on the spiritual Divinity School, New Haven, USA under the supervision Rodewyk, A. (1975). Posessed by Satan: The church’s teaching possession spectrum based on their of Prof Janet Ruffing. on the devil, possession, and exorcism. (Ebon, M. Trans). A misdiagnosis can have dire social presentation (symptoms, background, New York, NY: Doubleday and Company. stigma and emotional consequences life history). The third step is critical assessment of the clinical evidence, for the victim and their loved ones. noting whether symptoms may indicate Personal Response a psychological condition. The final step Countries (LMIC) has shown that are considered a defining characteristic. is referral, based on the assessment, Do you encounter conflict between your medical people with a history of childhood The potential for confusion between to the most appropriate service. training and your theological investigation, particularly abuse or severe trauma are particularly spirit possession and dissociative relating to this area? vulnerable (Hecker et al, 2015) as are states is high because in DID one SUMMARY Rather than conflict, what an inspirational challenge, those who dabble in occult practices or more alternative personalities The work of Dr Illueca collates the engaging in conversation between my medical training (e.g. Ouija boards, cultic groups, etc.). may take over the behaviour of the current literature and academic research and theological investigation. With my lifelong medical patient. Other overlapping symptoms on spirit possession and highlights experience, I am blessed to witness new unprecedented Psychiatric and spiritual conditions include prolonged memory gaps and the need for careful differential diagnosis scientific insight into the previously unexplored areas of may overlap, and each requires accurate hallucinations, and both often present between psychiatric cases, and demonic and health. For instance, the new empirical with a history of complex childhood possession. She emphasises the evidence emerging from neuroimaging research (e.g., trauma. There is a similar potential for importance of empathy, care, and functional magnetic resonance imaging- fMRI) allows for the mapping and characterisation of spiritual practices as confusion with , where faithful perseverance across the four they trigger a variety of measurable responses in the human delusions and paranoid hallucinations steps she recommends, in helping brain. Through rigorous, judicious scientific research, we are also common. restore the affected person to wellness. likewise continue to elucidate the puzzling nature of spirit It is hoped they will serve as useful possession phenomena. Both pastoral and medical professionals guidance for practitioners faced with are relied upon to carefully evaluate, discerning the nature of spiritual diagnose, and direct treatment to the maladies presented to them. The paper most appropriate provider. Regardless ends with a call for further research on of their own personal beliefs, a provider deliverance ministries, and diagnostic People with a history of childhood abuse must take each consultation seriously, approaches to spiritual afflictions with or those who dabble in occult practices like Ouija boards are particularly vulnerable. keeping in mind the deep degree of the aim of improving the lives of the real suffering these conditions represent suffering and those caring for them.

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