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   Demonic possession   
   From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia   
      
      
   Demonic possession is held by many belief systems to be the spirit possession   
   of an individual by a malevolent preternatural being, commonly known as a   
   demon. Descriptions of demonic possessions often include erased memories or   
   personalities, convulsions    
   (i.e. epileptic seizures or "fits") and fainting as if one were dying.[1]   
   Other descriptions include access to hidden knowledge (gnosis) and foreign   
   languages (xenoglossy), drastic changes in vocal intonation and facial   
   structure, the sudden appearance    
   of injuries (scratches, bite marks) or lesions, and superhuman strength.   
   Unlike in channeling, the subject has no control over the possessing entity   
   and so it will persist until forced to leave the victim, usually through a   
   form of exorcism.   
      
   Many cultures and religions contain some concept of demonic possession, but   
   the details vary considerably. The oldest references to demonic possession are   
   from the Sumerians, who believed that all diseases of the body and mind were   
   caused by "sickness    
   demons" called gidim or gid-dim.[2] The priests who practised exorcisms in   
   these nations were called ashipu (sorcerer) as opposed to an asu (physician)   
   who applied bandages and salves.[3] Many cuneiform clay tablets contain   
   prayers to certain gods asking    
   for protection from demons, while others ask the gods to expel the demons that   
   have invaded their bodies.   
      
   Shamanic cultures also believe in demon possession and shamans perform   
   exorcisms. In these cultures, diseases are often attributed to the presence of   
   a vengeful spirit (or loosely termed demon) in the body of the patient. These   
   spirits are more often the    
   spectres of animals or people wronged by the bearer, the exorcism rites   
   usually consisting of respectful offerings or sacrificial offerings.   
      
   Christianity holds that possession derives from the Devil, i.e. Satan, or one   
   of his lesser demons. In many Christian belief systems, Satan and his demons   
   are actually fallen angels.[4]   
      
   Contents   
      
    [hide]    
   1	Bible accounts   
   2	Christianity   
   3	Buddhism   
   4	Medicine and psychology   
   5	Notable cases   
   6	In fiction   
   7	See also   
   8	Notes   
   9	Further reading   
   10	External links   
   Bible accounts   
      
   According to the Catholic Encyclopedia:[5]   
      
   "In the Old Testament, we have only one instance, and even that is not very   
   certain. We are told that "an evil spirit from the Lord troubled" Saul (1   
   Samuel 16:14). The Hebrew rûah need not imply a personal influence, though, if   
   we may judge from    
   Josephus (Ant. Jud., VI, viii, 2; ii, 2), the Jews were inclined to give the   
   word that meaning in this very case. In New Testament times, however, the   
   phenomenon had become very common." However, the Old Testament does contain   
   numerous references to evil    
   spirits, often interacting in malevolent ways with people.[6]   
   The New Testament mentions several episodes in which Jesus drove out demons   
   from persons:   
      
   Matthew 4:23-25: Demon-possessed persons are healed by Jesus (also Luke   
   6:17-19).   
   Matthew 7:21-23: Many will drive out demons in Jesus' name (also Mark 16:17;   
   Luke 10:17; Acts 5:16; 8:7).   
   Matthew 8:14-17: Jesus healed many demon-possessed (also Mark 1:29-39; Luke   
   4:33-41).   
   Matthew 8:28-34: Jesus sent a herd of demons from two men into a herd of pigs   
   ("about two thousand" pigs, according to the account at Mark 5:1-20; both   
   Mark's account and Luke 8:26-39, mention only the one man).   
   Matthew 9:32-34: Jesus made a demon-possessed mute man speak, the Pharisees   
   said it was by the power of Beelzebub (also Mark 3:20-22).   
   Matthew 10:1-8: The Twelve Apostles given the authority to drive out evil   
   spirits (also Mark 3:15; 6:7; 6:13; Luke 9:1; 10:17).   
   Matthew 11:16-19: "this generation" said that John the Baptist was possessed   
   by a demon (also Luke 7:31-35).   
   Matthew 12:22-32: Jesus healed a demon-possessed blind and dumb man (also Luke   
   11:14-23; Mark 3:20-30).   
   Matthew 12:43-45: Jesus told an allegory of nasty spirits coming back home,   
   that is, to the human body where they have lived before (also Luke 11:24-26).   
   Matthew 15:21-28: Jesus expelled a demon from the body of the daughter of a   
   Canaanite woman (also Mark 7:24-30).   
   Matthew 17:14-21: Jesus healed a boy by driving out a demon from him (also   
   Mark 9:14-29; Luke 9:37-49).   
   Mark 1:21-28: Jesus expelled an unclean spirit from a man (also Luke 4:31-37).   
   Mark 9:38-40: A non-Christian is seen driving out demons in Jesus' name (also   
   Luke 9:49-50).   
   Mark 16:9: Jesus had driven seven demons out of Mary Magdalene (also Luke 8:2).   
   Luke 7:21: Many people are cleansed from evil spirits by Jesus.   
   Luke 13:10-17: Jesus expelled a spirit of disease from the body of a woman on   
   the Sabbath.   
   Luke 13:31-32: Jesus continued to cast out demons even though Herod Antipas   
   wanted to kill him.   
   Luke 22:3: Satan entered into Judas Iscariot (also John 13:27).   
   John 7:20: A "crowd of Jews" that wanted to kill Jesus said he was   
   demon-possessed.   
   John 8:48-52: "The Jews" said Jesus was a Samaritan and demon-possessed.   
   John 10:20-21: Many Jews said Jesus was raving mad and demon-possessed, others   
   said he was not.   
   Acts 5:3: Satan filled the heart of Ananias.   
   Acts 5:16: The Apostles healed those tormented by evil spirits.   
   Acts 8:6-8: At the teaching of Philip the Evangelist in Samaria, evil spirits   
   came out of many.   
   Acts 8:18-19: Simon Magus offered to buy the power of Laying on of hands.   
   Acts 10:38: St. Peter said Jesus healed all who were under the power of the   
   Devil.   
   Acts 16:16-24: Paul and Silas were imprisoned for driving a future-telling   
   spirit out of a slave girl.   
   Acts 19:11-12: Handkerchiefs and aprons touched by Paul cured illness and   
   drove out evil spirits.   
   Acts 19:13-20: Seven sons of Sceva attempted to drive out evil spirits by   
   saying: "In the name of Jesus, whom Paul preaches, I command you to come out."   
   But because they did not have faith in Jesus, they were unsuccessful and were   
   actually driven from    
   that house by the possessed.   
   Revelation 18:2: The Whore of Babylon is a home for demons, evil spirits and   
   unclean birds.   
   Acts of the Apostles also contains a number of references to people coming   
   under the influence of the Holy Spirit (1:8, 2:4, 2:17-18, 2:38, 4:8, 4:31,   
   6:3-5, 7:55, 8:15-19, 8:39, 9:17, 10:19, 11:12-16, 11:28, 13:9, 16:6-7,   
   19:2-6, 20:23, 21:11, 23:8-9)    
   which is believed to be a good thing (see Baptism with the Holy Spirit) in   
   contrast to demonic influence.   
      
      
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