Spirit Possession and Exorcism

Summary

This two-volume work examines spirit possession across history and cultures, from the upper Paleolithic era to the present. It analyzes documented cases of individuals seemingly overtaken by unseen entities, describing symptoms such as levitation, speaking in tongues, and physical distortion. The text addresses phenomenological, psychological, and neurobiological aspects of possession, reviews case studies from a cognitive neuroscience perspective, and examines exorcism rites. Volume one covers historical manifestations, while volume two focuses on specific cases and rituals.

Study at a glance

Abstract

This two-volume text reviews spirit possession throughout history, analyzes case studies from a cognitive neuroscience perspective, and examines rites for exorcism. From the beginning of civilization to the present day, and across all major religions and cultures, there have been documented cases of people seemingly overtaken by an unseen entity. The invading force—whether good or bad—appears to replace the possessor's soul with the spirit's own persona, resulting in mystifying symptoms such as levitation or other supernatural feats, speaking in tongues, and even horrific and inexplicably accelerated physical distortion and deterioration. This is a two-volume chronological history and examination of spirit possession that addresses its phenomenological, psychological, and neurobiological aspects, and its effects on societies. Volume one reviews spirit possession from the upper Paleolithic era to modern times, while Volume two focuses on case studies and rites of exorcism.