Jesus meets the Gerasene Demoniac. Demon Possession

In the Gospels, found in the New Testament, Jesus meets several different people who suffer from demon possession. The Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, are personal accounts from different writers. Thus the reader is exposed to the same story from a different perspective, at times including additional details. Jesus meets a demon possessed mute man in Matthew 9:32-34 and Luke 11:14-26. He meets a demon possessed blind and mute man in Matthew 12:22-28. He also meets a Gerasene man who is suffering from demons and lives in a cemetery in Matthew 8:30-37, Mark 5:1-20 and Luke 8:27-38. The video clip below provides a dramatic reading of Mark 5:1-20, whereby Jesus meets the Gerasene man.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5nen8yht6lg

This was a very scary man. He lived in a cemetery, was violent, exceptionally strong and he needed to be chained. This man evoked fear. He was known to scream, yell uncontrollably and he lived alone on the outskirts of town.

Obviously there are some anti-social personality issues as evidenced by his living conditions, some self-destructive behaviour and a semblance of multiple personality disorder. However, there is more to this diagnosis. This man was demon possessed. The man had super natural strength; the demons inside him recognized Jesus and his personality changed rapidly after Jesus cast out the demons. These symptoms appear to resemble Dickason's definition in his book Demon Possession and the Christian, although Dickason refers to it as demonization. The characteristics include superhuman strength, speaking in unknown languages or strange voices, fits of rage, sudden changes in personality, fear of crowds and resistance to religious or spiritual names or symbols. 

My personal experience of demonization is limited. In seminary, our conservative New Testament professor played an audio-tape of a weekend session he and others had with a sexually abused women who was suffering in different ways. It was believed she was demon possessed and as we listened to the tape it became evident that she had been taken over by something. The physical strength (enough of six men), the destructive anger, the varied voices, the inability to hear the name of Jesus or the words from the Bible seemed inhuman. It was disturbing. Actually when googling to the topic you too can find clips which highlight the sights and sounds. Very disturbing.

Religion and science often operate in different realms and at times diagnosis can be a challenge. In severely psychotic patients diagnosis can be very tricky. This was evident in the cases of Andrea Yates and Diane Evers whereby both psychiatric and demonization issues were attributed to them drowning their children. Dr Scott Peck in his book The Glimpses of the Devil: A Psychiatrists Personal Account of Possession, Exorcism, and Redemption also acknowledges the complexity of diagnosis. He states"the proper question to pose diagnostically would be: ‘Is the patient just mentally ill or is he or is she mentally ill and possessed?'

The link between demon Possession and mental illness is complex. Check out Stephen Diamond's artical Exorcism and the Endangered Future of Psychology in Psychology Today for some interesting insight on the topic. 

http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/evil-deeds/200804/exorcism-and-the-future-psychotherapy

Demon Possession

The idea of demons and evil captivates modern day culture. Books, movies and tv series on the subject are great sellers.

Demon possession is controversial for both Christians and non-Christians alike. However, C. S. Lewis states that there are two extremes that should be avoided with reference to evil activity. Lewis writes:

There are two equal and opposite errors into which our race can fall about the devils. One is to disbelieve in their existence. The other is to believe, and to feel an excessive and unhealthy interest in them. They themselves are equally pleased by both errors, and hail a materialist or a magician with the same delight.

Satan, the devil, the evil one, exist and so do his workers (demons). "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." Ephesians 6:12

Demons are un-embodied spirits that work in the spiritual realm, they desire to and are able to indwell humans and influence their bodies and minds for evil. John 10:10 suggests the contrast and role difference between Jesus and the evil one.  “The thief comes only to kill, steal and destroy but Jesus says, I have come to give you life, life in the full.” 

It should be noted that the relationship between demon possession and mental illness is complex. The attached CBS news story highlights the mystery and complexity of demon possession. It also highlights the importance of both psychologists and religious leaders working together to provide “help for the soul.” 

 http://pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/2014/02/12/demonic-possession-real-or-mental-illness/

References

C. S. Lewis, The Screwtape Letters (New York: The Macmillan Co., 1971), p. 3.

Job’s Friends: Competency

The book of Job provides an interesting dialogue between Job, the client and the comforters. Many of us have heard the phrase “Job’s comforters.” But there are some positive lessons on therapeutic practices by Job’s friends.  When the friends first heard of Job’s suffering they “went to see him, they sat down on the ground with him for seven days and seven nights with no one speaking a word to him, for they saw that his pain was very great.” (2:12-13) The friends seemed comfortable to sit with Job in his suffering, at least for seven days. Carl Rogers would be proud. So would the religious order the Quakers, who believe if you can’t improve on the silence don’t say anything. There are lessons for us here, as so often as therapists we want to fill the silence, we feel a need to fix or fill the space.

But after the seven days the friends change their approach. They spend the rest of the book of Job trying to rationalize and attempt to make sense of suffering. The friends don't understand why bad things have happened to good people and, in the end,

they alienate Job by confronting, blaming and challenging him.  Their care and concern angered Job and he says  “how long will you torment me and crush me with your words?” (19:1-2)  Ouch.

The topic of competency came to mind this week as I was reflecting on Job and viewing Titanic artefacts. Interestingly, Captain Edward Smith’s marine experience wasn’t all it needed to be as he sailed the Titanic on her maiden voyage. The results are haunting. There is much to be learned from history.

Job: Grief and Loss, Depression?

In the Old Testament book of Job there is a story about a man who was “blameless, upright, fearing God and turning away from evil.” His name was Job, and in Hong Kong terms he had a very diverse portfolio. He was a very rich man, had accumulated a lot of livestock and had servants to work his estate. He had seven sons and three daughters and was considered the greatest man in the east. (1:3) However, the evil one, who was “roaming about on the earth and walking around on it,” tells God that the only reason why Job was faithful was because God was protecting him. Satan claimed, that if Job were tested he would not remain faithful to God. And so, God allowed the Satan's to put Job to the test. Job’s entire family was killed, he lost his herd, his estate, and all his belongings were destroyed. Job also lost his health. It is recorded that when Job’s friends heard of all that had happened they came to visit but “when they lifted up their eyes at a distance" they, "did not recognize him.” (2:12) Job suffered not just with physical and emotional aliments, he also suffered physically:

•       30:28 infections/darkened

•       30:30 peeling skin

•       7:5 erupting sores

•       19:20 emaciation, anorexia

•       30:30 fever

•       7:16; 30:15 fits of depression

•       16:16 weeping

•       7:14 nightmares

•       7:4  sleeplessness

•       19:17; 17:1 putrid breath

•       16:16 failing vision

•       19:20 rotting teeth

•       2:12 haggard looks

It appears that Job, may have suffered with some depression.

“My spirit is broken, my days are extinguished,

The grave is ready for me."(17:1)

“Terrors are turned against me;

They pursue my honour as the wind,

And my prosperity has passed away like a cloud.

And now my soul is poured out within me;

Days of affliction have seized me.

At night it pierces my bones within me

And my gnawing pains take no rest.” (30:15-17)

“I am seething within and cannot relax;

Days of affliction confront me.

I go about mourning without comfort;

I stand up in the assembly and cry out for help.” (30:27-31)

That being said, Job never looses sight of God. Job gives profound discourses of his belief in God, despite of all the suffering. See Chapters 26-31

Today, I am in Halifax Nova Scotia, on the Atlantic Ocean. Halifax knows suffereing. It is home to the Halifax explosion which occured in 1917. The city was shattered when two ships collided creating the largest man made explosion before Hiroshima. Halifax was also instrumental during the search and rescue for the Titanic.  Suffering can come in many forms and as you know, people face it differently.  Reflections on the suffering from survivors in Halifax.