This document summarizes the history and practice of exorcism. It discusses how exorcism originated in ancient times as a treatment for abnormal behavior believed to be caused by evil spirits or demons possessing a person. The document describes the types of spirits or demons that were believed to cause possession, including Lucifer, Mammon, and Beelzebub. It outlines the techniques traditionally used in exorcism, such as magic, prayer, incantations and noisemaking. Finally, it provides a six-step process for how exorcisms were performed, including identifying the demon, breaking its pretense of being the victim, the expulsion of the spirit through invoking the name of Jesus Christ.

1. Prepared by:
Orlando A. Pistan, MAEd
Psychology Instructor

2. (or trepanation) is an
operation performed
since Stone Age
times, in which a
circular section of the
skull is carved away,
leaving a hole in the
skull.

3. It is speculated that the
operation was done as a
treatment for abnormal
behavior, such as
hallucinations or was
done based on a
perception that there
were evil spirits that
needed releasing.

4. In any event, individuals having
this done survived as evidence
by bone growth around the
wound.
The tool used to cut through the
bone was likely a "chert (or less
likely obsidian) tool" according
to Dr. Harry Shafer, an expert in
Mesoamerican archeology at
Texas A&M University.

5. References to abnormal behavior, in early writing show that the
Chinese, Egyptians, Hebrews, and Greeks often attributed such
behavior to a demon or god who had taken possession of a
person.
Whether the “possession” was assumed to involve good spirits
or evil spirits usually depended on the affected individual’s
symptoms. If a person’s speech or behavior appeared to have a
religious or mystical significance, it was usually thought that a
good spirit or god possessed him or her. Such people were
often treated with considerable awe and respect, for people
believed they had supernatural powers.

6. Most possession, however, were considered to be the work of an
angry god or evil spirit, particularly when a person became excited or
overactive and engaged in behavior contrary to religious teachings.
Among the ancient Hebrews, for example, such possessions were
thought to represent the wrath and punishment of God. Moses
quoted in the Bible as saying, “The Lord shall smite thee with
madness.” Apparently this punishments was thought to involve the
withdrawal of God’s protection and the abandonment of the person to
the force of evil. In such cases, every effort was made to rid the
person of the evil spirit. Jesus reportedly cured a man with an
“unclean spirit” by transferring the devils that plagued him to a herd of
swine, which, in turn, became possessed and “ran violently down a
steep place into the sea”

7. The study of demons
or beliefs about
demons, especially
the methods used to
summon and control
them.

8. Lucifer : pride
Mammon : greed
Asmodeus : lust
Leviathan :envy
Beelzebub : gluttony
Satan : wrath
Belphegor : sloth

9. The primary treatment
for demonic
possession.
Techniques for casting
an evil spirit out of an
afflicted person.

10.  Magic
 Prayer
 Incantation
 Noisemaking
 Horrible tasting
concoctions

11. A person who is
believed to be able to
cast out the devil. A
priest, a nun, a monk,
a healer, or a shaman
can be an exorcist.

12. 1. The Presence. The exorcist and his assistants become
aware of an alien feeling or entity.
2. Pretense. Attempts by the evil spirit to appear and act as the
victim, to be seen as one and the same person. The exorcist's
first job is to break this Pretense and find out who the demon
really is. Naming the demon is the most important first step.
3. Breakpoint. The moment where the demon's Pretense
finally collapses, a scene of extreme panic and confusions
accompanied by a crescendo of abuse, horrible sights, noises
and smells. The demon begins to speak of the possessed
victim in the third person instead of as itself.

13. 4. The Voice. Also a sign of the Breakpoint, the Voice is inordinately
disturbing and humanly distressing babel. The demon's voices must be
silenced for the exorcism to proceed.
5. The Clash. As the Voice dies out, there is a tremendous pressure, both
spiritual and physical. The demon has collided with the "will of the Kingdom".
The exorcist, locked in battle with the demon, urges the entity to reveal more
information about itself as the exorcist's holy will begins to dominate. As
mentioned above, there is a direct link between the entity and place, as each
spirit wants a place to be. For such spirits, habitation of a living victim is
preferable to Hell.
6. Expulsion. In a supreme triumph of God's will, the spirit leaves in the
name of Jesus, and the victim is reclaimed. All present feel the Presence
dissipating, sometimes with receding noises or voices. The victim may
remember the ordeal or may have no idea what has happened.

14. Thank you for paying
attention.