The History of Exorcisms

[ScottHere]

I have a question for both, Protestants and Catholics.

When Paul drove out demons, he didn't read anything like the Roman Ritual or use holy water. He just said "I command you in the Name of Jesus Christ to come out of her!". And at that moment the spirit left her. This is recorded in the book of Acts chapter sixteen, verse eighteen. He didn't read anything or perform any rituals. So how and why did the Roman Ritual and holy water come into the Catholic Church?
Thanks in advance and God Bless.

 

[KitsapGirl]

I think it came out of the Roman Catholic Church's concern that people would attempt to exercise demons on their own. If you're not spiritually prepared to undertake the task of expelling demonic spirits, you can be possessed yourself.

If there's a complicated ritual that only a few know, then unprepared people won't be in harms way.

Paul was right though. He only used the same technique that he had seen Jesus use. But the major factor was that God himself allowedd him to do it.

 

[Rick Otto]

http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/05709a.htm


http://www.themystica.com/mystica/articles/e/exorcism.html

 

[dayhiker]

My guess, since I've not read the historic records of the RCC is that as they stopped ahving faith to just command the demons out like Jesus and his disciples did, they they created rituals so that people would have something to see and have faith from seeing this elaborate ritual.
dayhiker

 

[Rick Otto]

about in a book by Malachi Martin.
As many problems as I may have with the RCC, they seem to have some success in this area, but it is kept quiet for several rerasons, among them the privacy of victims.
I'll look for the name of the book. It;s been about 20yrs since I read it. Malachi was a RCC priest, but very cool.

 

[Yeznik]

about in a book by Malachi Martin.
As many problems as I may have with the RCC, they seem to have some success in this area, but it is kept quiet for several rerasons, among them the privacy of victims.
I'll look for the name of the book. It;s been about 20yrs since I read it. Malachi was a RCC priest, but very cool.

Hey Rick!

I have also read the book its called Hostage to the Devil. I don't recommend reading this book if a person is a minor, or easily scared.

 

[dayhiker]

I was involved in casting out a few demons when I was in my 20's. Its an interesting expereince. I never saw a demon in my life. But in the deliverance process there were manifesttions. Now ofcourse each person can interprete those manifestation to signify different things. So the whole experience becomes very subjective. There just isn't any thing concrete to say this is this. Yes the person's manifiestation is concrete and any personal deliverance is concrete. But beyond that every aspect and its interpretation is subjective.

dayhiker

 

[Catherineanne]

I have a question for both, Protestants and Catholics.

When Paul drove out demons, he didn't read anything like the Roman Ritual or use holy water.

Luke tells us in Acts what Paul did, but does not necessarily tell us how he did it.

Just because the NT omits details, in other words, does not mean that those details do not exist, only that the writer includes the details that he personally believes to be important. In other words, whether today with a RC priest or 2,000 years ago with Paul, the important part is that the name of Christ is used to cast out demons.

All the rest is secondary to the name of Christ, but that does not mean that it does not exist. Clearly, at some stage the RCC developed rituals to ensure that what the priest does is as protected as it can be, but we have no way of knowing where or with whom any of these rituals originated.

 

[Rick Otto]

it was disturbing, for sure.

Yo dayhiker, I agree with what your sayin'...
Hard to tell if the demons are only playin' musical chairs or pretending to be outed.
And even if they are exorcised, we still don't know what eternal good we've done:
Matthew 7:21-29 21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
Here's another good book with some relevant information about it:
http://www.apostasynow.com/wots/Contents.html

 

[GratiaCorpusChristi]

My guess, since I've not read the historic records of the RCC is that as they stopped ahving faith to just command the demons out like Jesus and his disciples did, they they created rituals so that people would have something to see and have faith from seeing this elaborate ritual.
dayhiker

That's a fairly judgmental view. Have all Roman Catholic rituals developed out of a systematic lack of faith endemic to their church?

 

[Rick Otto]

But not just of the RCC.
I think it's generaly true of all Churchianity.

Quote:
Originally Posted by dayhiker
My guess, since I've not read the historic records of the RCC is that as they stopped ahving faith to just command the demons out like Jesus and his disciples did, they they created rituals so that people would have something to see and have faith from seeing this elaborate ritual.
dayhiker

That's a fairly judgmental view. Have all Roman Catholic rituals developed out of a systematic lack of faith endemic to their church?

 

[ibba23]

Bump, God Bless!!

 

[dayhiker]

That's a fairly judgmental view. Have all Roman Catholic rituals developed out of a systematic lack of faith endemic to their church?

No come people really love ceremonial things, services. It can be very comforting to know how things will go. A message that is repeated many times can have a lot of depth as each sentence, move etc can be full of meaning.

Other people like spontanious type services. They interpret this as God being involved in what is happening right then.

I don't see either as being right or wrong, better or worse than the other. Its just what works for those people. Both can and do lead to faith in Christ and that leads to salvation.

dayhiker

 

[racer]

But not just of the RCC.
I think it's generaly true of all Churchianity.

Hey Rick!

My sister works in deliverance ministry for the AoG. She is a recovered/ing Meth addict/user/cook. She can tell some really scary stories from her experiences during Meth use and in dealing with others who are demonically oppressed/possessed. She actually got to go on a mission to Haiti and Jamaica this summer. It was rather brief, though.

 

[SpiritDriven]

That's a fairly judgmental view. Have all Roman Catholic rituals developed out of a systematic lack of faith endemic to their church?

I think the rituals of the RC church date back to the days when they had control of the masses.
Partaking of rituals can be used as part of that control.

When you look back on History, if you recognise the Soveriegn will of God, and actualy do believe the word of God when it tells us that...

1 God does all things after the counsel of his own will

2 That all the inhabitants of the earth account for nothing and God does as he pleases with the host of the heaven and the inhabitants of the earth...

Then you will start to see a bigger picture as to who was really behind not only the reformation, but who was really behind so many un churched people today worshipping in spirit and truth.

I see all these denominations accusing or blaming each other for schisms....yet God was never going to be on a plan B....he is still on plan A.


Grace and Peace to you....always!

 

[Rick Otto]

Awesome post, SpiritDriven... couldn't agree more.

racer, God prolly kept it brief to show mercy on the devil (lol)
I love hearin' those stories (until my skin starts to crawl). Your sister sounds like an "activist" type personality, not the kind to sit in front of a computer for very long.(grin)

 

[Rick Otto]

No come people really love ceremonial things, services. It can be very comforting to know how things will go. A message that is repeated many times can have a lot of depth as each sentence, move etc can be full of meaning.

Other people like spontanious type services. They interpret this as God being involved in what is happening right then.

I don't see either as being right or wrong, better or worse than the other. Its just what works for those people. Both can and do lead to faith in Christ and that leads to salvation.

dayhiker

Right on, bro. I couuldn't agree more... I guess I've been guilty of thinkin' the rote expressions were immature in that they were designed to offer relief from a sense of vulnerability.

 

[racer]

Awesome post, SpiritDriven... couldn't agree more.

racer, God prolly kept it brief to show mercy on the devil (lol)
I love hearin' those stories (until my skin starts to crawl). Your sister sounds like an "activist" type personality, not the kind to sit in front of a computer for very long.(grin)

Nope, when she's not guest speaking at other churches, she works a prison ministry for females. She is getting a "Freedom Challenge" program going. Right now she's working from her home. Her local AoG church just happens to be a pretty good size group and is rather financially set. They pay her utilities and rent for now, but there is a building committee working up a project to build her a facility from which she will operate the ministry.

She said the saddest part is when recently released "cons" take her kindness for stupidity. They apparently don't realize that when she says she's been where they are, she is speaking literally.

 

[Rick Otto]

Too bad The Insurance Industry isn't savvy enough to get behind her with recovery fund-type money or something.
It may sound like a reach, but think of all the money she is saving society from the medical & policing systems.